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| Begonia tuberhybrida 'Nonstop® Mocca' F1 hybrid | |
| Benary promotes their new Begonia Non-Stop® series Mocca as the only dark bonze-leafed series that is uniform and early flowering. The variety produces large (10cm diameter) fully double flowers in a range of 5 colours (yellow, orange, deep orange, scarlet and white) which contrast very well with the leaf colour. Plants grow to a mounded shape with good lateral branching. The Mocca series is ideally suited for pots, baskets and as landscape plants. Flowering time is compatible with other Non-Stop® varieties. Crop time for flowering pots is 20-24 weeks (10-12 weeks for cropping plugs). Seed (available raw or as pelleted) is sown in November for flowering plants in April onwards or December-January sowing for flowering bedding plants from May onwards. When starting with plugs or transplants, a well-draining substrate with a pH 5.5-6.2 is best used. The substrate should not be cool at transplanting. Production temperatures below 57 °F (14 °C) will result in tuber formation and crop delay. The crop is normally grown at 61-64 °F (16-18 °C). Ten days before sales, the temperatures are decreased to 61 °F (16 °C). These begonias are long day plant; short days result in tuber formation. Light levels are maintained at moderate levels (min. 550 lux) and long day (14-16 h) for flower initiation and vegetative growth. In winter assimilation light is recommended for the good plant development and quality. The assimilation light will shorten the crop time. Exposure to assimilation light should not be stopped before March. In the summer, plants are shaded against high light levels. Begonia roots are sensitive to water and will be severaly damaged if too wet. Avoid high relative humidity in greenhouse. Roots are also sensitive to high salt levels and soluble salt level should not be allowed to rise above 0.5 EC. Fertilization is started at 50 ppm Nitrogen in a well balanced formulation. At later production stages, levels can be increased up to 150-200 ppm. New introductions for 2006-2007 include the ‘Jolly’ series of vegetatively propagated Begonia, Campanula carpatica ‘Pearl Light Blue’, F1 Viola ‘Cats Orange’, Eryngium ‘Blue Glitter’ (deepest blue variety that won a Fleuroselect Gold medal) and Celosia ‘Fresh Look Gold’. Annette Schumann, Fax 00495541700920, E-mail: info@Benary.de www.Benary.com |
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