GROWER SUCCESS GUIDE | SEED PROPAGATION
Begonia Interspecific TOPHAT ™ F1 Begonia × hybrida REC TRAY FORMS PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
288–cell tray
Pelleted
6–7 weeks
1
No
6–8 days
72–78 °F (22–26 °C)
Not required for germination pH: 5.5–5.9
SME 0.5–0.75 mS/cm Comments: Avoid overwatering to help prevent excess algae growth and to promote root growth into the media. If germinating on the bench, it is helpful to cover trays with ReeMay ® or similar to help retain humidity and re- duce irrigation frequency. When irrigating, use low pressure/volume nozzles/breakers to avoid moving seeds around in the cell. If the daily light integral (DLI) is less than 12 mols/day, adding supplemental HID light will promote a more uniform crop.
Calendula COSTA ™ OP Calendula officinalis REC TRAY FORMS PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
288–cell tray
Raw
3–4 weeks
1
Yes
5–10 days
70–72 °F (21–22 °C)
Not required for germination pH: 5.5–5.9
SME 0.5–0.75 mS/cm
Comments: Grow on the cool side. Calendulas are not recommended for fall crops where cool conditions cannot be maintained.
Celosia BRIGHT SPARKS ™ OP Celosia plumosa erecta REC TRAY FORMS PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
288–cell tray pH: 5.5–5.9 SME 0.9–1.3 mS/cm Comments: Bright Sparks is a facultative short day variety and will flower faster under short days. If sowing under short days, it is vital to grow the plugs under a day length of at least 14 hours to promote sufficient vegetative growth before flowering. Raw 4–5 weeks 1 Yes 2–4 days 70–75 °F (21–24 °C) Required for germination
Cleome SPARKLER ™ F1 Cleome hassleriana REC TRAY FORMS PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
288–cell tray
Primed
3–4 weeks
1
Yes
4–6 days
80–85 °F (26–30 °C) days 68–70 °F (20–21 °C) nights
Required for germination
pH: 5.5–5.9 SME 0.9–1.3 mS/cm
Comments: Fluctuating day/night temps will help improve germination. Cleome is a heavy feeder; start feeding in the plug about two weeks after sowing.
Corn Ornamental FIELD OF DREAMS ™ F1 Zea mays REC TRAY FORMS PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
Direct sow into pots or 128–cell tray
Raw
1–2 weeks
Varies when direct sowing; 1 per cell in a 128 tray
Yes
1–2 days
72–75 °F (22–24 °C)
Not required for germination pH: 5.8–6.2
SME 0.5–0.75 mS/cm
Comments: It is best to direct sow into the final container for best quality and fastest crop times. If direct sowing, use 3 seeds per pot. If sowing into a plug tray, do not use a tray smaller than a 128–cell. Also, do not let plugs become root-bound or growth may stall after transplant.
Cosmos APOLLO ™ OP Cosmos bipinnatus REC TRAY FORMS PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
288–cell tray
Raw
4–5 weeks
1
Yes
3–4 days
61–65 °F (16–18 °C)
Not required for germination pH: 5.5–5.9
SME 0.25–0.5 mS/cm
Comments: Cosmos will flower early under short days, so to allow bulking of the plug provide a 14 hour day length during propagating.
Cuphea SRIRACHA ™ F1 Cuphea llavea REC TRAY FORMS
PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
288–cell tray
Raw
3.5–4 weeks
1
Yes
3–5 days
70–75 °F (21–24 °C)
Not required for germination pH: 5.8–6.2
SME 0.5–0.75 mS/cm Comments: Only the first application of plant growth regulators (PGR) is necessary for the plug. After two weeks, you can alternate moisture between 2 and 4 to help tone the plugs. Provide supplemental lighting if possible if DLI is lees than 8 mols/day.
Dahlia FRESCO ™ OP Dahlia hybrida REC TRAY FORMS
PLUG TIME
SEEDS/CELL SEED COVER GERM TIME
SOIL TEMP
GERM LIGHT
MEDIA pH/EC
288–cell tray
Raw, Coated
3–4 weeks
1
Yes
5 days
70 °F (21 °C)
Not required for germination pH: 5.5–5.9
SME 0.5–0.75 mS/cm
Comments: Provide day extension lighting to 12–14 hours/day to help prevent premature flower bud set.
229
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog