Id-Code: LG 076 - JELITTO GOLD NUGGET SEED^®
Family: Lamiaceae, Labiatae
Origin: Garden Origin
Special Features: Our own production of 'Hidcote Superior' ensures a predictable and consistant quality and is available exclusively from Jelitto
History: Introduced by JELITTO PERENNIAL SEED in 2001
Colour: Flowering spikes of deep violet blue
Natural Flowering Period: July - September
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z5-9
Growth Habit: Compact and shrubby
Foliage: Whitish-gray lanceolate (or narrower) leaves
Height with Flower: 40 cm (16'')
Spacing between Plants: 50 cm (20'')
Soil Requirement: Gritty, well-drained and slightly alkaline soils preferred, pH 6.5 - 7.5
Location: Full sun
Use: Great for containers, in the border or for edging. Good combinations might include Bronze fennel, Foeniculum vulgare 'Rubrum', Malva moschata f. alba and Verbascum 'Violetta'
Specialities: Also available as normal seeds (LA 076)

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 0,833
Seeds per Gram: 1200
Seeding Recommendation: 2,5 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 5 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72 or 128
Germination: JELITTO GOLD NUGGET SEED^® germinate after 3 - 4 weeks, keep seed in constant moisture (not wet) with temperatures of about + 20°C (68°F). Seeds must be covered thinly. After germination, the seedlings must be kept cool (+5 to 10°C) (41 to 50°F) in the months with less daylight hours, but must not be exposed to frost. At this time, it is of great benefit if the seedlings can receive at least 12 hours of light per day.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: Anytime
Sowing to Germination: 3 - 4 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Cut-back once to keep more compact

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: 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: Light (100-150 ppm)