Harvest and Post harvest
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After planting normally it takes 110-120 days to come to peak flowering.
Standards![harvesting harvesting](http://14.139.56.154:82/file.php/58/harvesting_1.jpg)
Sprays
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When at least 2-3 top flowers have opened & other buds show colour
Yield
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On an average 10-20 flowers / plant/year or 150-300 flowers / m2/ year
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Yearly production of 300-400 flower/m2 is ideal and economical.
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After planting normally it takes 110-120 days to come to peak flowering.
Post Harvest Operations
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Harvested flowers are bunched together based on their physical measurements like length of stem, diameter of flower etc.
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For a good post harvest life, flower stems have to be trimmed at the base and should be immediately placed in a bucket of preservative solution (Acidic pH 4.5) with 2-5 % sucrose and biocides for 2 to 4 hours.
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Carnation flowers can be stored for 2-4 weeks before marketing.
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Flowers have to be packed in cartons lined with polyethylene be pre-cooled without lid.
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The plastic is then loosely folded on top of the stems and the lid is closed.
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These cartons are stored in cool chambers designed to maintain 00C with good air circulation and a constant RH of 90-95 %.
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Floral preservatives like, 8-HQS or 8-HQC @ 200-600 ppm; STS (Silver Thio-sulphate) @ 0.2- 4mM; Cytokinin @ 10-100 ppm; Sugar @ 0.5-2% and Citric acid @50-100 ppm.
![post harvesting post harvesting](http://14.139.56.154:82/file.php/58/post_harvesting.jpg)
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Last modified: Wednesday, 20 June 2012, 10:00 AM