commercial cultivaion of flowers

1. CULTIVATION
PRACTICES OF TUBEROSE
Azqa azhar
12-arid-193

2. INTRODUCTION…..
• Botanical name: Polianthes tuberosa L.
• Family name: Amaryllidaceae
• spikes are rich in fragrance; florets are star shaped, waxy and loosely
arranged on spike that can reach up to 30 to 45 cm in length.
• Single varieties are more fragrant than ‘Double’ type and contain 0.08 to
0.14 percent concrete which is used in high grade perfumes.
• Flowers of the Single type (single row of perianth) are commonly used for
extraction of essential oil, loose flowers, making garland etc.
• Double varieties (more than two rows of perianth) are used as cut flowers,
garden display and interior decoration.
• The flower spike of tuberose remains fresh for long time and finds a
distinct place in the flower markets

3. • Tuberose occupies a very selective and special position among
the ornamental bulbous plant for its beauty , elegance and
sweet pleasant fragrance.
• It has a great economic potential for cut flowers trade and
essential oil industry.
• Due to their great demand, it is currently cultivated in most of
the tropical and sub-tropical countries of the world

4. ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION
• Tuberose is a native of Mexico from where it spread to different parts of the
world during 16th Century.
• The Aztecs were growing it nearly 600 years ago.
• The Spanish found the Aztecs growing it in 1519 and took it back with
them to the old World.
• A French missionary, returning from the Indies in the 1500’s did so as well.
• Once introduced to Europe, it became part of the moon garden, a collection
of white or pastel flowers, which release an intense fragrance after dusk.
These gardens were popular among the sun-shunning
• Victorian ladies, who valued a milky pale complexion. It has an intense
fragrance and one or two open blossoms will fill the air of an entire garden.
• It is believed that tuberose was brought to India via Europe in 16th century.

5. CULTIVARS:
There are three types of tuberose :-
i. Single with one row of corolla segments,
ii. Semi-double bearing flower with 2-3 rows of corolla segment,
iii. Double having more than three rows of corolla segment.

6. TUBEROSE :
VARIETIES :
Cultivars Varietal Characters
Rajat Rekha
It is a single flowered variety .The flowers
have silvery white streaks along the
middle of blade.
Shringar
It is a single flowered variety. The flower
bud is attractive with slightly pinkish tinge.
Its loose flowers are ideal for making
garland while spikes can be used as cut
flowers. Yield of loose flower is about
15,000 kg/ha/yr. . Shringar is preferred by
farmers and industries due to its higher
flower yield.

7. Shringar Suvasini
Single Mexican
Swarna Rekha
Rajat Rekha

8. HOW TO GROW TUBE ROSE
Where to cultivate.
Prepare the soil.
Select a sunny location.
Plant in a hole 2 in (5cm) deep
Water generously after planting.
Water sparingly until plants emerge.
Water moderately during the growing season.
Apply a balanced fertilizer.
Feel free to cut flowers to arrange indoors.
Prune to encourage growth.
Cut back the foliage.
Dig out the bulbs carefully.
Place in dry palce and keep wraped.
Plant in spring.

9. Required Environment:
A. Climate :-
• Tuberose grows in mild climate without extremes of high and low
temperature even though it can be grown under a wide range of climatic
conditions .
• The commercial cultivation of tuberose is mainly confined in warm humid
area with average temperature range from 200 to 350 centrigrade.
• Temperature above 400 C reduces the spike length and quality of the flowers.
• Very low temperature and frost also damage the plant and flowers.
• Tuberose grows well in sunny situation.

