Autumn Bedding

The Autumn bedding market provides growers an opportunity to capitalise on the spring production and maximise returns in those darker months of the year. Typical plants in this period are Violas, Cyclamen, Polyanthus and Heuchera, which are tough bloomers perfect for these seasons.

Pansy and Primula

Within the Autumn Bedding market we see a wide range of seed grown bedding plants potted from small plugs into modular packs and trays with individual cells, also pots up to 9cm. Short term cropping typically Pansy and Primula, 8-12 weeks and Longer term overwintered Pansy and Primula crops over 5-6 months.

Even in Britain, summer temperatures can be high, leading to frequent irrigation cycles which will leach nutrients. Overwintered crops being kept frost free will have nutritional requirements but little irrigation requirements. Applying WSF in the autumn and winter with cooler nights leads to excess environmental humidity, ideal conditions for foliar diseases such a Botrytis to develop

Initially a low nutrient growing media is required to minimise the stress in high temperatures. encourage fast establishment and rooting of the plugs. Plants are potted weekly in batches and while supplementary WSF can be given, the various batches on the ground are at different stages with varying nutritional demands. Once overwintering crops start producing buds, any nutrient deficiencies in the older leaves are difficult to rectify.

Tubs and baskets

Baskets and tubs are generally planted up early in the spring using plugs. It is important not to overwater before they are established. Later on plants have a high nutritional and water need – particularly when grown in baskets.

Initially a low nutrient growing media is required to encourage fast establishment and rooting of the plugs. It is important not to overwater until plants are established. When nutrition and water demands rise, particularly in baskets, there is a high chance of leaching WSF.