Pot and bedding - Delphinium hybrida - Benary's Pacific Giant Black Knight

Best seller 2009
Delphinium hybrida
"Benary's Pacific Giant Black Knight"
Flowering period: June - September

Height > 75 cm
Spread: 25 - 50 cm
Habit: Upright
Flower type: Spiked
Leaf Color Light Green
Placement: Full sun to partial shade
Water Average
Fertilizer need: Medium to low
Plant type: Perennial

Class Best seller 2009

DELPHINIUM HYBRIDA, DELPHINIUM HYBRIDS, LARKSPUR 'Benarys Pacific Giant Black Night'

180 cm, special quality form the Pacific group, first year flowering.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Life Cycle:   Perennial

Familiy, Origin:   Ranunculaceae, Hybrids

Sitelocation:   Full sun - partial shade

Garden Height:   180 cm     70,87 inch

Natural flowertime:   June - August

Crop Time:   Plug crop: 6 weeks; Green pots: 12 weeks; Flowerings pots: 16 weeks, annual cultivation is possible; Cut flower production: 1-2 years

Sell Period:   April-May or August-October

Seed Form:   Raw Seed

Seed Count:   847 K/g

Sowing Time:   Outdoor forcing: March-April; Indoor forcing: December-May

Sowing Method:   1 seed per plug, sowing directly into fields is recommended

Germination:   12-18 days at 21-24 °C, in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.5-6.5. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. In the field sowings need to be covered by fleece or foil to avoid a drying out.

Plug Culture:   From Stage II* reduce the soil moisture, but the plug / field should not dry out. 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 up to 100-150 ppm.

Growing On:   4-6 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (8-10 cm) and 4-6 weeks later transplant into a container (5-10 l). For flowering pot production ensure good pot size, to encourage root growth, thus improving plant quality. Plant cut flowers in 25x25 cm space (annual production) or 50x50 cm (perennial production). Strain wires alongside the plants for the spikes.

Media:   Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 10-30 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e.g. bark, sand, perlite), 1-2 kg /m³, complete balanced fertilizer. 2-4 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.5. Field: well-drained, moderate nutrition supply, humus, loamy soils. Standard fertilization: 60-80 g/m² slow release fertilizer (potassium balanced). Do not improve the soil with peat. Keep the soil open.

Photoperiod / Light:   Day length neutral plant. Flowerings pot production in winter and spring with additional assimilation light will improve the plant quality.

Temperature:   Grow at 15-18 °C or outdoors. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. Outdoor fleece cover and dry substrate needed. In spring the plants start to grow for 10-12 weeks at 15-18 °C. A chilling period for flower initiation is not required.

Fertilization:   High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 100-150 ppm nitrogen (at 2 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Don't fertilize after flowering or after early September. In spring fertilize with 100-150 ppm nitrogen using a complete balanced fertilizer. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of Iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. The fertilization with slow release fertilizer is preferred to fertilization with complete balanced fertilizer, because the roots are very sensitive to high salt levels in substrates. Avoid high fertilizer concentrations, it is advisable to fertilize several times with low concentrations weekly. Field: After harvest fertilize the plant additionally with 60-80 g/m² of a slow release and potassium balanced fertilizer. Don't fertilize after flowering.

Cut Flowers:   Cut flower stems can be harvested, when 1-3 flowers per spike are open. Remove the bottom leaves. Vase life: 10-12 days. Cold storage is not recommended. Flowers for dried flower production can be harvested, when 100 % are just open. After harvest cut the plants back to 10 cm above soil level. Up to 3 harvests per year are possible.

Cultural Hints:   Control and fight the weed in time. Keep the soil open. During wintering don't fertilize the plants and avoid wetness in substrate or soils.

Hint:
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.


Instructions
http://www.benary.com/data/documents/Instructions1.pdf

FastraX Folder International
http://www.benary.com/index.cfm/startid/153.html