Schedule Crop - Rudbeckia Goldsturm

Rudbeckia Goldsturm

Data is gathered from our Elburn, Ill., trials (Zone 5a) for a North American audience. Warm-climate growers: expect 1-2 weeks earlier finishing. Cool-climate growers: expect 1 week slower. Dates based on standard 288 plug size.

Notes/Pitfall Management
Not reliably and uniformly first year flowering, even with short day treated plugs. Best overwintered.

Week color desired

Sow week

Plug transplant week

Spring/Summer

Quart
(1 ppp)

Gallon
(1 ppp)

Grow plugs under short days from 2 to 10 true leaf stage. Transplant into natural long days of 15 hours or more; or provide day extension lighting to 16 hours or night interruption lighting.

Late-Summer/Fall

Quart
(1 ppp)

Gallon
(1 ppp)

Grow plugs under short days from 2 to 10 true leaf stage. Transplant into natural long days of 15 hours or more.

Rudbeckia Goldsturm

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Germination
Seed Form:	PRM
PlugSize:	288
Seeds/Cell:	2
Plug Crop Weeks:	6-8
Days from 50% to maximum germination:	3-5
Cover Seed:	Yes

Plug Production
Stage 1
Moisture:	Level 4
Temperature:	72-77°F (22-25°C)
Light:	Optional

Stage 2
Moisture:	Level 3-4
Temperature:	68-74°F (20-23°C)
Light:	2,000-2,500 fc (21,500-26,900 Lux)
Fertilizer:	100 to 175 ppm N (0.7 to 1.2 EC)

Stage 3
Moisture:	Level 2-3
Temperature:	65-68°F (18-20°C)
Light:	2,000-2,500 fc (21,500-26,900 Lux)
Fertilizer:	100 to 175 ppm N (0.7 to 1.2 EC)

Stage 4
Moisture:	Level 2
Temperature:	60-65°F (16-18°C)
Light:	4,000-5,000 fc (43,100-53,800 Lux)
Fertilizer:	100 to 175 ppm N (0.7 to 1.2 EC)

Vernalization:	No
Propagation Key Tips:	Annual program for late Summer flowering: provide 10-hour short days. Bulk from 2 true leaves (approximately 4 weeks after sowing) until 10 true leaves for more uniform flowering. Step up 288 plugs into 72 or 50 cell, maintaining 10-hour short days. For forcing info: See Perennials Forcing Guide.

Growing on to Finish
Growing on Temperature:	(day) 65-68°F (18-20°C) (night) 60-65°F (16-18°C)
Target Media pH/EC (1:2):	5.8-6.5 pH 1.2-1.5 mmhos/cm
Fertilizer:	175 to 225 ppm N (1.2 to 1.5 EC)
Daylength:	Short Day-Long Day
Daylength Notation:	Best plant structure comes under Short Day conditions (12 hours or less) until 10-leaf stage, then Long Day (15 hours or longer). For forcing info: see Perennials Forcing Guide.
Fertilizer Notation:	Use 100 to 125 ppm liquid N balanced fertilizer with every irrigation, or 200 to 300 ppm N balanced fertilizer as needed.
Bulking Strategy:	See Quick Study Forcing: use short days (less than 12 hours) from 2 to 10 true leaves (approximately 12 to 14 weeks) to plan for week 35 sales. For forcing info: See Perennials Forcing Guide.
Finishing Key Tips:	Relatively high feeder. Use long day (15 hours or longer) or night interruption to finish early pottings or use vernalised plugs. Prevent Mg and Fe deficiency. Monitor for Botrytis and downy mildew. High light and good ventilation are beneficial. PGR advice as follows: best effect with Sumagic 2x 15 ppm spray; another PGR option is a tank mix of B-Nine 2,500 ppm/CCC 750 ppm 3x spray. Possible foliage issues can occur on new growth leaves (puckering, cup up, tip marginal burning) during flower induction period because of more difficult mineral transport during this developmental stage. There is no good fertilisation correction possible, only maintain as low an RH as possible with optimal ventilation to have optimal plant transport of elements. The foliage issue will mostly have disappeared at flowering sales stage. For Autumn forcing info: See Perennials Forcing Guide.