| Common Name | Dianthus, specifically Kiwi (Kiwi Mellow Cool, Kiwi Bunny) and Green Wicky and all Carnations (Standard and Spray) as well as Sparkz (Solomio, and Raffine) |
| Genus | Dianthus |
| Species | D. barbatus (dianthus), D. caryophyllus (carnations) |
| Family | Caryophyllaceae |
| Life Cycle | Short-lived perennial in mild climates. D. caryophyllus types (Carnations) are classified as biennial/perennial and D. barbatus (Sweet William) types are classified as annual/biennial according to the breeders. |
| Tray Size | 50 (half tray) |
| Plug Care | Plant soon after arrival. Do not allow plugs to become stressed prior to planting (heat or drought stress, or becoming root bound will affect the overall quality of the product). When planting, insure the top of the plug is visible above the soil level - do not plant deeply, only 80% of the plug should be under the substrate. |
| Netting / Staking | Professional growers use 4-5 layers of netting for carnations (Caryophyllus types) in order to achieve the straightest stems. Barbatus types can be grown using two layers only. |
| Temperature Range |
Carnations: In greenhouse conditions, optimal temperature for planting is 60F day and night for a quick establishment period. For growing on, mild day temperatures and cool night temperatures are ideal. A significant difference between day and night temperatures results in greater stem length. When planting in the field (not recommended), transplant in early spring about a month before last frost and protect from freezing with Agribon. Southern zones (likely 9 and higher) can plant in the fall and grow year-round. Protection from frost and freezing is a must - fall plantings are best done in a hoop house. These varieties are new to the US and have not been extensively trialed in the range of growing zones found here. It is unknown exactly how hardy these carnations are but they should be kept above 45F. Dianthus: These cultivars are frost tolerant to a degree. They very well could be completely hardy, but we can not guarantee that. Fall planting will be successful in the south, or in unheated hoops in mid-zones. An early spring planting is the safer option for mid to northern zones. In this case, plant a month before last frost and protect from deep freezes. |
| Spacing |
Dianthus: The breeder recommends 24 plants per square meter of bed space, which works out to approximately 8x8 inch spacing. Carnations: You can use the same spacing as the dianthus, or space them a little closer together - approximately 28 to 36 plants per square meter or 6.5-7 inches apart in a checkerboard pattern. |
| Soil Preference | Light, well draining soil is essential. Good organic matter and nutrient content are beneficial. Slightly acidic pH of 5.5-6.5 ideal. For the first 2 weeks after planting, water overhead to ensure the plugs receive adequate moisture during root development. After this period use drip irrigation - 3 or 4 lines per bed will suffice. Do not let the soil dry out completely - keep soil constantly moist but not saturated. Carnations and Dianthus are fairly hungry plants and benefit from liquid fertilizer applications throughout the growing season. |
| Day Length | Facultative long-day plants. Combination of high light and high temperature may result in shorter stems, so a cool establishment period is beneficial. They prefer to be grown in full sun in the field and during cooler months in the greenhouse. In summer greenhouse conditions or in the extreme south during the peak of summer a shade cloth of up to 50% will help to keep plants from overheating. |
| Pinching | For both dianthus and carnations (standard and spray) it is recommended to pinch the plants once, 3-4 weeks after planting, above the 5th or 6th leaf pair to achieve 8-10 side shoots. It is recommended to pinch in the morning for the health of the plant. For spray-type Carnations (including Solomino, Raffine) remove the main bud when it is large enough to pinch out. For standard Carnations, remove all the side branches/buds so only the main bud remains (be careful to not damage the leaves during this process). |
| When to Plant |
Zone 9 and warmer: Plant Carnations and Dianthus in the fall, in unheated hoop houses. (recommended) or in the field (protect with Agribon during periods of extreme cold) Mid-zones (7-8): Plant Dianthus in the fall in the field or in an unheated hoop house, plant Carnations in minimally heated hoop houses only. Northern zones: Plant Dianthus and Carnations in the early spring, before last frost, and protect with Agribon during cold spells. Dianthus (not carnations) can likely be fall planted in unheated tunnels and overwintered but we can not guarantee their winter hardiness. It is unknown just how hardy these plants are - report back with your experience so we can broaden our understanding of these cultivars. |
| Harvesting |
Expect the first flush 3-5 months after planting, depending on series, time of year and temperature/weather conditions. If planting in the field in early spring, the first flush will likely be 3 months from planting. For standard Carnations, harvest when still in bud stage with the first petals unfolding and showing color. For sprays, harvest when the first 1-2 buds are opening and an addition 1-2 buds are showing color. For Dianthus, harvest when the flower umbels form a dense, spherical shape (Wicky will have more of a semi-circular shape) and Kiwi Bunny should have the first flowers opening but the majority of the umbel still in bud. Use a clean sharp knife or snips to remove the flower at the base, leaving 2 pairs of leaves on carnations or 2-3cm above soil level for dianthus to ensure good development of the plants for an additional flush of flowers. |
| Post Harvest Care | Immediately after cutting, plunge cut stems into cool, fresh water. Carnations are ethylene sensitive and will benefit from the use of a floral preservative containing sugars and an anti-ethylene agent to help increase vase life. This is not essential, but it's what the professionals do. Dianthus do not require this treatment. Store in a cooler at 40F. |
| Diseases / Insects | Humidity between 60-85% is ideal and good ventilation/air movement is essential to prevent diseases such as Botrytis, Rhizoctonia, rust, Fusarium, powdery mildew, Alternaria and ring spot. It is important to keep the plants from getting too hot, or having them in both too dry or too saturated soil. Insect pests include thrips, spider mites, leaf miners or caterpillars. Scout your plants often to find and treat pests before they get out of control. |
| Bailey's Notes | These series - especially the carnations - are ideally grown in a cool greenhouse, minimally heated in the winter for longer production. You can attempt to grow them in the open field or an unheated tunnel but you may not see the additional flushes which can be achieved under ideal conditions. Please report back with your personal experiences with crops so we can understand how they perform in the US. Better carnation colors to come! |
| Resources | N/A |