THE CULTIVATION OF LISIANTHUS (LISIANTHUS RUSSELIANUS HOOK) FOR CUT FLOWER IN ANNUAL OR BIENNIAL CYCLE: EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE AND PLANT AGE ON PRODUCTIVITY.

Some cultivation trials showed that with a Mid-June planting the productivity of the annual cycle is critically reduced regarding the extent of the economical result.

Better results (+76% of harvested stems) were obtained with a Mid-May planting. The plants maintained from the previous year gave an even higher production in the second year (+322% in comparison with the Mid-June planting). Furthermore they showed an extention of the production period following the earlier flowering.

On the whole data indicate the advantage, at present, of a biennial cycle by keeping the plants during the winter season and the spring months till the subsequent flowering period.

Stem length, stem weight and number of flowering buds per stem have been evaluated in different periods of the production cycle.