EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE, PINCHING, AND PLANT DENSITY ON QUALITY AND YIELD OF FIELD-GROWN GODETIA

Abstract

Different planting dates, plant densities and pinching practices were used to determine the production practices that produced the best quality cut stems from field grown godetia under Kentucky conditions. Godetia `Grace Salmon' transplants were planted at a plant density of 40 plants m-2 on Mar 23, Apr 8 and Apr 23, 1991 in ground beds with black plastic mulch. All plants flowered in early to mid June, but plants from the Mar 23 planting date had the highest yields of commercial quality stems (387 stems m-2) and over 80% of the stems were longer than 55 cm. In a separate experiment, transplants of `Grace Red' and `Grace Rose Pink' were planted on April 5 at plant densities of 4.5 m-2 (unpinched), 10 m-2 (soft pinch on May 1) and 23 m-2 (hard pinch on May 1). Pinching treatments were used to increase the number of secondary and tertiary branches on each plant. Although the pinching treatments produced more branches, a low percentage of the branches were commercial quality cut stems.