Effects of Sowing Time on Flowering Cut-Flower Quality of Lathyrus latifolius L. under Long Day Conditions

Abstract

Seeds of Lathyrus latifolius L. ‘Pink Pearl’ were sown monthly between 10 January and 10 July and raised in a greenhouse maintained at 15-25 °C. Seedlings were planted on 20 August in a bed in a greenhouse and their old shoots were cut back 2 weeks after planting leaving 2 new shoots to grow. The plants were grown under long day conditions of 16 hours day length and temperature above 5 °C. Those sown before March produced about 3 flower stalks starting in mid-November and continuing to year-end. Flowering was advanced and longer flower stems with more florets per inflorescence were obtained from seeds sown earlier However, there were no differences in the number of nodes to first flower.