EFFECT OF PLANTING TIME ON FLOWERING OF FOUR LACHENALIA CULTIVARS

Lachenalia, known as Wild Hyacinth, is a flowering bulbous plant native to South Africa. In Europe, Lachenalia is used as pot plant and for cut flower production. In Poland it is still a novel and unknown species. Horticultural market requires high quality and uniformity for the plants of this original South African product, but every cultivar responds variously on cultivation factors. Bulbs of Lachenalia ‘Namakwa’, ‘Ronina’, ‘Rosabeth’ and ‘Rupert’ were planted in greenhouse in December, January and February. The earliest bloom was observed in bulbs planted in January and February, while bulbs planted in December required longer period to bloom. ‘Ronina’ and ‘Namakwa’ flowered earlier than ‘Rupert’ and ‘Rosabeth’. The date of planting had an effect on flower yield, length of inflorescence stem, number and diameter of flowers. Results show that Lachenalia cultivars differ not only in morphology but also in flowering depending on forcing procedure; therefore it is necessary to formulate precise cultivation methods in order to control flowering of different cultivars and to match flowering time with market requirements.