Tithonia P H N
Asteraceae:  Tithonia
Tithonia, 2004
Tithonia, 2004
2005
April 4:  I sowed about 200 seeds from 2004 in a tub of soil mix. I am not sure how viable they are. They seem underdeveloped.
24:  No sprouts so I discarded them.

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2004
January 1:  I hope to have some this year, of the torch variety.
April 27:  The torch variety appears, from the catalog info, to require too much heat to do well here.   Today I ordered a package of Fiesta del Sol from Stokes.
May 4:  The seeds arrived today and I planted them.   The package suggests they should be started in early April.
From the seed package:   Annual 76 cm.
Greenhouse:   Plants take about 4 months to produce florist cut flowers, from seed.   Sow indoors, directly into 8 cm peat pots April 1st--April 15th @ 3 seeds per pot.   Germinate @ 21°C soil temperature.   Plant seed 6 mm deep, cover seed with fine soil and firm.   Seed should germinate in about 10 days.   Grow plants @ 16--18°C to prevent soft leggy growth.   Transplant pots outdoors about the end of May, when outdoor temps remain above 10°C.   Space plants 60 cm apart in rows 75 cm apart for cutting purposes, or as tall backgrounds or hedges.   Tithonia will survive in hot dry areas, even in desert gardens.   Harvest cut flowers in the bud stage.   Sear hollow stems carefully in 38°C water for long lasting 8 cm single dahlia-like orange blooms.
Home Garden:   Sow indoors as above.   Plants take too long to provide cut flowers from a June outdoor seeding, when soil is warm enough for germination.
7:  Sprouts, already tall.
29:  I set out 6 seedlings.   They are short but they have sturdy stems.   I put them too close together, I see now, and will have to move them.
June 1:  Moved.
3:  I set out 6 more along the house.
6:  Insects have eaten the leaves of 2 in the garden.
July 27:  First small flower.   Only 2 plants have survived, one in the garden and one along the house.   They did poorly until hot weather arrived, then grew rapidly.