TAGETES ERECTA, AMERICAN MARIGOLD Discovery
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Asteraceae, Mexico

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:23 cm, 9,06 inch

Flower Size:8 cm, 3,15 inch

Crop Time:Plug crop:4-6 weeks; Flowering pots:12-14 weeks;Cut flower production:16-20 weeks

Sell Period:April-June

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:274 K/g

Sowing Time:January-February for bedding plant production; February-March for flowering in pots from June onwards; Outdoor forcing (frost free): April-May

Sowing Method:1 seed per plug

Germination:7-14 days at 18-24 °C, in media with very low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.5. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.

Plug Culture:From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 18-20 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 50-75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 150-200 ppm.

Growing On:4-5 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (8-11 cm) or packs, 2-4 plants into a bowl (20-25 cm). Plant cut flowers (frost free) in 20-25 x 20-25 cm space and use nets to keep the stems upright.

Media:Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-20 % parts (e.g. perlite),1-3 kg/m3 complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.5. Field: sandy loamy soils with good drainage and good nutrition levels. Standard fertilization: 60-80 g/m2 slow release fertilizer.

Photoperiod/ Light:Day length neutral plants. Keep light levels high. Short days (9-10 h) after transplanting for 2-3 weeks improve the branching and the flower initiation is earlier. Avoid long day conditions, because the long day (above 14 h) promotes very strongly the vegetative growth. In summer protected the plants against high sun intensity by shading.

Temperature:Grow at 12-20 °C or outdoors. Temperatures that are too low during plug stage are acause for a poor quality of the first flowers. Temperatures between 18-20 °C for cultivation are preferred, because these temperatures promote the flower initiation. Plants for early selling should be hardened slowly at 10-13 °C. T. erecta does not tolerate frost.

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. High nitrogen levels are the cause that the leaves are too large. Check regularly pH value in substrate, because pH below 5.0 can cause necrotic spots on the leaves or yellow leaves. Field: N min soil value: approximately 100 g N/ m2.