10. B. Soil :-
• Tuberose grows in a wide range of soils.
• Its cultivation can also be extended economically in almost unproductive soils
affected by salinity and alkalinity .
• Loam and sandy loam soils having pH range from 6.5 to 7.5 with good
aeration and drainage are considered suitable for its cultivation .
• The soil should be rich in organic matter and retain sufficient moisture for
proper growth .
• FYM and leaf mould in proportion of 2:1:1 should be used.
•Horticulture
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11. C. Propagation by bulbs:-
• Most common method practiced for the commercial multiplication of
tuberoses is through propagation by bulbs.
• The bulbs remain dormant during the winter months in places where the
temperature is low.
• The dormancy of the bulbs can be successfully broken by dipping the bulbs
in 4% Thiourea solution for one hour if early planting is desired.
• Ethylene chlorohydrins can also be used for breaking the dormancy of
bulbs.
• The bulbs are separated from the clumps by rubbing off the loose scales and
the long roots should also be removed.
• In general, spindle -shaped bulbs free from
diseases having diameter between 1.5 and
3.0 cm are suitable for planting.
• About 8 to 9 tons of bulbs are required for
planting one hectare.

12. Propagation by bulb segments
• Propagation through mature bulbs is expensive, therefore, multiplication of
growing stock can be done by division of bulbs.
• Large sized bulbs having 2.1 cm or more diameter are suitable for planting
purpose.
• If the bulbs are very large, they are cut into 2 to 3 vertical sections, each
containing a bud and part of the basal plate.
• Each of these sections is treated with copper fungicide and planted
vertically in a rooting medium with its tip just showing above the surface.
• A moderately warm temperature should be maintained. New bulblets along
with roots develop from the basal plate. At this stage, bulblets are
transferred to the ground.

13. Cultivation Process :-
A. Site selection : Generally for optimum growth and high yield of flowers it is
preferable to choose a place having plenty of sunlight. A little shade towards
the later part of the afternoon is desirable in hot summer.
B. Soil preparation : The field should be worked deep to a good tilt and properly
manure . If the soil is not thoroughly prepared and contain soil clods or
decomposed organic matter, bulb production is affected and it also reduces the
yield and quality of flowers. Well rotten cowdung or farmyard manure @ 50
tonnes/ha, should be incorporated with the soil about a month before planting.
Care should be taken to make the land free from weeds.
C. Bulb selection and planting :- Selection of good planting material is
necessary for obtaining higher yield and good quality of flowers. Generally
bulbs having diameter 2.0-3.0cm are suitble for planting. It is observed that
planting of bulbs having 2.6-3.0 cm recorded the highest yield of spikes and
flowers.

14. E. Weed control:- Weed become a serious problem in the cultivation of
tuberose . If these weeds are not removed in time, growth and productivity will
be markedly reduced. Manual weeding is effective if done frequently.
Generally, after each irrigation weeding is done.
F. Manureing and fertilization: The requirement for manures and fertilizers
for tuberose vary with climatic conditions and soil types. During the
preparation of soil a basal application of leaf mould, farmyard manure or cattle
manure @ 20-50 tonnes/ha. High dose of N and P markedly promotes leaf and
bulb formation in tuberose. These treatment also improves flowering. The
effect of K has been less pronounced than N and P in these respect. The plant
treated with less dose of N and P shows growth inhibition and fails to flower.
Tuberose responds to fertilizer application but should not be fertilized with…...
D. Irrigation :- Tuberose irrigation should be done before planting to provide
optimum moisture for sprouting and further irrigation should be avoided until
the bulb have sprouted . The tuberose field should be irrigated at 10-15 days
interval if weather is dry. It has been suggested that during summer months
( April-June) the crop should be irrigated at weekly interval and during winter
at 10 days interval.

15. excess N as the flower spike become quite tall and soft, making it vulnerable
to wind and the plant become more susceptible to diseases and pest. The
flower quality is also affected adversely. The effect of deficiency of various
element is given in the table below.
Sl. No. Fertilizer Element Deficiency Symptoms
1. Nitrogen
Reduction in number of spikes and
number of flowers per spike; typical pale
green foliage.
2. Phosphorus
Dark green upper leaves and purple
colouration in lower leaves; and
reduction in growth and flowering.
3. Calcium
Cracking of the spike, bud rot in case of
acute deficiency.

