2. Introduction
• Annuals, shrubs, and sub-shrubs having upright stems with some lax habit having
spreading stems that mound over the surface of the ground.
• Height ranges from 10 to 100 cm.
• Opposite stalkless leaves with a shape ranging from linear to ovate, and a color
ranging from pale to medium green.
• Flowers appearances vary from a single row of petals to dome shape.
• Color: White, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple, or lilac.
• Native primarily to North America, with a few species in South America
4. Pink dasher
• Cheerful pink and round flower.
• It can be planted indoor easily.
• Long- lasting flower with two heads
• lance-shaped petals.
5. star white
• Variety of hanging basket.
• 3 inches wide flower
• Pure white petals with yellow centers.
• Partial shade preferable
• Heat and drought resistant.
• Low maintenance plant
• But require proper trimming
6. Elegans Benary’s giant deep red
• Dark red flower
• Requires full sun
• Clay soil Preferable
• Bees and butterfly attractant
• Disease
7. Angustifolia Crystal Orange:
• Narrow leafed
• Spreads widely
• Height 25 cm and 14 cm of width.
• Prefers direct sunlight
9. Elegans ‘Benary’s Giant Lime :
• Fully double flower, grows on long, sturdy stems.
• Grows in the foreground of darker foliage and green stems.
• Blooms from late summer to mid-autumn
• It has a deciduous leafy
• Yellowish greenish petals.
10. Propagation
• Both sexual and asexual propagation.
• Commercially propagated through seeds.
• Hybrid seed production in zinnia involves the use of male sterile lines which
produces only 50 per cent male sterile progeny when propagated from seed.
12. Climate Requirement:
• Hot and moderately dry climate is preferred.
• For grown in green house require minimum temperature should be 18-20 ºC.
• Humid condition preferable
• Plants receiving soil heat produce more flowers
• Direct seeding or seedling transplanting in field should be done only when soil
temperature is not less than 18 ºC.
13. Land preparation:
• Incorporate the FYM and compost in 1:1 ratio.
• Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0.
• Beds height: 20 cm (for proper drainage).
• Nursery Bed Size: 5 X 1 meter.
• Avoid Damp conditions
• Heavy rains damage blooming
Marigold plants damaged by
rain
14. Sowing and transplanting
• Soak the seeds in GA3 100ppm for 16 hours to improve germination.
• Sowing Time: February-March and August-September in the plains.
• Early or late sowing to avoid viral infection.
• Transplanting at 4-leaf stage (one month after sowing).
• P-P Distance 20 to 40 cm according to cultivars.
15. Pinching and roughing
• Pinching is done after 20 days of transplanting.
• Aids vegetative growth or in delaying the flowering, induces branching
• Roughing: Off type plants should be removed from field to avoid contamination and regular
inspection of crop is a must.
16. Weeds Control:
• Pennant (Metolachlor), and Poast (Sethoxydim) are labeled for weed control.
Mulches Weed barrier
18. Irrigation:
• Every fourth day during persisting sunny and hot weathers.
• Shallow watering should immediately be given when needed.
Irrigating with 1-2%
photosynthetic bacterium
Improve root
development
Stimulate drought
resistance
23. Basic requirements:
Two basic steps:
• Emasculation of the female parent
• Effective pollen disposal from the male parent to ensure a satisfactory seed set in the female
parent.
24. Genetic male sterility
• Pollen sterility is governed by a single recessive gene, maintenance of the genetic stock is
difficult as there will be continuous segregation of the fertile and sterile individuals in, 1:1
proportion.
25. Multiplication:
• Proper care must be taken to avoid contamination by cross pollination with other crops of the
same species during multiplication.
• Non compatible crops can be planted adjacent.
26. Harvesting and cleaning
• Seeds can be harvested after 40 days of anthesis.
• Each flower head should be harvested individually when seed is turning brown.
• Seed may be harvested when they become brittle.
• Threshing and cleaning are usually combined in the same operation with the use of sieve.
rubbing boards and small winnowing machines.
• Seeds may be stored in a dirty condition as long as the accompanying residues are
completely dry.
27. Harvesting
• Fresh flower harvested in clusters / spike or in single along with their stem.
• The best time is the coolest part of the day and when there is no surface
water from dew or rain on the plants.
• Spike type flowers: Harvest when one- fourth to one-half of the individual
florets are open.
• Daisy type flowers: Harvest when fully open.
28. Handling during Harvest
• Remove foliage on stems that will be below water
• Slant cuts will keep stems from lying flat on the bucket bottom and increase water uptake
• Never lay flowers on the ground or dirty surface.
• Disinfect cutting tools at least 2 times each day.
• Grade and bunch flowers immediately after harvest.
• Bring flowers into the shade and place in clean buckets of clean warm water (acidified) and a
biocide.
• Avoid over-filing containers with flowers
30. Pulsing
• The absorption of chemical solutions containing sugar and germicide through the
lower cut base of flower stem is known as pulsing.
• Precooling increases the shelf-life.
• Precooling temperature varies from species to species. Ex- Gladiolus: 5-7°C Bird of
paradise – 7-8°C
Advantages:
• Prolongs vase life of flower
• Promote opening of buds and
• It retains the color of flower.
31. Packing
• Good packing makes sure that the flowers do not arrive crushed or bruised.
• Protect flower & plants from temperature extremes.
• Prevent leaks and spills.
CFB BOXES Themocol box
32. Transportation
• Flowers can be easily bruised, broken or otherwise damaged during transportation.
• Proper sized air conditioned vehicle
• Use water filled buckets to place the cut flower upright .
• Keep the bucket stable by putting sand bags around the buck.
• For shorter trips lay the bunches of cut flowers gently
