Where is the stock (Matthiola incana) distributed? Introduction to the main producing regions
The stock (Matthiola incana) is native to southern Europe and is extremely popular and well loved in European and American countries. Its flowers have a faint delicate fragrance, and Europeans use it to make perfume, which is greatly favored by women. In medieval southern Germany there was also a custom of hanging the first newly picked bunch of stocks each year high on the ship's mast to celebrate the return of spring to the world.
Distribution of the stock's producing regions
The stock's place of origin is southern Europe and the Mediterranean coast. It is one of Europe's famous flowers. It is often introduced and cultivated in large cities in southern China, and in the north it is planted in garden flowerbeds or greenhouses for ornamental viewing. This flower resembles the pansy and is easily confused with it.
The stock's producing environment
The stock prefers a cool climate and avoids dry heat. It likes a well-ventilated environment. In winter it prefers a mild climate, but it can also tolerate a brief low temperature of -5°C. The suitable growing temperature is 15-18°C during the day and around 10°C at night. It is not demanding about soil, but grows better in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and avoids acidic soil.
The stock is cold-resistant but not shade-tolerant, and fears waterlogging. It is suited to growing in higher locations. In moldy rainy weather that is hot with poor ventilation, it is prone to damage from pests and diseases. Fertilization should not be excessive, otherwise it is unfavorable for flowering. If light and ventilation are insufficient, it is prone to pests and diseases.
Classification of stock varieties
There are very many horticultural varieties of the stock, with two strain types: single-petaled and double-petaled. The double-petaled strain has high ornamental value, while the single-petaled strain can set seed, whereas the double-petaled strain cannot. Generally, plants grown from sowing flat seeds can usually produce large numbers of double-petaled flowers, while plump, fully filled seeds mostly produce single-petaled flower plants.
The stock's flower colors include pink, deep red, light purple, deep purple, pure white, pale yellow, bright yellow, blue-purple, and so on. In production, varieties such as white-flowered, pink-flowered, and purple-flowered ones are generally used to produce cut flowers.
The main cultivated varieties of the stock include the white “Aida”, the pale yellow “Carmen”, the red “Francesco”, the purple “Abella”, and the pale purplish red “Incana”, among others.