GREENHOUSE CULTIVATION OF GERBERA

INTRODUCTION

About the Flower

• Scientific Name : Gerbera jamesonii
• Family : Asteraceae
• Also known as Transvaal daisy or Barberton daisy
• Orient : South Africa and Asiatic region and inhabits in the temperate mountain region (Karki, 2004).
• Gerbera is the fifth most used cut flower in the world

Important varieties :

• General gerbera – Red Gem, Classic Beauty etc.
• Black centered gerbera – Sunspot, Faith etc.
• Export varieties – Sonata, Pink Forest etc.

GREENHOUSE TECHNOLOGY ?�

• A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse) is a building or complex in which plants are grown
• Growth and healthy production of plants under controlled favorable conditions in closed or partially closed space is called greenhouse
• Types – Glass House, Shade Net, Poly House�

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Importance of Greenhouse technology

• Best way of utilizing the potential of Gerbera
• Efficieny utilization of chemicals &fertilizers
• Water requirement is limited & easy to control
• Yield may be 10 – 12 times higher under suitable conditions
• Export oriented view
• Major beneficiary to small holding farmer

Site-selection for green house: �

1. The site should be free from pollution�

2. Water should be available regularly

3. Supply of electricity should be regular

4. Soil should be properly levelled and drained

5. Poly house should be near to road side, proper approachable road must be there to go to poly house

6. Some space should be there nearby for further extension

7. Expertise and labors should be available when required

8. Poly house should have light from all sides and wind current should not damage the poly house. To overcome these problems, Poly house should be preferably South-North in direction .�

General Practices

Ploughing

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General disinfection of soil by covering the soil with plastic for 6 – 8 weeks(Solanization)

Bed preparation as recommended by Kumar Florist (2007)/ K.F. biotech

Planting

• Planting medium should be adequately porous and well-drained.
• Two –row or 4-row planting systems are generally used.
• Planting can be done round-the-year but preferably during September-October.
• The plants should be left undisturbed for 2 years for flower production (no separation of clumps).
• Treating plants with GA₃(100 ppm) results in early flowering having long stems.

Bed preparation

Gerbera propagation�Properties

Propagation:

• Division: – Propagation through division of clumps is the most common method.
• Disease and pest free plants
• 4 – 5 leaves per plant at planting time

Precaution:

• Crown should be 1 – 2 cm above soil

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Harvesting

• Gerbera flowers are harvested when outer two whorls of disc florets are perpendicular to the stalks.
• Harvested with the help of sharp knife and kept in plain water immediately

Conclusion

• About 120 – 150 flowers/metre sq./yr are harvested under open conditions
• Whereas, 180 – 200 flowers/metre sq./yr are harvested under polyhouse in Assam conditions
• Moreover, even though initial cost may be more but in the long run Greenhouse cultivation certainly pays rich dividends.
• Thus, the industry should pool it’s resources for popularizing greenhouse cultivation and the entrepreneur should think towards the export of gerbera.

THANK YOU!