Effect of Planting Time and Spacing on Plant Growth, Flowering and Seed Yield in Coreopsis Lanceolata and Coreopsis Tinctoria

The seed production potential of Coreopsis lanceolata and Coreopsis tinctoria was worked out using three planting dates (first and last week of November and first week of December) and three plant spacings (60x30, 60x40 and 60x60cm), during 2002–2003 and 2003–2004, under sub-tropical conditions of Ludhiana. In Coreopsis lanceolata, the first planting carried out in first week of November resulted in tallest plants (94.47 cm) and more number of branches (20.32/plant). The plant spacing of 60x30 cm resulted in tallest plants (85.44) but wider spacing of 60x60 cm produced vigorous plants with more branches (20.01/plant). The seed yield decreased as the planting was delayed beyond first week of November, which was recorded as the highest viz., 90.32g/m² under first planting, followed by 76.97g/m² under second planting in third week of November. In other species i.e., Coreopsis tinctoria, first planting carried out in first week of November produced the tallest plants (136.35 cm). The wider spread (86.72 cm) and maximum seed yield (98.68 g/m²) was recorded under second planting carried out in third week of November. The number of branches (17.59/plant) and seed yield of 83.97g/m² were recorded as significantly higher under planting density of 60x60 cm in comparison to 15.80/plant and 81.31g/m² recorded at 60x30 cm.