The CFC Management Group is looking at the possibility of instigating a University based research project to look at this problem in 2010. Phlox Plots of seven phlox varieties planted at Kirton in 2007 were dug out and, after a period of cold storage, transplanted at Rookery Farm. They established well and were grown-on to assess their continuing flowering potential. The cultivars were highly variable in their productivity. ‘Sugar Missy’ was relatively early, and produced the greatest number of stems with the greatest length and a reasonable weight. It had the longest vase-life, 18 to 21 days, but there was yellowing foliage by day 11 in one out of three samples. ‘Magical Dream’ and ‘Magical Fragrance’ also gave good numbers of stems, and had average picking dates, stem weights and stem lengths, and vase-lives of 12 to 15 days. ‘Ice Cap’ produced yields and was ‘mid-season’, had the heaviest stems and long stems, but its vase-life was well below 11 days. ‘Miss Fiona’ and ‘Miss Marple’ also produced lower yields, but were early, with long, heavy stems and vase-lives that varied between 12 and 19 days in tests. ‘Magical Surprise’ was the latest flowering variety and consequently yielded few stems within the period of the trial. Stem weight was average, but stem length was relatively low. It produced insufficient stems for vase-life testing. Clearly some phlox varieties show potential for greater production, with good vase-lives. Further cultivar comparisons may be worthwhile in future years. Autumn column stocks A Dutch propagator had suggested that if column stocks were propagated in peat blocks rather than small plugs, they should flower both earlier and more evenly. The logic behind this thinking was that the blocks would produce a larger and more robust plant that would grow away quickly and produce a better quality crop. However, the trial demonstrated that there was no advantage from planting blocks because the crop still flowered very unevenly. The later plantings did not flower before the tunnel
1. Antirrhinum (‘trumpet’ varieties) (Antirrhinum Demonstration plots Two new varieties coded: AHC 129 AHC 130 (Ball Holland) Transplanted 9 July ‘Haygrove’ tunnel and outside 64 plants/m2 Not specified 2. Brassica (ornamental) (Brassica oleracea) Direct-seeding compared with transplanting ‘Bright White’ (Ball Holland) White Crane (Combinations) Direct-drilled week 24 Transplanted week 26 Outside in five rows, 5cm apart in outer rows, 7cm apart in inner rows Outside 64 plants/m2 When there was significant colour change and stem length >65cm 3. China aster (‘German asters’) (Callistephus chinensis) Determination of planting date, density, pinching, double-cropping and varietal evaluation ‘Krallen Golden’ ‘Krallen Kameo’ (Ball Holland) ‘Gala Lavender’ (Combinations) Transplanted weeks 24, 26, 28 and 30 Transplanted 28 and 31 ‘Pro Tech’ tunnels 32, 48 and 64 plants/m2 As above Not specified 4. Dahlia (Dahlia hybrids) Demonstration ‘Karma’ series ‘Lagoon’ ‘Choc’ ‘Prospero’ ‘Amanda’ ‘Bon Bini’ ‘Thalia’ ‘Ying Yang’ ‘Sangria’ ‘Maarten de Zwaan’ ‘Ventura’ ‘Royal’ ‘Serena’ ‘Fiesta’ ‘Red Corona’ ‘Corona’ ‘Pink Corona’ ‘Irene’ ‘Naomi’ (via William van Braght) Transplanted week 24 or 26 ‘Pro Tech’ tunnel and outside 9 plants/m2 50% of petals reflexed (unless otherwise stated) Table 1. Cut-flowers grown at the CFC in 2009 continued.... Species and purpose of trial Varieties, series, (producer/supplier) Transplanting or drilling dates Site and planting density Picking stages and specs
5. Dianthus (annual) (Dianthus barbatus) Planting date and density trial Amazon series ‘Neon Cherry’ ‘Neon Purple’ ‘Rose Magic’ (Ball Holland) Transplanted weeks 24, 28 and 30 ‘Pro Tech’ tunnel 64, 80 and 96 plants/m2 Stage 2, 3 to 5 florets open and stem length >60cm 6. Phlox (Phlox paniculata) Variety demonstration ‘Icecap’ ‘Miss Marple’ ‘Miss ‘Sugar Missy’ (Bartels) ‘Magical Dream’ ‘Magical Fragrance’ ‘Magical Surprise’ (Kolsters) Stock plants transplanted from Kirton ‘Haygrove’ tunnel 16 plants/m2 With a stem, spike length >8cm and stem length >52cm 7. Sedum spp.) Variety demonstration Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ S. hybrida ‘Autumn Joy’ S. ‘Matrona’ S. spectabile ‘Brilliant’ S. ‘Superior Pink’ S. ‘Superior White’ S. telephilium ‘Carl’ S. telephilium ‘Munstead Dark Red’ (Combifleur, Kolsters) plants transplanted from Kirton Outside 6 plants/m2 50% florets showing colour, stem length >50cm and bunch weight 300g 8. Column stocks (for autumn flowering) (Matthiola incana) Plug versus peat block trial ‘Centum (Combinations) Transplanted 26, 28 and 33 ‘Pro Tech’ tunnel 64 plants/m2 Not specified Picking stages of ‘German asters’ (left) and annual dianthus (right)