Forsythia has been grown in the gardens of the south for many years. Recent interest has seen a few people look at it as an export flower crop. Forsythia naturally grows into a bush with canes reaching over 1m in length in one growing season. The plant then over-winters before producing masses of yellow flowers on this one year old wood the following spring. Some of the older varieties such as Forsythia x intermedia were prone to ‘shatter’ after harvest. This is where many of the flowers fall off the stems. Post harvest treatments, or some of the new varieties, may be able to get around this problem.
Propagation:
Grown from cuttings
Time of flowering:
Middle of spring
Crop protection:
Protection from the wind
Soil type:
Friable free draining soils preferred
Fertilisers:
General NPK based fertilisers needed. Don't overdo the N, as the plants can put on too much extension growth.
Pest/Diseases:
Nothing obvious. Can get leafrollers on the foliage especially around the bottom of the bush.
Harvesting:
Harvest the stems when approximately 50% of the flowers are open. Stem lengths of 50cm + are the best
Marketing:
Only local markets have been looked at so far. Some potential with new varieties on the export market.
Further Info:
Contact Ted Downing from Greenharvest Pacific Ltd
bush fertilisers flowers forsythia grown harvest protection spring stems varieties