Winter hardy cut flowers comprise a group of species that includes annuals cultivated outdoors during the colder part of the year, as well as biennials and perennials that can be grown under similar conditions. Delayed sowing adversely affects germination, plant growth and development, reduces both the yield quantity and quality, and leads to delayed production. The aim of this study was to determine whether autumn sowing and planting result in earlier, higher, and better quality yields compared to the cultivation of the same species in spring. The experiment included annual larkspur (Consolida ajacis), pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), and black cumin (Nigella sativa). A literature review was conducted to identify the growing requirements of the selected species, on the basis of which cultivation guidelines were developed. The plants were propagated from seed, and the seedlings were subsequently transplanted into outdoor beds. The experiment was conducted in two planting periods: 26 October 2023 (autumn planting) and 20 May 2024 (spring planting). The autumn-planted annual larkspur, pot marigold, and phacelia did not survive the winter. Autumn-planted snapdragons and spring-grown annual larkspur were too short for practical use. The first harvest of autumn-planted crops was carried out on 27 May 2024, whereas the spring-planted crops were first harvested on 5 July 2024. Plants established in the autumn planting period developed a greater number of leaves compared to those from the spring planting. However, only certain species exhibited greater plant height, a higher number of flowering stems per plant, and a greater number of flowers per plant compared to the same species planted in spring.
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