MELAMPODIUM PALUDOSUM, MELAMPODIUM Derby

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Life Cycle:Annual

Familiy, Origin:Asteraceae, Mediterranean

Sitelocation:Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:20 cm, 7,87 inch

Natural flowertime:May - September

Crop Time:Plug crop: 6-7 weeks; Flowering pots: 12-14 weeks

Sell Period:May-August

Seed Form:Raw Seed

Seed Count:213 K/g

Sowing Time:February-May

Sowing Method:1-2 seeds per plug

Germination:7-10 days at 20 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.2. Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Keep soil steadily 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 15-17 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,5 EC. Start fertilization at 50 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased to 150 ppm.

Growing On:3-4 weeks after the sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (9-11 cm) or pack and 3 plants into container (3-5 l).

Media:Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 20-30 % clay, 1,5 kg/m3 of a complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.8-6.5.

Temperature:Grow at 16-18 °C. The lower the cultivation temperature, the longer the cultivation time. In order to harden the plants for selling the temperature can be decreased to 12-14 °C. Melampodium does not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C.

Fertilization:Moderate fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium levels and high nitrogen levels. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,025 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency (above pH 6.0) apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times.

Cultural Hints:Melampodium as a marsh plant has a high water demand. Melampodium does not tolerate dry substrate and drought stress can cause necrosis on leaf edges. Protect the plants against cold night temperatures outdoors.

* Germination Stages (from seed to finished young plant)
Stage I: Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II: Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III: Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.