Crane Feather

CROP TIME

From plating to harvest: 12 Weeks.

STEM HEIGHT 

60 cm

PLANTING DENSITY

80 plants/m2 net (8 plants/ft2).

PRE-PLANTING

Soil: Loose and well-drained soil, at least 25 centimeters deep.

pH: 5.5 to 6.5

Netting:  2 levels.

PLANTING

Use well rooted plugs with 2 to 3 true leaves and no higher than 5 centimeters high. If the plug is elongated, plant deeper until the cotyledon to make them grow straight.

TEMPERATURE

Night temperatures below 13°C (55 F) during 2 weeks cause good coloring as well as reducing moisture and fertilizer.

Have in mind that Nitrogen promotes green growth and reduces intensity of flower color.

LEAF REMOVAL

Thinning of leaves after transplanting is necessary. Remove 8 to 10 leaves from the bottom of the stem when the plants have 15 to 20 true leaves.  Remove leaves 3 to 4 times during the crop cycle.

IRRIGATION

Start with overhead irrigation 4 weeks after planting  to moisture soil evenly accordingly to the soil’s organoleptic sample.

FERTIGATION

Start 5-7 days after planting. the amount of water will depend on environmental conditions, evaporation and transpiration. During the first 6 weeks, fertilize and irrigate completely (5,0-5,5 l/m2/day).

At week 7, reduce fertilization to 50-100% according to the fertilization of the soil.  Additionaly,  in order to have thinner stems and tighter heads, reduce irrigation to 50%.

FERTILIZATION

Start 1 week after planting, and continue fertilizing until week 7.

A general fertilization formula can be:

N: 80 ppm; P: 40 ppm;  K: 160 ppn;  Ca: 120 ppm; Mg: 60 ppm; S: 50 ppm; Fe: 2 ppm; Mn: 2.5 ppm; Cu, Zn y B: 0.2 ppm.

EC: 1 to 1.3 dS/cm

HARVEST

It must be done when heads have formed and leaves show good coloring. Cut stems and remove lower leaves if necessary, leaving 2 or 3 outer leaves around the top.

POST HARVEST TREATMENT

Hydrate in an initial Chrysal solution at 0.3gr/liter dosis for 4 hours.

PACKAGING AND STORAGE

Pack in bunches of 5 stems.

PESTS & DISEASES

•Cutworm

•Slugs

•Aphids