16. G. Diseases and pests:-
Common diseases are - a) Stem rot
b) Botrytis spots and blight
c) Leaf spot
d) Flower bud rot
Sl.
No.
Fertilizer Element Deficiency Symptoms
4. Magnesium Interveinal chlorosis of older leaves.
5. Iron Interveinal chlorosis of new leaves.
6. Boron Cracking of leaf margins, deformation of
leaves and stunted infloresence.
7. Manganese Yellowing between the veins of lower
leaves.

17. Common pests are- a) Grasshopper
b) Weevil
c) Thrips
d) Aphids
e) Red spider mites
Botriyis Blight Leaf spot

18. Grasshopper Weevil
Thrips Red Spider Mite

19. HARVESTING :-
• Tuberose is harvested by cutting the spikes from the base for table decoration or
the individual flower is picked from the spike for making garlands and other floral
ornaments.
• Picking of flowers should be done in cool hours of the day either in the morning or
in the evening.
• Harvesting of flowers on the previous evening and marketing in the next morning
leads to a weight loss of about 40 per cent.
• The flowers spike for vases should be cut when the first pair of flowers fully open,
with a sharp knife and place immediately in water.
• HARVESTING OF FLOWERS:

20. • Harvesting Of Bulbs :
• Harvesting of tuberose bulbs at proper stage of maturity is important for
storage of bulbs and their subsequent growth after planting.
• The bulbs reach maturity when the flowering is over and plant growth
ceases, depending on the environmental condition and soil moisture

21. Ratoon Cropping
• After harvesting the main crop, the flower stalks are headed back (cut to the
base) and the plots should be well- manured and irrigated.
• About 3-4 ratoon crops can be taken from a single planting
• For the proper growth and development of plants, fertilizer dose as given in
the main crop should be applied in two equal split doses in January-
February and April.
• The ratoon crop results in more number of spikes but reduces number of
florets, length of spikes and weight of flowers. Therefore, ratoon crop
should be used only for loose flowers or oil extraction purpose.
• In temperate climate, during November -December, when temperature
drops, leaves of the plants turn yellow and die and plants undergo
dormancy.
• Digging of bulbs should be done at this stage
• With the increase in temperature the crop regains growth from the
previously planted bulbs which is termed as ratooning. For ratooning in
tuberose, the yellowing plants should be twisted from the ground level
which leads to early maturing of bulbs.

22. Post Harvest Management
Vase life
• Immediately after harvest, the lower portion of the cut spikes should be
immersed in water for prolonging the vase life of spikes. The spikes are
made ready by removing the unwanted leaves to minimise the transpiration
loss for sending to floral markets. Further, pulsing of spikes at low
temperature (100C), for about four hours with the ends immersed in water,
is helpful in prolonging life of spikes to be sent to distant markets.
Holding solutions
• A holding solution consisting of sucrose 2 % + Al2 (SO4)3 300 ppm is best
for increasing the post harvest life and quality of cut spikes of tuberose .
Grading and handling
• The flower spikes for cut flower purpose are graded according to the
following quality attributes viz.,
• Spike length
• Length of rachis
• Number of flowers per spike
• Weight of spikes
• Quality of individual florets.
• Straight and strong stem of uniform length and uniform stage of
development are preferred. Flowers should be free from bruises and
diseases and pests.

23. Storage
• The fresh flowers can be stored at 100C for 5 days.
Packaging and Transport
• For cut flower purpose, long spikes are preferred and are sold in round
bundles or bunch. Each bundle bunch contains 25, 50 or 100 spikes.
• The stem portion of the bundle has to be wrapped with news paper.
• To avoid damage of the flowers and buds, the whole bundle should be
wrapped in soft, white tissue paper or polythene sheet / cover. These
bundles are packed in rectangular bamboo baskets lined with Hessian cloth.
• For long distance transport, they are packed in square boxes or airy baskets
but packing in strong cardboard boxes is more suitable which are quite
handy and can be easily transported by rail, bus or by truck
• Yield
• Flower yield ranges about 14-15 t/ha. The concrete yield ranges about 8 to
10 kg/ha.