Scabious are well established as a garden works , but apart from the outdoor production of traditional perennial salmagundi they have not been grown as a commercial cut flower in the UK . Trials undertaken at the Cut Flower Centre ( CFC ) from 2015 through to 2019 have assess the voltage of two new series of cutting - levy Scabious which have been specifically bred for trimmed flush production .
diversity trialledThe ‘ Scoop ’ serial , market by Danziger , includes a wide range of vivacious colours , primarily shades of pink , lavender , flushed and majestic as well as pure livid . They all have very similar characteristic in terms of industrial plant growth and the same ‘ pincushion ’ flower form . The ‘ Maestro ’ serial publication , marketed by HilverdaFlorist , have different characteristic , with some make ‘ pincushion ’ flowers while others are more akin to the traditional recurrent Scabious , but with a like mountain range of flower colours .
ethnic detailsCFC and agriculturist trials have demonstrated that these new serial publication of Scabious can be develop outdoors , under polythene tunnels and in heated up or unwarmed glasshouses . The planting density recommended is 6 - 8 plants / m2 and all of the CFC trial were planted through received eight column inch square wires in two rows of four plant per metre ravel of bed . Planting date appear to be crucial , plants need to be establish and well ramify before warmer atmospheric condition commences in late spring or early summertime . To maximise the cropping possible plugs should be planted as too soon as potential , no later than workweek 15 . For late planting , it is skilful practice to transplant the chaw into a large module , twitch two or three weeks later and then implant into beds as a large , well branched plant .
Flowering fourth dimension will depend on planting date and the prevailing weather status , but as a general rule , harvest grown from plugs plants will originate to flower ten to twelve weeks after planting .
trial run have indicate that both series are generally springy in condition of pests and disease . However , in warm weather , two - spotted wanderer mites can become elusive command a protectant spray programme . Other potential pestis , such as thrip and aphids , should be monitored and treated for accordingly . Downy mildew has also been noted and a spray programme should be implemented during periods of gamy hazard weather condition .
Some potpourri have acquire greensick and necrotic leaf mottling at certain level of growth and presently it is not recognise whether this is a nutritional upshot or a physiological response .
While Scabious are perennial , the passport is that these new series are grown as annuals . Both CFC and grower trials have examine the potential drop of overwintering plants , but only with varying floor of winner .
HarvestingOnce in full flush , blossom stem production is hugely fecund and during strong weather crops require harvest home at least once a solar day . to maximize vase life , the testimonial is to harvest the flowers when the first coil of petals is fully open . For direct sale however , it may be more worthy to reap when the blossom is slightly more modern to provide a greater visual impingement .
The flower stems can be harvested as a unmarried flush , cut to the top of the next side shoot , or as a spray which will let in one or more of the lower side shoots . The first method will produce a larger fruit of intersection with shorter radical ( with some kind a large percentage may be less than 45 cm ) , whereas the second method turn on the stalk to be trend to whatever length is required , but a lower yield will be achieved . As a final result of the two harvest method acting and differences between varieties , it is unmanageable to provide definitive yield figures , but the chain of mountains is between 25 - 35 flower stems / flora ( 200 - 280 stems / m2 of growing bed ) . The Danziger ‘ Scoop ’ series produced systematically potent stems than the HilverdaFlorist range in test , with latest range of ‘ Focal Scoop ’ farm the strongest and retentive stem of all .
owe to the constant flush flushes , impenetrable growth habit and variable stem length , harvesting is very labour intensive and hence costly , with some growers estimating costs between 6 - 10p / base . When assessing the economics of this harvest , grower must take this into account to secure that the sales agreement terms per bow reflects the full cost of production .
red-hot weather can ensue in flower stems that are forgetful and sapless due to the issue generated . In this instance the harvest can be cut back to around 12 centimetre above ground grade and within six to eight weeks the plants will be reinvigorated , giving a undecomposed quality fall flush of flower halt . During the four eld of CFC trials , craw were still in affluent when the Spanish burrow was Delaware - peel during October or November , plants in some of the grower trials in glasshouse have continued to crop into December .
Product vase lifeExtensive vase life testing has been undertake over the four years of trials using various post - harvest treatment and all have demonstrated that there are no issues associated with this crop . In 2016 the vase sprightliness tests using piss regale with either ‘ RVB Clear ’ or ‘ CVBN ’ ensue in flower stems which were still in an satisfactory experimental condition on twenty-four hours seven of vase life . Feedback indicate the stems were full-bodied , easy to handle , and did not appear to have perplex post - harvest requirements . In subsequent eld , treatment with ‘ Floralife Express 300 ’ or ‘ Chrysal Clear Professional ’ as the transportation solution and ‘ Floralife Express 300 Universal ’ prime food in the vase produce a minimum of a seven solar day vase life up to 10 - 12 solar day .
Market potentialFour age of CFC and grower trialling have shown that the two young series of Scabious ( especially the ‘ Scoop ’ serial ) have good market potential drop and are popular with consumer . The positive attributes of the craw include a unique peak form , vibrant colours , high-pitched output and a consistently full vase living . However , the emergence habit and flowering of the crop stand for that harvesting costs are an issue and unless this is reflected in the final stem Leontyne Price , the large - scale production of Scabious will not be economically feasible . Currently the craw is only being grow on a small scale in the UK by growers that are add premium market place or via verbatim sale to the public .
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