Patio vegetables

Floranova has marketed a variety of ornamental patio vegetables for more than 10 years. To focus on the increasing popularity of edible plants, Icepage, the parent company of Floranova, created a new wholesale company called Vegetalis to breed, produce and market edible varieties. Container gardening and vegetable gardening are very popular with consumers, and the Vegetalis Patio Edibles line combines the two. Vegetalis will continue to offer the edible varieties developed by Floranova, including Tumbling Tom tomato, Apache chili pepper and Temptation strawberry. In addition, Vegetalis will expand its edible offerings with varieties that also offer ornamental value. New varieties that were introduced this spring include ‘Aristotle’ basil, ‘Gigantic’ chive, ‘Green Fingers’ okra, Aubergine Ivory and Ebony eggplants and the dwarf, upright Sweet ’n’ Neat tomato series.

All varieties in the Patio Edibles line should be sown in 512-size plugs or larger. Use a well-drained, disease-free growing medium with a pH of 5.5-6.0 and a electrical conductivity level of 0.5-1.0 milliSiemens per centimeter. The growing medium temperature for most varieties should be maintained at 70°F-72°F, with an air temperature of 60°F-70°F. For its hot and sweet peppers the growing medium temperature should be maintained at 70°F-75°F, with an air temperature of 60°F-70°F. Light levels should be 1,000-2,000 footcandles.

Fertilize with 50-100 parts per million nitrogen from a 14-0-14 fertilizer for the first 14 to 16 days and increase the rate to 100-150 ppm once a week until transplant.

Plugs (512-cell size) should be ready to transplant in 21 to 24 days. Plugs can be transplanted into 4-inch pots for growing on or planted directly into finished containers. The Sweet ‘n’ Neat tomato series can also be transplanted into cell pack flats.

The growing medium should have a pH of 5.5-6.3. Plants should be grown at 60°F-70°F during the day and 50°F-60°F at night. Plants should be grown under a light level of 4,000-5,000 footcandles.

Fertilize with 150 ppm nitrogen from a 13-2-13 or 15-0-15 fertilizer at every other watering.

Most of the Patio Edibles varieties can be finished in 8- to 10-inch pots. The Sweet ‘n’ Neat tomato series can be finished in 6-inch pots. Tomato plants should be grown at 55°F-65°F days and 50°F-60°F nights. The peppers should be grown at 65°F-75°F days and 62°F-65°F nights. Plants should be grown under a light level of 5,000-6,000 footcandles. Fertilize the plants at a rate of up to 200 ppm nitrogen from a 13-2-13 or 15-0-15 fertilizer at every watering. Leach the medium every three or four waterings to prevent salt buildup.

Plants finished from 512-cell plugs are ready for sale in four to six weeks. Plants finished from 4-inch pots into 8- to 10-inch pots are ready for sale in six to eight weeks.

Pest and disease problems vary between crops. Aphids, spider mites, thrips and whitefly are the most common insect pests. Botrytis, Rhizoctonia, Pythium and tomato spotted wilt virus are the most common disease problems on tomatoes. Phytophthora blight is the primary pathogen of peppers. Botrytis is the biggest concern on eggplant.

For more: Vegetalis, 011 (44) 321-9573; www.vegetalis.co.uk .