Stock flower ‘Katz Apricot’ (Matthiola incana)

Stock flower ‘Katz Apricot’ (Matthiola incana) – a professional cut-flower variety producing sturdy, uniform stems topped with beautifully double flowers in a warm apricot shade, complemented by a pleasant fragrance.

The Katz series is valued for its shorter crop time, uniform stem length and more synchronized flowering, as well as improved heat tolerance compared with traditional European or field-grown stocks. Plants produce approximately 50% double-flowering blooms without the need for seedling selection. Strong and resilient, this variety can withstand garden temperatures down to –6 °C (22 °F), making it particularly suitable for cooler growing conditions. Plants reach a height of approximately 70 cm (28 inches). Pinching is not recommended.

The most important thing to know about stock is that it is a cool-weather flower – it grows and flowers best in moderate temperatures. The most abundant flowering occurs when night temperatures are below 15–16 °C. Stock can tolerate light frosts, whereas warm temperatures signal the plant to stop growing and flowering. In hot conditions, flowering quickly declines, so in most regions, stock is grown as a spring crop, but it can also be successfully grown in autumn when temperatures become moderate again. Timing is crucial – seeds are sown indoors, and seedlings are transplanted outdoors after the risk of frost has passed. Stock seeds require light for germination, so they should be only lightly covered with soil or pressed gently into moist substrate. Seeds must remain consistently moist throughout germination, avoiding overwatering. The ideal germination temperature is 15–21 °C, and seedlings usually appear within 10–14 days. For continuous flowering, successional sowing every 2 weeks is recommended.