Nicotiana Babybella Cultural Information

Plug Production

Sowing/Media: Use a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based plug medium with a pH of 5.5 – 5.8 and media EC <0.75 mmhos (saturated paste). Use pelleted seed, but do not bury seeds with initial waterings. No covering is needed.

Germination (Stages 1 and 2): Soil temperature should be 72 – 75°F. Keep medium uniformly moist, but dry off soil surface once cotyledons open. Light may be beneficial for germination and early growth, but keep <1500 footcandles. Germination should be complete within 7 – 10 days.

Stage 3: Soil temperature should be 68 – 72°F. Practice a good wet/dry moisture cycle. Rooting will be improved with drier conditions, but not wilt. Keep light levels 2000 – 3000 footcandles. HID lights for daylength extension during low light periods will promote growth and speed up flowering. Feed every other watering with 100 – 150 ppm N from 15-5-15 or 17-5-17. Keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8, definitely <6.5, and media EC 1.0 – 2.0 mmhos (saturated paste).

Stage 4: Soil temperature can be lowered to 62 – 65°F. Keep light levels around 3000 footcandles. Dry down between waterings, but avoid wilt. Feed with 13-2-13 if needed for more tone, but monitor media pH.

Plant Growth Regulators: Use sprays of B-Nine (1500 – 2500 ppm), A-Rest (2 – 7 ppm), Bonzi (5 – 15 ppm), or Sumagic (2 – 7 ppm) as needed. Do your own trials to avoid overdosing, as vigor of varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices directly affect how much growth regulators to use.

Crop Time: 4 – 6 weeks for 512 plugs, 5 – 7 weeks for 288 plugs, depending on temperature, light levels and use of HID lights.

Common Problems: Pythium, Botrytis, upper yellow leaves – high media pH (>6.5) or low iron, uneven growth – moisture management after germination.

Growing on to finish

Container Size: 4-inch pots, 6-inch pots

Media: Transplant into a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based growing mix with pH 5.5 – 5.8 and EC <1.5 mmhos (saturated paste). Do not bury plugs!

Temperatures: Keep soil temperature 65 – 68°F for best rooting out, then lower to 62 – 65°F for growing on.

Light: Keep light levels 3000 – 5000 footcandles. Use of HID lights for daylength extension during low light periods will hasten flowering, as this crop responds to long days.

Irrigation and Fertilization: Practice a good wet/dry moisture cycle, but avoid keeping too wet. Feed 1 – 2x/week with 150 ppm N from 20-10-20, 15-5-15 or 17-5-17. Keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8, definitely <6.5, and media EC 1.5 – 2.0 mmhos (saturated paste).

Plant Growth Regulators: Use sprays of B-Nine (1500 – 5000 ppm), A-Rest (3 – 7 ppm), Bonzi (10 – 30 ppm), or Sumagic (5 – 10 ppm) as needed. Once plants are up to size and starting to flower, use a drench of Bonzi (2 – 4 ppm) or Sumagic (1/2 – 2 ppm) to control growth. Do your own trials to avoid overdosing, as vigor of varieties, weather conditions, and cultural practices directly affect how much growth regulators to use.

Common Problems: Pythium, Botrytis although Babybella does have good disease tolerance, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, upper yellow leaves – high media pH (>6.5) or low iron.

Crop Time: 4 – 6 weeks, depending on plug and container size, light levels, and amount of flowering desired (green vs color).