Delphinium elatum F1 Candle SAKATA* Today's standard Delphinium varieties are long day varieties, but Candle is ideally suited for Winter production and will flower with a minimum day-length of 10 hours. vr Extremely stable and especially bred for short-day production schedules vr Very early and uniform blooming w Suitable for tunnel, greenhouse and open field production vr F1 hybrid vigour guarantees good results from subsequent flushes following first harvest Indoor/outdoor IgroupI - Culture Guide Plug Culture Stage 1 (days 1-14) Direct sow seed into plug trays filled with a well-drained sterile media and a pH between 5.5-6.3. Cover the seed lightly with medium vermiculite and water thoroughly with added fungicide to prevent disease problems from damping off. Place the trays in a dark cool cell maintaining a media temperature of 10°C for 15-20 days. It is important to maintain sufficient media moisture. One option is to wrap the trays or trolley with plastic. Maintain media at 20°C for 12 hours in the day, and 15°C for 12 hours at night. To maximize germination, keep days below 25°C and nights below 20°C. Maintain sufficient humidity, but do not overly saturate. (days 15-21) When seedlings begin to emerge, apply a light feed of 75-100 ppm Nitrogen from a well-balanced calcium nitrate based fertilizer. High temperatures (excess of 25°C) at the plug stage will result in poor quality cut flowers on immature plants. Low temperatures (below 10°C) cause plants to rosette which is broken by increasing day length conditions from Winter into Spring. (days 22-35) The true leaves are beginning to form. Place in a cool greenhouse with high light and good air movement and a temperature of 15-18°C. Maintain media EC between 0.8 and 1.0 mmhos (1:2 slurry) and a media pH of 5.5-6.3. (days 36-42) The plugs are now reaching transplant size and have 3 true leaves. Delphinium has a tap root system and delaying transplanting will reduce plant and flower quality. Plant Culture Transplanting Temperature Fertilizer Lighting Pests & diseases Crop schedule Select a well-drained bed in full sun with good drainage and a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Incorporating organic matter into the bed will improve the soil structure and enhance fertility. Space plants 20 cm apart. Plant support is needed to keep the plants from falling over. For earliest flowering in greenhouse, (November-January), optimum forcing temperature is 15-24°C. For later flowering in greenhouse, (March-June), maintain the temperature between 5-24°C. Optimum media EC level is 1.0 to 1.4 mmhos (1:2 slurry). The use of a well-balanced calcium nitrate based fertilizer will promote strong and healthy plants. Long day length will decrease time to flower and will promote shorter plant height. Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Phytopthora. Sakata Ornamentals Europe Odensevej 82, 5290 Marslev, Denmark, +45 63906490, fax. +45 63906499 [email protected], www.sakataornamentals.eu

*Delphinium Candle will flush every 10-12 weeks if optimum temperature (15-25°C) is maintained and the plants receive a minimum of 10 hours of daylight. Higher light levels, longer photoperiod and higher temperature will accelerate flowering time, but also decrease plant height. Post harvest Use of flower food is highly recommended. handling All information given is intended for general guidance only and is believed to be accurate. Cultural details are based on Northern Hemisphere conditions and Sakata cannot be held responsible for any crop damage related to the information given herein. Application...