The CFC Management Group is looking at the possibility of instigating a University based research project to look at this problem in 2010. Phlox Plots of seven phlox varieties planted at Kirton in 2007 were dug out and, after a period of cold storage, transplanted at Rookery Farm. They established well and were grown-on to assess their continuing flowering potential. The cultivars were highly variable in their productivity. Missy’ was relatively early, ‘Sugar and produced the greatest number of stems with the greatest length and a reasonable weight. It had the longest vase-life, 18 to 21 days, but there was yellowing foliage by day 11 in one out of three samples. Dream’ and Fragrance’ also gave good ‘Magical ‘Magical numbers of stems, and had average picking dates, stem weights and stem lengths, and vase-lives of 12 to 15 days. Cap’ produced yields and was had the heaviest stems and long ‘Ice ‘mid-season’, stems, but its vase-life was well below 11 days. Fiona’ and Marple’ also ‘Miss ‘Miss produced lower yields, but were early, with long, heavy stems and vase-lives that varied between 12 and 19 days in tests. Surprise’ was the latest flowering variety and consequently yielded few stems within ‘Magical the period of the trial. Stem weight was average, but stem length was relatively low. It produced insufficient stems for vase-life testing. Clearly some phlox varieties show potential for greater production, with good vase-lives. Further cultivar comparisons may be worthwhile in future years. Autumn column stocks A Dutch propagator had suggested that if column stocks were propagated in peat blocks rather than small plugs, they should flower both earlier and more evenly. The logic behind this thinking was that the blocks would produce a larger and more robust plant that would grow away quickly and produce a better quality crop. However, the trial demonstrated that there was no advantage from planting blocks because the crop still flowered very unevenly. The later plantings did not flower before the tunnel
The CFC Management Group is looking at the possibility of instigating a University based research project to look at this problem in 2010. Phlox Plots of seven phlox varieties planted at Kirton in 2007 were dug out and, after a period of cold storage, transplanted at Rookery Farm. They established well and were grown-on to assess their continuing flowering potential. The cultivars were highly variable in their productivity. ‘Sugar Missy’ was relatively early, and produced the greatest number of stems with the greatest length and a reasonable weight. It had the longest vase-life, 18 to 21 days, but there was yellowing foliage by day 11 in one out of three samples. ‘Magical Dream’ and ‘Magical Fragrance’ also gave good numbers of stems, and had average picking dates, stem weights and stem lengths, and vase-lives of 12 to 15 days. ‘Ice Cap’ produced yields and was ‘mid-season’, had the heaviest stems and long stems, but its vase-life was well below 11 days. ‘Miss Fiona’ and ‘Miss Marple’ also produced lower yields, but were early, with long, heavy stems and vase-lives that varied between 12 and 19 days in tests. ‘Magical Surprise’ was the latest flowering variety and consequently yielded few stems within the period of the trial. Stem weight was average, but stem length was relatively low. It produced insufficient stems for vase-life testing. Clearly some phlox varieties show potential for greater production, with good vase-lives. Further cultivar comparisons may be worthwhile in future years. Autumn column stocks A Dutch propagator had suggested that if column stocks were propagated in peat blocks rather than small plugs, they should flower both earlier and more evenly. The logic behind this thinking was that the blocks would produce a larger and more robust plant that would grow away quickly and produce a better quality crop. However, the trial demonstrated that there was no advantage from planting blocks because the crop still flowered very unevenly. The later plantings did not flower before the tunnel
PC_BOF_268a-%20FINAL.docx