Campanula medium
Propagation:
The traditional Canterbury Bells varieties are biennials, requiring a cold period for flowering.
- New varieties have been developed (Champion series) that require no cold treatment and will flower in the first season from seed.
- Seeds germinate in 14 to 18 days at 65 to 70 F. Leave them on the soil surface or cover lightly.
- Sowing in early February and transplanting in mid-April should result in flowering in the tunnel in mid-June.
Plant Growing:
- Champion series is a quantitative long day plant, so restrict daylength to 12 hours in the seedling stage to prevent early flowering and short stems.
- Number of stems per plant depends on spacing. At 4 to 6 in., plants will produce one stem. At wider spacing, plants can produce 6 to 8 branches.
- Plants grow best in cool conditions, so should be transplanted into the tunnel in early spring, with low tunnel for late frost protection.
- Campanula ‘Champion’ fills a market gap in tunnel production between larkspur, stock and early lisianthus.
Varieties:
- Champion series are so far the only annualC. medium.
- Flower color of the lines vary from white to blue, lavender and pink.
Posthavest Handling:
- Expect a vase life of 7 to 14 days at room temperature.
For more information, see: Armitage, A.M. and J.M. Laushman. 2003. Specialty Cut Flowers, 2nd Edition. Timber Press, 586 pp. Available through ASCFG.