Id-Code: AT 286 - JET^® SEEDS
Family: Malvaceae
Origin: Origins lost in antiquity but probably Turkey or Asia
Special Features: Full range of colors in single flowers
History: Introduced by JELITTO PERENNIAL SEEDS in 1989
Colour: White, yellow, rose, pink, and red
Natural Flowering Period: May - October
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-9
Growth Habit: Upright
Foliage: Round, lobed leaves
Height with Flowers: 180 cm (72'')
Spacing between Plants: 60 cm (24'')
Soil Requirements: Any average soil, pH 5.8 - 6.8
Location: Full sun or partial shade
Use: A very familiar perennial associated with cottage gardens. Plant together with Chrysanthemum 'Snowdrift', Coreopsis 'Sterntaler', Heliopsis 'Sommersonne', and PENSTEMON digitalis 'Husker Red Strain'
Specialities: An outstanding seed strain for one of the most popular and well known perennials.
Also available as normal seeds (AA 286), and available as JELITTO GOLD NUGGET SEED^® (AG 286)

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 5,882
Seeds per Gram: 170
Seeding Recommendation: 25 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72, 128
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: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 2 - 3 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 6 weeks
Transplanting to salable Plant: 6 - 8 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once to keep more compact

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2''); 2-3 plugs per 15 cm (6'')
Vernalization: There is no current research on vernalization but a prudent recommendation for any perennial would be 6-12 weeks (a few might need 15 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: Medium (150-200 ppm)