Articles
PEAT AS A FORCING MEDIUM FOR TULIPS
The advantage of peat lies in its light weight and its freedom from pathogens.
During three years tulips were forced 2–3 times a winter in sand/ peat mixtures and in a peat moss/"frozen" sphagnum peat mixture.
In the first case the treatments were combined with four methods of watering, in the last one seven lime levels were applied.
The development of the plant and the quality of the cut tulip were as good on sand/peat and on peat as on sand, the usual growing medium, and in two forcings, with a moderate quality of the flower, the development of the plant was even better.
Flower bud blasting decreased by more frequent watering.
Differences in flower quality between the methods of watering only occurred in the late forcing.
The optimum frequency of watering was once a day, independent of the kind of medium.
Rooting of the bulbs was almost entirely prevented in unlimed peat; a dose of 2–4 kg calcium carbonate per m3 was found to be necessary for a good development.