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key growing information
How to Grow Stock Flowers From Seed
How to grow stock (Matthiola) from seed: transplants, succession planting, cool seasons, flea beetle protection, selecting double-flowered seedlings, support, cutting stage, soil and uses.
By Hensley’s Seed Co.
Stock - Key Growing Information
DAYS TO GERMINATION:
Allow 7–14 days at 65–75°F (18–24°C).
SOWING:
Transplants are recommended: sow ¼" deep into 128-cell plug flats 5–6 weeks before planting out in the field or a protected structure. To sow in place, wait until frost danger is past. Don't pinch. For several harvests, plant in succession every 2 weeks. Stock is a cool-season crop, and spring and fall blooming successions work best. As a member of the brassica family, it's prone to flea beetle damage, so cover plants with row cover at transplanting. SELECTION:Sorting out double-flowered plants takes time and skill, so in most cases we suggest finding a use for the singles rather than selecting. If you do select, chilling makes the difference visible in the seed leaves' color, size and shape: at the seed-leaf stage, hold seedlings at 40–45°F (4–7°C) for 3–4 days. Keep the lighter green seedlings with oval seed leaves, which will give double flowers. Discard tiny seedlings, darker green ones, and those with rounder cotyledons, which will give single flowers. See our Stock Production Guide for more on selection.
LIGHT PREFERENCE:
Full sun.
PLANT HEIGHT:
Varies.
PLANT SPACING:
Space plants 4–6" apart. trellis, such as Hortonova laid horizontally, is needed where temperatures stay above 60°F (16°C) or rain is frequent.
HARDINESS ZONES:
Grown as an annual.
STEM LENGTH:
24-28".
VASE LIFE:
About 5–10 days.
STORAGE TEMPERATURE:
36-41°F (2-5°C).
HARVEST:
For fresh use, cut when a third to half of the florets on the stem are open.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS:
Moderately rich soil with good drainage.
USES:
A superb fragrant cut flower and an edible flower. Also good in beds, borders and containers, though it blooms only briefly, especially in hot weather.
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Matthiola incana
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