Vegetative Growth and Flowering Behavior of Cockscomb (Celosia cristata L.) in Response to Sowing Dates

The study was carried out during the year 2015 to investigate vegetative growth and flowering behavior of Cockscomb (Celosia cristata L.) in response to sowing dates. Treatments included three sowing dates (S1=5th March, S2=20th March and S3=4th April) and two varieties (Cockscomb Amigo Red and Cockscomb Amigo Orange). The results revealed significant difference for vegetative and flowering traits of Cockscomb varieties in response to sowing dates. However, non–significant difference was observed among all observed indices within Cockscomb varieties. On the basis of present findings the crop sown on 4th April took minimum days for seed germination (3.41 days) for both varieties of Cockscomb. Cockscomb Amigo Red took 23.22 cm plant height, 25.30 number of leaves per plant, 20.38 days to 1st flower, 3.73 cm flower diameter, 21.59 g of single flower weight and 5.89 days to flower persistence. Likewise the variety Cockscomb Amigo Orange attained 25.42 cm plant height, 21.16 leaves per plant, 35.95 days to 1st flower, 4.28 cm flower diameter, 32.45 g flower weight, 8.05 days to flower persistence. Planting date 4th April with variety Amigo Orange proved better for most of the characteristics then Amigo Red.