Id-Code: RA 162
Family: Asteraceae, Compositae
Origin: USA: upper south and lower midwest
Special Features: A long-flowering botanical variety with dark green foliage that blooms after 'Goldsturm' until frost.
Colour: Bright yellow-rayed flowers with a brown eye
Natural Flowering Period: September - November
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-8
Growth Habit: Clump forming/ upright with more open habit than 'Goldsturm'
Foliage: Dark green leaves
Height with Flower: 80 cm (30'')
Spacing between Plants: 70 cm (28'')
Soil Requirement: Any soils that are not too dry, pH 5.8 - 6.8
Location: Full sun to partial shade
Use: Plant together for late summer and early fall bloom with Calamagrostis brachytricha, Helianthus angustifolius, and Ruellia humilis
Specialities: Graceful botanical variety and great season-extender. Also available as JELITTO GOLD NUGGET SEED^® (RG 162)

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 0,833
Seeds per Gram: 1200
Seeding Recommendation: 3 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 3-4 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72 or 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. See also cold germinator

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Dates: November-March with warm/cold stratification, or in the summer when greenhouse temperatures are consistently above 30 °C [85°F]
Sowing to Germination: 4 - 8 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 3 - 10 weeks
Transplanting to Salable Plant: 4 - 6 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Not Necessary

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: There has been no research on RUDBECKIA fulgida var. fulgida, 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 RUDBECKIA fulgida var. fulgida.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)