Showstar®
- Dense, upright plumes
- Mixture includes many clear colors
- Perfect for pot production
- Crop Time
- Spring: 24 - 28 weeks
- Height ∅
- 14 ″ / 35 cm
- Exposure
- Sun - Shade
- Seed Form
- BeGreen Pelleting
- Heat Zone
- 8-2
- Hardiness Zone
- 4-8
- Best Uses
- Bedding, Cutflower, Landscape
Culture guide
Usage
Plants for the border, pot and container plants, cut flowers
Sow time
February-June for green pots June-July for flowering in pots the following year
Sowing method
3-5 seeds per plug
Germination
14-21 days at 72-77 °F (22-25 °C), cover seed lightly and keep very moist.
Growing on
Transplant plugs 10-14 weeks after sowing
Media
Use a well-drained, growing perennial substrate with 10-20 % clay, 0-15 % organic parts (e.g. bark, wood fibres),1-1.5 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, 3-4 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer (3-9 months), iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.5-6.0. Field: humus soils with good drainage and good nutrition levels. Standard fertilization: 80 g/m² slow release fertilizer. Sand soils are not suitable.
Temperature
Grow at 15-18 °C or outdoors. After development of the roots decrease the temperature to 12-15 °C. In winter indoors frost free at 3-5 °C or outdoors. Outdoor fleece cover needed and plants need to be protected against direct sunlight. For the vernalisation 12 weeks at temperature of 5 °C are required. At mid December the plants start to grow for 8-10 weeks at 15-18 °C.
Fertilization
High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 150-200 ppm nitrogen (at 3 kg/m³ slow release fertilizer in substrate), using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Don’t fertilize after mid September. In spring fertilize 150-200 ppm nitrogen of a potassium balance fertilizer. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,025 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency (above pH 6.0) apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Field: If necessary according to analysis, improve the soil with 60-80 g/m² fertilizer per year, applied in several portions. N min soil value: approximately 90 g N/m².
Stage I Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.
