VERBENA Tuscany
VERBENA HYBRIDA

Minimum Germination Rate: 85%
Seed Product Form: Raw

FLOWERING
Time Frame when plants are receptive to flower initiation: Days 18 – 24; 4 – 6 leaves present.
Flowering Type: Facultative Long Day Plant – long days enhance flowering.
Specific Flowering Mechanism: Maturity of plant and high light will trigger flowering.

PLUG CULTURE
Germination – Optimum conditions for seedling development that begins the day the crop is sown until cotyledon expansion. Expect radicle emergence in 4 – 7 days.

Cover: Cover seeds with a thin layer of medium sized vermiculite to maintain moisture levels.

Media: pH: 5.8 – 6.0,? EC: <1.0

Light: Light is not necessary for germination. If utilizing a chamber, providing a light source of 10 – 100 foot candles (100 – 1000 lux) will improve germination and reduce stretch compared to seed germinated in the dark.

Temperature: 74° – 75°F (23° – 24°C) day and night from day 1 until day 4 – 7, or when cotyledons appear.

Moisture: Water in plug trays before seeding to moisture level moist (3+), and maintain at (3+) for days 1 – 8 or until radicle emergence. For days 9 – 11, water trays to moisture level wet (4), and allow trays to approach level (3) before re-saturating. Beginning day 12, begin alternating between moisture level wet (4), and level medium (2).

Humidity: 100% from day 1 – 9 or until seed coats are shed.

Dehumidify: On day 9 or after seed coats have shed, reduce to 40%. Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizers: Maintain EC at <1.0. Fertigation water should not be greater than an EC of 0.5.

Plug Bulking/Flower Initiation – Optimum conditions during the vegetative period, beginning at cotyledon expansion, needed for the root to reach the edge of the plug cell; AND to make the plant receptive to flower initiation.

Media: pH: 5.8 – 6.0, EC: 1.0 – 1.2

Light: Provide 3500 – 4500 foot candles (12 – 15 total moles or 35,000 – 45,000 lux) to hasten flower induction. Supplemental lighting under low light conditions at 350 – 450 foot candles (35,000 – 45,000 lux) will enhance shoot and root growth.

Temperature: 67° – 68°F (20°C) from day 7 – 18. Then 67°F (19°C) night temperature and 62°F (17°C) day temperature.

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4), and moist (3). Allow media to approach level moist (3), before re-saturating to level wet (4).

Fertilizers: Under high light conditions, apply an ammonium-based feed (17-5- 17) at 50 – 75 ppm Nitrogen. Under low light conditions, apply a calcium-based feed (14-4-14) at 50 – 75 ppm Nitrogen.

Growth Regulators: If needed, spray B-Nine (daminozide) at 1250 – 2500 ppm.

GROWING ON
Transplant Ready: 8 – 10 weeks from a ‘288’ plug tray.
Finish Bulking/Flower Initiation – Optimum conditions during the vegetative period, beginning at transplant, needed for the root to reach the edge of the container; AND to make the plant receptive to flower initiation.

Media: pH: 5.8 – 6.0, EC: 1.2 – 1.5

Light: Provide 3500 – 4500 foot candles (12 – 15 total moles or 35,000 – 45,000 lux) to hasten flower development. Long days may enhance growth.

Temperature: 70°F (21°C) night temperature and 67°F (19°C) day temperature for 3 days after transplanting. Then 68° – 70°F (20° – 21°C) at night, 64° – 67° (18° – 19°C) in the day with a 5 – 10°F (2° – 3°C) negative DIF from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Average Daily Temperature (ADT): 67°F (19°C)

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4), and moist (3). Allow media to approach level (3) before re-saturating to level (4).

Humidity: 40 – 70%

Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizers: Under high light conditions, apply an ammonium-based feed (17-5-17) at 100 – 150 ppm Nitrogen. Under low light conditions, apply a calcium-based feed (14-4-14) at 100 – 150 ppm Nitrogen.

Growth Regulators: If needed, apply either 1 – 2 applications of B-Nine (daminozide) at 2500 – 5000 ppm, A-Rest (ancymidol) at 3 – 5 ppm or Bonzi (paclobutrazol) at 2 – 4 ppm. Also responds to negative DIF treatments of 5 – 10°F (2° – 3°C) for height control.

Pre-Shipping Techniques to Enhance Post Harvest Quality
When to treat: 1 – 2 weeks prior to finish or shipping.

Growth Regulators: B-Nine (daminozide) at 2500 – 3000 ppm.

Fertilizer: Potassium nitrate drench at 150 ppm Nitrogen.

Common Diseases: Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Powdery Mildew. Monitor moisture levels and utilize preventative fungicide drenches.

Common Pests: Fungus gnats, Shore Flies, Aphids, Thrips. Use pesticides according to label directions.

SCHEDULING
Total crop time: 12 – 14 weeks
‘288’ Plug crop time: 6 – 7 weeks
Transplant to finish crop time: Packs: 6 – 8 weeks
4” crop: 7 – 9 weeks
6” crop: 9 – 10 weeks
Hanging Baskets: 8 – 11 weeks

PRODUCT USE
Packs, pots, containers, mass plantings, beds, hanging baskets

GARDEN SPECIFICATIONS
Light: Full sun
USDA Hardiness Zone: 11
AHS Heat Zone: 12 – 1
Garden Height: 8 – 10 inches (20 – 25 cm)
Garden Width: 16 – 20 inches (40 – 50 cm)