Culture: SUCCESS! Petunias and Salvia Summer Jewel White

SUCCESS! Petunias

Benary’s SUCCESS! Petunias have uniform habits and flower timing. They are fast to finish — so growing your red, white and blue containers will be a snap. Reduced lighting needs and consistent PGR requirements across all colors means that you treat every plant the same. The mounded, spreading habit shows off color at retail, and in the garden.
 

Production :

• Transplant from a 288 tray into any sized container from packs to hanging baskets.
• Use a well drained media with a pH 5.5-5.8; EC 1.5-2.0
• All Petunias need long days to flower, however, SUCCESS! Petunias are less day length sensitive than any other series. To initiate bud under short days, extend day length to 14 hours. and provide 12-18 mols (3,500-5,000 f.c.).
• After transplant, maintain > 55°F (13°C) nights for the first 6 weeks to initiate flower buds, then lower night temperatures to 50°F (10°C) to encourage branching and compactness. An average daily temperature of 67°F (19 °C) will give the fastest finished crop.
• Apply B-Nine before the buds are visible. Late applications can delay flowering and reduce flower size. Light drenches of Bonzi or Piccolo can be used in the final container.
   

Fertilizer:
Feed at 100 to 200 ppm nitrogen. Under high light, use an ammonium-based feed or for low-light conditions apply a calcium-based feed.

Fertilize with potassium nitrate at 100 ppm 1-2 weeks prior to shipping.

Pests & Diseases:
Primarily aphids, Botrytis, rhizoctonia.

Apply fungicides during long periods of low light and high humidity.

Salvia Summer Jewel White

Salvia Summer Jewel White is American Takii’s newest AAS-winning variety. The Summer Jewel series brings important attributes that include faster finishing times, durable garden performance and environmental benefits as it attracts pollinators such as humming birds and bees.

The Summer Jewel series also requires fewer inputs such as growth regulators and time in production. Summer Jewel can be placed into most gardens in full sun or partial shade and once established will continue to grow and flower until first frost. Summer Jewel withstands most all conditions and shows good performance in dry, arid settings. Summer Jewel can reach garden heights of 30 inches.
 

Crop Time:
Under normal greenhouse conditions, 288-plug timing will be 5 to 6 weeks from sow with an additional 4 to 5 weeks finishing time in packs and 4 inches.
 

Plug stage:

• Germination 6 to 7 days, dibbled tray, cover seed with vermiculite approximately ¼ inch deep, 72 to 74°F for most of plug life. Plugs can be cooled to 68 to 70°F through stages 3 and 4. EC (Pour-through method): 0.5 to 0.8 during germination, slightly higher for stages 3 and 4.
• Day length extension to 15 hours during plug life can benefit Summer Jewel and will hasten flowering significantly.
   

Plug finish time: 5 to 6 weeks. Plugs can be cooled to 68 to 70°F through stages 3 & 4.
 

Transplant and Finishing:
One plant per container (Pack & 4 inch) into a well-drained media and maintain a moderate moisture level during the early stages of root development. Salvia can withstand dry conditions for short periods during the young plant stage; however, if allowed to wilt, tip burn and leaf drop may occur. A Cal-Mag feed can be used for general fertilization during finish phase (100 to 200 ppm). Finishing temperatures can range between 68 to 72°F.
 

PGR:
Summer Jewel will respond very well to B-Nine at rates of 2500 ppm. Ensure that leaf temperature and ambient greenhouse temperature are cool before applying any PGR as leaf curl and tip burn can occur otherwise.
 

Uses:
Packs, small and large containers and landscape — Summer Jewel will perform in most all conditions in partial shade to full sun.