CROP MANUAL Helianthus annuus “SUNBLAST” Central Europe North Europe From cuttings to finished © 2020 Syngenta. All rights reserved. The publication and its content is proprietary to Syngenta. It may not be photocopied or reproduced in any form. Product names marked ® or ™, Syngenta Flowers, the SYNGENTA Wordmark and the SYNGENTA Logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta has exercised reasonable care and skill in compiling this publication. All data in this brochure is intended for general guidance only and the user should apply it only for the purposes for which it has been created and in accordance with his own knowledge and experience of local conditions. Syngenta cannot accept any liability in connection with this advice. TM Classification: PUBLIC Finished Plant “Sunblast” Remarks Series Type Leaf color Pot size Comment Vegetative interspecific Sunfinity from seed Vigorous dark green 17 - 23 cm focus on 17-19 cm Helianthus is a facultative short-day plant. Calendar Week 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Young plants are delivered under SHORT DAY P & S F F propagation P & S F F Estimated finished crop time from transplant of a 4 P & S F F week old 72 X-tray plug and P & S F F finished at an average daily Scheduling transplant potting from temperature (ADT) of 20⁰C & 72 X-Tray with pinching to a Ø 21 cm P S F F under short days. pot. P & S F F Pinch in finished crop after approx Plants flower under both one week. P & S F F Pinch will delay crop by 7 - 10 days short days and long days, P & S F F but flowering is 1 to 2 weeks faster under short P & S F F days. P & S F F Required-pinch at the 6th or th P & S F F 7 leaf node to promote branching. Crop time is approx. 5-10 days faster at an ADT 23⁰C versus 20⁰C | Crop Manual | TM Classification: PUBLIC Helianthus annuus 2 Cultivation Advice It's very important to apply several PGR application during finishing. Avoid applying PGRs too heavily to try to control Sunblast. Sunblast has a growth spurt and applying PGR at the right moments is very effective. Recommended application: Sprench (heavy spray). Preferred application: Alar 4gr / 1 ltr 1.Laterals breaking /showing after the pinch. 2.Visible bud. This stage is very important. 3. At showing color. Higher rates may be necessary under high light and temperature conditions (SET). Spray is also possible but needs to be done more frequently to keep control over the plant. PGR alternatives: Regalis: 1,5 gr/ltr Bonzi: 3ml – 5ml/ltr (After pinch at least once a week to avoid stretching) Negative results with Cycocel: leaf damages Fertilization & Substrate Spacing Tips & Tricks Irrigation Diseases Important to keep EC levels of Spacing on time during the Required to improve branching Sunblast needs to be irrigated on Other soil borne diseases like the growing media in the range culture period is crucial to avoid and control vigor. a regular basis. The Ec given by Phytopthora Botrytis, Pythium, of 1,3 – 1,7. Measure the EC stretched and uncontrollable Pinch after 6–7 nodes developed feeding is relatively Rhizoctonia, Thielaviopsis, Downy every week. Sunblast is a high growth. Recommend spacing on the stem leaving 4 nodes high because it is a vigorous Mildew, rust. energy plant and needs a lot of directly after pinch and cotyledon only. plant and consumes a lot. feeding increase the EC in the shoot removal at 5 - 6 pl/m² The nodes of Sunblast are If the pots are becoming too dry substrate is at desired level. scattered so a pinch to 6/7 nodes root damage can happen would leave 8 leaves. because of salt accumulation. This is a hard pinch. Do not pinch too early to avoid issues with uneven branching. Pests Plug Preventive insecticide: Against Plugs are delivered under chewing insects (caterpillar) Aphid, SHORT DAY propagation. spider mites, trips, whitefly. Important to transplant the plant in the center of the pot! | Crop Manual | TM Classification: PUBLIC Helianthus annuus 3 Recommendations Culture guideline at optimum average daily temperature 20–22oC: Culture week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Handling TP & S F F PGR PD PD Tempature D/N 18–20°C 10-11 hr short days length for optimum flowering results. Light Shading ☀short day <12 h/short day treatment Humidity 50% Moisture Alternate 4–2 pH 5,8–6,0 EC growing medium 1,75–2,0 mS/cm > 2,25 mS/cm EC feeding in mS/cm 2,0–2,5 mS/cm 2,5–3,0 mS/cm Fertilizer N : K 1 : 2 Legend | Crop Manual | TM Classification: PUBLIC Helianthus annuus 4 Country Pot Size Production Guideline Germany 19 cm Height 6 / 7 nodes Pinch 5 nodes 1 2 Young plant ready to pinch Young plant pinched back to 4 nodes, 8 leaves Pinch 5 nodes Very strong rootsystem 3 4 Side shoots removed to create a Young shoots are showing uniform plant together with pinch aftre a couple of days | Crop Manual | TM Classification: PUBLIC Helianthus annuus 5.