Grower Facts

Matthiola Cut Flower Katz(Matthiola incana)

Germination: Matthiola (stock) can be produced in 406-cell plug trays (600-cell Euro plug trays).
Media: Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless medium.
Sowing: Cover seed with a medium to light covering of coarse vermiculite to keep the seed moist. Seed can be germinated either on the bench or in a germination chamber if the recommended germination temperatures can be maintained. Allow 3 to 4 days for germination. Maintain a clean, disease-free environment in the seedling production area.
Temperature: Bottom heat is not required for plug production.

Germination
- 68 to 72oF (20 to 22oC).
- Avoid temperatures higher than 75oF (24oC), as this will produce soft, stretched seedlings which are susceptible to damping off.

Plug Production
Plug Tray Size:Matthiola (stock) can be produced in 406-cell plug trays (600-cell Euro plug trays).
Media:Use a well-drained, disease-free, soilless medium.
Sowing:Cover seed with a medium to light covering of coarse vermiculite to keep the seed moist. Seed can be germinated either on the bench or in a germination chamber if the recommended germination temperatures can be maintained. Allow 3 to 4 days for germination. Maintain a clean, disease-free environment in the seedling production area.
Temperature:Bottom heat is not required for plug production.

Germination
- 68 to 72oF (20 to 22oC).
- Avoid temperatures higher than 75oF (24oC), as this will produce soft, stretched seedlings which are susceptible to damping off.

Stage 1 - (Cotyledon stage)
- Night temperature at 60oF (15oC)
- Day temperature at 65 to 68oF (18 to 20oC)
- Keep media evenly moist
- Keep soil pH at 6.5 to 7.0 and EC at 0.7 to 1.0mmhos/cm (1:2 extraction)

Stage 2 - (True leaves stage)
- Night temperature at 60oF (15oC)
- Day temperature at 65oF (18oC)
- Keep moisture level at stage 4 and keep media evenly moist
- Maintain EC at 0.5 to 0.75 mmhos/cm (1:2 extraction) and pH at 5.8 to 6.2
- Irrigate early in the morning and make sure that the foliage is dry by nightfall

Stage 3 - (Hold plugs stage)
- Night temperature at 55oF (13oC)
- Day temperature at 60oF (15oC)
- Allow media to get a little drier, to about moisture Stages 3 to 4
- Maintain EC at 1.0 to 1.2 mmhos/cm (1:2 extraction) and pH at 5.8 to 6.2
Light: Supplemental lighting is not required.
Humidity: Maintain relative humidity (RH) at 95% until cotyledons emerge.
Soil Moisture: Keep the plug media moist. Do not subject the seedlings to water stress for toning, as they will not recover well.
Fertilizer: Beginning at Stage 2, feed seedlings twice each week, applying 50 ppm N from 14-0-14 or 13-2-13, alternating with 20-10-20 fertilizer. After the first week, increase to 100 ppm until the plugs are finished.
Growth Regulators:Plant growth regulators are not required.

Growing On to Finish
Production Location: Optimal-quality matthiola can be grown outside or even outside under plastic hoops. They can also be produced in temperate climates in greenhouses for Spring through Summer. Successful Summer production can be achieved in shadehouse structures.
Media: Stocks should be produced in disease-free soil with a medium initial nutrient charge and a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Keep the media moist. Avoid conditions that are either too wet or too dry. Wet conditions can cause diseases including Root Rots, Downy Mildew and Bacterial Blight. Dry conditions can cause wilting and lower leave chlorosis, which then exposes plants to other infections. It is critical to differentiate between lower leaf chlorosis symptoms caused by nutrient deficiency/ drought stress or Downy Mildew.

Planting Density
Summer: 12 plants per net sq. ft. (126 plants per net sq. m)
Winter: 12 plants per net sq. ft. (126 plants per net sq. m)
Netting:One layer of support netting (4 x 6 in./15 x 20 cm) is recommended.
Temperature: Temperatures of 60 to 71oF (16 to 22oC) are recommended. Cooler temperatures are possible but will increase the production time. In regions that require supplemental heating, both space and soilsurface heating is recommended. Hot water should be circulated at a rate to minimize unrecoverable temperature loss.
Irrigation: Begin production with overhead irrigation, then switch to drip irrigation 2 to 3 weeks following transplant. Keep the media moist. Allow drying slightly between watering; the more mature the plants are, the drier you can go. In the end you must go a little drier in order to get a stronger stem and a better flower form.
Fertilization: Fertilize every other irrigation with calcium nitratebased fertilizer at 100 to 200 ppm N. Maintain EC at about 1.0 to 1.3 mmhos/cm (using 1:2 extraction). Continue fertilizing until the end of the crop time.

Common Problems
Insects: Fungus gnats and shore flies (plug production); Leaf miners, caterpillars and thrips
Diseases: Downy Mildew, Root Rots, Bacterial Blight, Botrytis, Pythium, Fusarium, Xanthomonas

Crop scheduling
Sow to transplant in 406-cell: 4 to 6 weeks
Crop time is dependent on daylength and light intensity. As a general guide, with daylength of 13 hours or more, the crop time will be 10 weeks. Shorter days will slow down the crop time, depending on the temperature, to 15 weeks.