Purple-green foliage color is maintained all season and is a good contrast to other plants. Cover seed with coarse vermiculite or growing medium and maintain a temperature of 72F-75F. Bench heating during germination produces more uniform and better germination. A low to moderate fertilizer rate is best during seedling and young plant stages. Apply a 100 parts per million fertigation at every irrigation or 150 ppm during two consecutive fertigations followed by irrigation with clear water. The 288 plugs can be grown for transplant into 6-inch pots, three plugs per pot.
Plugs are usually ready for transplanting in four to six weeks.
B-Nine can be applied at 2,500 parts per million to plugs just before transplanting to control growth. A second application of 2,500 ppm can be applied 14 days later. After transplanting, maintain day temperature at 75F and night temperature at 65F. Moderate fertilizer levels, 100-150 ppm, should be used to ensure fruit set. If higher rates are applied, fertilize less often. Fertilizer rates should also be based on environmental conditions, such as light and temperature levels.