Commercial Floriculture

Right time, method and stage of harvest for different commercial flowers

• Right time, method and stage of harvesting influence the vase life of flowers.
  
• Harvest early morning or in the evening when temperatures are mild to avoid faster respiration rate to excessive water loss.
  
• Flowers are fully turgid due to low transpiration at night (rose, chrysanthemum, gerbera).
• Evening harvest is advocated because of higher sugar level in the stem due to high rates of photosynthesis during day time.
  
• Immediately after harvest the flowers should be put in water or preservative solutions.
• Right method of harvest includes cutting flower stem with sharp knives or secature;
• Avoid crushing of stem, giving slanting cut to hard wood stems so as to expose maximum surface area to ensure rapid water absorption.
  
• Cutting stem length at specific lengths depending on crop market, purpose, etc,.
• Harvesting at an optimum maturity stage is important and stage of harvest varies from crop to crop and varieties.