Cultural guide
provided by Ivor Mace
Both Norman and Harold Walker registered the Golden
sport in 1979.
Golden Gigantic are
all grown 2nd crown. The reason for this is that I am unable to avoid
these blooms going past their best if the buds are secured before first
week of August, whereas the Amber and Silver are much better at holding
on if they are on the early side.
For 2nd crown I root 10th - 20th of January, the first
stop on 21st March. I allow two breaks to grow, then stop one of these
on the 10th of May and the other on the 20th May. Later, when the plants
are carrying two breaks after the second stop (one earlier than the
other by a week to 10 days) choose the break with the bud secured in the
first 5 days of August (if possible) and remove the other break.
I find
a 10" pot ideal for Gigantic as the biggest blooms come from big
plants with heavy wood. They take full feeds, I use Vitax Q4 up to bud
and Q4HN or Chempak number 2 once the buds appear. If the weather is hot
and the wood is ripening I swap to the HN or Chempak no2 to keep them
producing heavy wood.
|