OCTOBER Tips

CULTURAL TIPS FOR LATE CHRYSANTHEMUMS

The best part of the lates is when all the buds are in colour and full of promise, and second when the first blooms starting to  fill out, with the remainder steadily moving to their peak.

Damping is one of the hazards of growing of Lates, we must do all we can to keep the atmosphere within the house on the dry side, One method is to keep the house virtually closed  

thereby creating a blanket of warm air in the upper part of the house around the blooms, the aim is to keep the warm air moving with the aid of electric fans, damping is most likely to occur , when both the outside temperature and the humidity levels are high. To avoid damping we must raise the greenhouse temperature to about 10 deg above the outside. The temperature levels should be 55 deg to 60 deg F at night and 55 deg F during the day. Try to keep temperatures at a desired level and to keep the atmosphere reasonable dry.

Keep a watch for earwigs and aphids in your developing blooms, do not splash water about this can cause you damping problems, all dead leaves and basal growth removed and blooms inspected daily.

Cut your blooms 24 hours ahead of the show with stems 24ins in length, removing lower leaves. Cut for each vase including a spare bloom; always try to get uniform size, colour and stage of development,