CROP TIME
From planting to harvest: 20 weeks
From pruning: 18-19 weeks.
PLANTING DENSITY
6 Plants/m2 net. Plants are spaced in a quincunx pattern with 40 cms between plants.
PRE-PLANTING
Soil: Loose and well-drained soil, at least 25 cms deep.
pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Netting: 2-3 levels
EC: 0.8 to 1.2
PINCH
Pinch apex when plants have 8 pairs of leaves. Four days after pinch apply GA3 at 250 ppm. Do a second GA3 8 days after the first application; apply a third application only to plants with delayed growth.
PRUNING
Low approx. 2 to 3 cms (1 to 2 in). If no drip system is used, to prevent diseases it must be higher (at 5 cms). It is advised to seal with fungicides to protect from diseases.
THINING AFTER PRUNING
5 weeks after pruning, shoot selection must be completed leaving 12 to 15 uniform shoots for bouquet use and 8 to 10 for high end full bunches. After selection, apply GA3 at 250 ppm. Do a third application only to plants with delayed growth.
IRRIGATION
Use overhead irrigation for the first week after planting. Then, switch to drip irrigation. Keep the soil at field capacity during the establishment of the plant. Apply 4-5 L/day/m2 (according to environmental conditions and soil type). Reduce irrigation at 20 – 25 % when the floral bud appears. One week before pruning, stop irrigation and restart 1 week after pruning increasing it gradually as leaves appears.
HARVEST
When grown under greenhouse, harvest when 70 to 80% of the flowers are open.
When grown outside, harvest when 30% of the flowers are open followed by 5 to 7 days inside an opening chamber at a temperature of 76° F to 81°F and high relative humidity (50%-60%). Clean scisors twice per bed with disinfecting solution (Timsen 2 g/L).
POST HARVEST TREATMENT
Harvest at 70% -80% flower opening
Immediately after harvest, hydrate stems in STS harvesting solution for 24 hours.
Harvesting Solution: Chrysal AVB: 1 ml/L; AVB Booster: 1 ml/L
Then hydrate in a Chrysal Profesional 2 solution at 6 ml/L for 12 hours in a cold room.
Harvest at 30% flower opening
Apply same harvesting solutions and conditions as above, then place stems in a opening solution until desired floral opening (50%-80%).
Openning Solution: Chrysal OVB: 3 ml/L; AVB: 1 ml/L; Sugar: 30 g/L Keep at thi soslution for 6 hours
Then hydrate in a Chrysal Profesional 3 solution at 10 ml/L and sugar: 50 gr/L
Replace the solution every 2 days.
PESTS & DISEASES
•Leaf miner, Thrips, Powdery mildew, Mites