Effect of planting dates on growth and flowering of China aster Callistephus chinensis (L) Nees

The present investigations were carried out at the experimental farm of Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP during 2012. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (factorial) consisting of 21 treatment combinations of seven planting dates viz 6 April (D₁), 16 April (D₂), 26 April (D₃), 6 May (D₄), 16 May (D₅), 26 May (D₆) and 5 June (D₇) and three varieties namely Kamini (B₁), Shashank (B₂) and Violet Cushion (B₃). Among different planting dates D₁ ie 6 April gave best results for plant height (88.10 cm), plant spread (47.44 cm), number of flowering stems per plant (7.91), number of flowers per plant (37.58) and yield of flower cut stems per plot (158.10). However D₇ ie 5 June gave best results for flower size (5.51 cm) and vase life (10.12 days). Among the varieties Kamini gave best results for plant height (83.87 cm), plant spread (46.07 cm), number of flowering stems per plant (8.17), number of flowers per plant (41.97), flower size (5.79 cm) and yield of cut flower stems per plot (163.20). However Shashank took minimum days to first flower bud formation (91.67) and first flowering (103.70). Voilet Cushion recorded longest vase life (10.14 days). Hence it is concluded that planting of China aster on 6 April is the most suitable date that gives best results for most of the desirable growth and flowering parameters especially the Kamini variety.