| Common Name | Matricaria, Feverfew |
| Genus | Tanacetum |
| Species | T. parthenium |
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Life Cycle | Perennial - can be grown as an annual, readily self seeds. |
| Tray Size | 125 |
| Plug Care | Harden off and plant out or bump up soon after receiving plugs. Do not allow plugs to become stressed or rootbound as this will limit their success and cause premature flowering on short plants. |
| Netting / Staking | Netting is recommended - ideally two layers to support this tall, top-heavy crop. This is especially important in areas with high wind or rain. |
| Temperature Range | 70-75F day and night is ideal - they can handle some summertime heat but prefer slightly cooler conditions. |
| Spacing | 8-12" - can be planted more densely if being grown as an annual. See detailed culture sheet linked below for more detailed instruction on spacing. |
| Soil Preference | Most well draining, fertile soils of neutral pH will suffice. Amend soil with compost and granular fertilizer prior to planting for best results. |
| Day Length | Obligate long-day plants: only flower when days are long (14+ hours) and nights are short. |
| Pinching | Not recommended. |
| When to Plant | Matricaria plugs can be planted in the fall and overwintered for early spring blooms the next season. They can also be planted in the spring for blooms in the same season. Fall or early spring (before last frost) plantings will yield the strongest stems as they have time to bulk up vegetatively before setting buds. |
| Harvesting | Harvest when 65-75% of the flowers on a stem have opened fully. The remaining flowers will open in the vase. Cut stems deeply, close to ground level to encourage additional flowers. |
| Post Harvest Care | Cut stems should immediately be placed into cool water. Use a holding solution or floral preservative to maximize vase life which is typically 1-2 weeks. Matricaria flowers are not sensitive to ethylene gas and can be stored in a cooler until needed. |
| Diseases / Insects | Matricaria are typically resistant to most pests and diseases but can fall victim to the typical plant pests if they are stressed or diseased. Watch for aphids, thrips, leaf miners and caterpillars and treat as needed. Diseases can include botrytis, pythium, rhizoctonia and sclerotinia. Other issues to watch for are rosetting due to lack of sufficient daylength, tip abortion or leaf burn due to inadequate temperature control (in greenhouse settings; this is rarely an issue when field grown). |
| Bailey's Notes | Matricaria readily self sows and will continue to populate a bed for years to come. Do not allow plants to set seed in areas that they may become a nuisance or escape cultivation entirely. |
| Resources | Vegmo Series Culture Sheet |