Orlaya grown from Farmer Bailey plugs and photographed by Morningside Meadows, Ohio.
| Common Name | Orlaya |
| Genus | Orlaya |
| Species | O. grandiflora |
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Life Cycle | Half-hardy Annual |
| Tray Size | 210 |
| Plug Care | Harden off and plant out or bump up soon after receiving. Being in the carrot family, Orlaya has a tap root and does not like to get rootbound. Transplant carefully to avoid excessive root disturbance, and keep moist until plants acclimate to their new bed. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary. |
| Temperature Range | These plants can tolerate some frost when young. They prefer cooler weather and will start to decline when the temperature is consistently at or above 80F. |
| Spacing | 6-12" |
| Soil Preference | Loose, fertile, well draining soil. Apply a granular fertilizer before transplanting or feed lightly with a liquid fertilizer until buds start to develop. |
| Day Length | Long day plants; will flower mid summer through to frost. Plant in full sun. |
| Pinching | Not necessary. |
| When to Plant |
In zones 7 and up, fall plant your plugs into prepared beds. They will be happiest in a hoop or at least protected with agribon. Early spring plantings, a couple weeks before the last frost date, will also provide the plants with a long cool period to establish roots before the heat kicks in. Orlaya isn't the longest flowering plant and you may need a couple successions, planted 2-3 weeks apart, to extend the blooming window. They will start to suffer when the temperature stays at 80F or above for an extended period of time. Fall plantings will give the longest stems, and the earliest bloom time out of all the plantings. |
| Harvesting | Expect flowers approximately 60 days after transplanting, although this can vary greatly depending on weather and temperature. Harvest when approximately 80% of the flowers on the inflorescence are open and they will continue to open in the vase. If cut when too mature there is a higher risk of pollen shed and a decreased vase life. |
| Post Harvest Care | Cut stems should immediately be placed into cool water; a floral preservative may help extend the vase life. Expect an average vase life of one week. |
| Diseases / Insects | These plants are robust and rarely suffer from disease or insects. Common plant insects such as aphids or thrips may become a problem. |
| Bailey's Notes | These plants will readily self seed and could become a nuisance if left to set seed in the field. |
| Resources | NA |