Id-Code: AA 174
Family: Rosaceae
Origin: Mediterranean to Caucasus
Special Features: Free flowering, bright chartreuse flowering umbels and velvety gray-green, scalloped foliage. Compact and consistent habit
History: Introduced by JELITTO PERENNIAL SEEDS in 2009. Folklore suggests that the dew drops on the leaves of Alchemilla could turn ordinary metals to gold
Colour: Greenish-yellow
Natural Flowering Period: June - August
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-8
Growth Habit: Thick weed-choking mounds
Foliage: Handsome, velvety gray-green scalloped leaves
Height with Flowers: 35 cm (14'')
Spacing between Plants: 40 cm (16'')
Soil Requirements: Any good garden soil, pH 5.8 - 6.8
Location: Full sun to partial shade
Use: Plant in the rock garden, front of the border or containers with Geranium macrorrhizum, Luzula sylvatica 'Solar Flair' and Potentilla atrosanguinea 'Scarlet Starlit'
Specialities: Lovely small cut flowers; first year flowering and also available as JELITTO GOLD NUGGET SEED^® (AG 174)

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 Seeds: 0,476
Seeds per Gram: 2100
Seeding Recommendation: 2 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 8 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72, 128
Germination: The sowing must be kept warm (about +18 to 22°C) [about 64 to 72°F] and moist for the first 2-4 weeks. After this period the sowing must be kept at a cold temperature (between -4 and +4°C) [between 25 and 39°F] for another 4-6 weeks. It is not so important if the temperature is higher or lower during the cooling period, but the cooling period has to be prolonged because the synthesis of the germination inducer, hormonlike acid, slows down or comes to a standstill. It is beneficial to cover the sowing with snow during the cooling-period. The temperature below it usually keeps in the optimum range of -4 to 0°C [25 to 32°F]. The sowing is kept moist, and the melting snow helps to destroy the shell, which is advantageous for the germinating seedling. After this cooling-period the sowing may not be immediately exposed to high temperatures. The most effective temperatures are between +5 to 12°C [41 to 54°F], even if germination has started. The best location for this sowing, even in March, April and May, is the open field, the cold frame or a cold greenhouse.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: November - March
Sowing to Germination: 8 - 10 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Not necessary

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2'')
Vernalization: No vernalization required for flowering in the first year.
Forcing: There has been no research on 'Gold Strike', but 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. Some later flowering species can be forced in 14 - 16 weeks and perhaps sooner at warmer temperatures. Further experiments are warranted with 'Gold Strike'.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)