- Canada’s Growing Zones Are Changing 2024 - January 12, 2024
- Attracting Wildlife To The Garden - May 16, 2023
- How To Garden Near A Septic Tank - May 9, 2023
When a plant blooms and bears fruit, the photoperiod, or the amount of light it receives each day, is a key factor. You may optimize your plants’ growth and productivity by being aware of their photoperiod needs.
If you are new to this blog my name is Ashley and I am a soil scientist. I am located in a Canadian Zone 3 and a USDA Zone 4. I write articles, make YouTube videos, Instagram & Facebook posts all designed for Canadians and Cold Climate gardeners using science-based methods. If you are looking for anything specific be sure to let me know in the comments down below.
Getting The Orchid To Flower
The control of flowering is a crucial part of photoperiodism. Numerous plants depend on particular photoperiods to start the growth of reproductive structures like flowers. For instance, to begin flowering, short-day plants like chrysanthemums and poinsettias need a length of darkness that exceeds a specific threshold. On the other hand, plants that need lengthy days, like spinach and alfalfa, need periods of light that are longer than a predetermined length of time.
Larger Fruiting Potential
The photoperiod controls blooming, but it can also impact a plant’s production. According to a study in the journal “Field Crops Research,” tomato plants produced more fruit when their reproductive stage’s photoperiod was increased. Another study indicated that increasing the photoperiod during the vegetative stage of strawberry plants resulted in an increase in the size and weight of the fruits. This study was also published in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.”
Knowing your plants’ photoperiod needs can also help you avoid issues with early blooming or fruit set. According to a study in the “Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology,” tomato plants that were exposed to particular photoperiods before they were ready to flower produced less fruits and were more vulnerable to disease.
In conclusion, understanding your plants’ photoperiod needs is essential for obtaining the best development and output. You may regulate when your plant’s flower and bear fruit as well as the size and number of fruits they produce by adjusting the amount of light they receive each day.
References:
Effects of temperature and photoperiod on tomato growth and yield, according to “Field Crops Research” (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)
“Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” – Effects of photoperiod and temperature on strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) plant development and fruit quality.
Photoperiodic regulation of fruit set and disease resistance in tomato, according to the journal “Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology”
