Common Name | Stock |
Genus | Matthiola |
Species | incana |
Family | Brassicaceae |
Life Cycle | annual |
Tray Size | 125 |
Plug Care | Transplant with 1 week of arrival. |
Netting / Staking | 1 layer of support netting. |
Temperature Range | 28-75F |
Spacing | Plant clumps of 2 to 3 plants every 6". |
Soil Preference | Fertile, moist, and well drained. |
Day Length | Facultative long day. |
Pinching | No |
When to Plant | Plant in the cool part of the year, either 2-4 weeks before first frost in fall, or 4-6 weeks before last frost in the spring. |
Harvesting | Harvest when flowers are 2/3 open. Don't cut too young as the buds don't continue opening as much as other species. |
Post Harvest Care | Holding solution in the cooler. |
Diseases / Insects | Generally pest free. Aphids and other common pests may occur from time to time. |
Bailey's Notes | The cooler you grow stock, the better the quality will be. It needs lots of fertility and must never dry out. This is a crop that won't recover from a single bad day in its life, but if you meet its needs will reward you with tall stems topped with impressively large flowers. They have a strong tap root, and need to be planted on arrival. Do not hold stock in its tray for more than a few days. The best stock is grown in a high tunnel, transplanted in late winter. It can handle a frost, but prefers to establish in a range of 35-50F. Don't worry if you see buds forming when the plant is too short. They add significant height from the time of bud initiation to harvest. |
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