CULTIVATION OF CHRYSANTHEMUM IN WINTER IN UNHEATED GREENHOUSES ON THE COAST OF THE GULF OF CADIZ, AND AREAS OF MARITIME INFLUENCE.

Trials have been carried out at the Agrarian Experimental Centre in Chipiona, to test the viability of different varieties and dates of planting from november until march, the period in which the light and temperature conditions are the most unfavourable for their optimun growth.

What they hoped to find out was if the crop was viable, given the climatic conditions, of the zone during the period of the trials, using greenhouses and without resorting to heating, using varieties insensitive to the low temperatures in order to diminish energy costs.

As the trials proved to be successful, the performance of the plants was also studied in deth in order to adapt the technique of cultivation to the growth behaviour of the plant.

The parameters measured were:

• The velocity of growth initial period of cultive and period of S.D. of different varieties tested during the period of the trials.

• Parameters which determine the cuality (number of flowers, flower diameter and length of spray).

With the object of reducing the cost of production, by reducing the number of cuttings per unit of surface space, pinching and planting density tests have been carried out to compare the results with regard to quality and cuantity with the result of the technique of cultivation without pinching.

International Symposium on Protected Cultivation of Ornamentals in Mild Winter Climates

P. Cermeño

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.246.12