Greater flexibility in production planning
One of the main advantages of seed is flexibility. Seed can be stored and sown at different times, allowing growers to adjust production according to their planning and market requirements. This also makes it easier to scale production up or down when demand changes.
Production based on vegetative propagation generally requires earlier planning, as the required volume of plant material needs to be ordered and scheduled further in advance. For growers, seed therefore provides greater freedom to determine when and how much to produce.
Starting material when you need it
Availability of starting material is another important consideration. Seed can generally be supplied and stored efficiently, making it possible to keep starting material available until it is needed.
Vegetatively propagated starting material can be more dependent on production schedules, availability and lead times. This may require growers to commit to production volumes earlier in the planning process. With seed, the route from planning to sowing can therefore be considerably shorter.
A seamless fit into existing propagation systems
Seed-raised Canna fits easily into familiar propagation processes. Growers can start with seed and manage the young crop under their standard propagation conditions. Tissue-cultured young plants require a different start. As these plants move from controlled laboratory conditions into a commercial growing environment, careful acclimatisation and crop management are important during the establishment phase.
For growers already experienced in seed propagation, starting Canna from seed can therefore offer a straightforward production process.
A clean start
Plant health is another important consideration when selecting starting material. Starting from high-quality seed can help reduce the phytosanitary risks associated with vegetative propagation. With vegetatively propagated crops, pathogens present in the mother material can potentially be carried forward into subsequent generations of plants.
Starting from seed helps growers begin each production cycle with fresh starting material rather than continuously propagating the same vegetative material. This provides a reliable foundation for the crop and can help reduce production risks further down the chain.
Canna from seed with Cannova®
Cannova® is an F1 Canna series from seed, combining the production advantages of seed propagation with premium ornamental quality. The series offers growers reliable production, uniform crops and full, voluminous plants with a broad range of true colours and premium foliage.
