University of Florida

2007 Red Velvet

Growth Regulators Applied / Height graph

Graph shows projected plant heights during production of the crop. Dots are plotted actual height each week. Arrows indicate when PGRs are applied with details in the weekly notes. We use the “late” graphical tracking curve and heights are from bench to height of growing tip. Heights are plotted from date of pinching to projected date of finish.

Growth regulator height graph

Notes

Red Velvet November 27th11/27

This crop of Red Velvet is later than expected, which is likely due to heat delay. Pollen is showing on 50% of the plants, but the crop needs 5-7 days to be salable. The Bonzi drench applications on Oct 30 and Nov. 13 did not work as well as we expected and the plants are finishing a little taller than desired in this very warm fall. In other experiments, nontreated Red Velvet are over 21 inches, so the Bonzi drenches did provide significant height reduction. Bract expansion does look fine and the plants should look good at finish.

Red Velvet November 20th11/20

This crop of Red Velvet is causing problems and will finish a little tall and a little late.

Red Velvet November 13th11/13

We were hoping this crop would slow down this past week, but they did not. The crop is being given a Bonzi drench at 1 ppm. We are using this rate because of the warm temperatures and because we feel that Red Velvet will not show much reduction in bract size.

Red Velvet November 6th11/06

These Red Velvet continue to be behind in development. We could do another drench this week at 0.5 ppm if we put the emphasis on height control. However, we feel they are going to slow down a little and we can wait another week. This decision is trying to maximize bract development.

Red Velvet October 30th10/30

This group of Red Velvet is another crop that is a little too tall for comfort and we want to slow them down. There is not enough bract development for the late drench, so we are applying a Bonzi drench at 0.5 ppm. Visible bud is showing in about half of the plants and hopefully color development will come on faster now it has cooled off.

Red Velvet October 23rd10/23

The very early signs of first color are showing on a few of these Red Velvet and the crop looks good. We are applying an early Bonzi drench at 1/10 ppm this week. The plants only need to be slowed a little. We can do a late drench in about 2 weeks, if needed.

Red Velvet October 16th10/16

These Red Velvet look good at this point and we expect elongation to be about 1 inch this next week.

Red Velvet October 9th10/09

This crop looks good at this point and another early drench is now needed. We are applying Bonzi at 1/10 ppm.

Red Velvet October 2nd10/02

These Red Velvet are starting to fill out. We are not doing a drench this week and will see when these plants start growing out of the drench applied 2 weeks ago.

Red Velvet September 25th9/25

Compared to the other varieties these Red Velvet do not look as full since there is less leaf expansion. We want to wait another week to see the full effects from last week’s Bonzi early drench and are not treating this week.

Red Velvet September 18th9/18

Laterals on these Red Velvet are elongating nicely, but the leaves are not expanding as fast as they do on Prestige. This combined with the taller pinch height causes these plants to not look as full as some of the other crops. We are applying the first early drench of Bonzi at 1/10 ppm (PGR page).

Red Velvet September 11th9/11

We will not treat these plants this week and will see where they are next week.

Red Velvet September 4th9/04

Red Velvet is moderately vigorous and we did 3 sprays and a final drench on it in our 2003 example. We will do early drench applications in this example.