Persian Stonecress
Id-Code: AA 132
Family: Brassicaceae, Cruciferae
Origin: Iran, Iraq, Caucasus
Special Features: Low spreading bushy perennial with racemes of pink to lilac colored flowers
Distinction: Award of Garden Merit (A.G.M.) from The Royal Horticultural Society
History: Introduced into cultivation in 1879
Colour: Pink
Natural Flowering Period: June - July
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z5-8
Growth Habit: Low and spreading
Foliage: Linear - oblong 2-3 cm (1'')
Height with Flowers: 20 cm (8'')
Spacing between Plants: 20 cm (8'')
Soil Requirements: Gritty, well-drained soils; lime lover; pH 6.5 - 7.5
Location: Full sun
Use: Plant in the rock garden, in crevices of walls or in containers along with Arenaria montana, Aster alpinus 'Pinkie' and Campanula portenschlagiana
Specialities: A wonderful rock garden species wich attracts honey bees. Also available as JELITTO GOLD NUGGET SEED® (AG 132)
Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 1,124
Seeds per Gram: 890
Seeding Recommendation: 3 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2-3 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 128, 288
Germination: These seeds germinate rapidly depending on species and origin. If germination does not occur after 3-4 weeks a cooling period of 2-4 weeks is recommended.
Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: November - March
Sowing to Germination: 4 - 8 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Not necessary
Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1 plug per 8/9 cm (3 1/2''); 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2'')
Vernalization: A prudent recommendation would be to provide 6-12 weeks at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Light (100-150 ppm)
