Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation

(Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation)
• • flower diameter, whereby:
o the flower is measured from the narrowest side of the flower and flat, meaning that
by laying a ruler on the flower, it will be flattened a little bit. The measured diameter
is rounded down in accordance with the overviews;
o contrary to the General Specifications for Cut Flowers a tolerance of 0 does apply.
o for flowers with a diameter of less than 9.5 cm, the difference between the largest
and the smallest flower may not be more than 1 cm. For flowers with a diameter of
9.5 cm and more, the difference between the largest and the smallest flower may
not be more than 1½ cm.
o during trade the flower diameter grade may be mentioned in the grade code by
using characteristics code S23. The diameter of the smallest flower, rounded down,
is indicated.
Packing Requirements
General
• Gerbera with a minimum stem length of 40cm are packed in interior boxes.
• Gerbera with a stem length between 35 and 40 cm may be packed in interior boxes,
provided that the minimum length is mentioned on the auction note and on the box.
• Gerbera with a stem length shorter than 35 cm may not be packed in interior boxes; they
must be supplied standing in water.
• The interior fittings must be stapled to the inside of the box. There must be no risk of the
stems moving in the box; the auction may to this end demand the use of a strip of foam
rubber.
• For delivery in boxes Gerbera must first be pre-watered in clean water (with the
recommended pre-treatment agents, if possible) and then packed dry.
• If Gerbera are delivered in bunches, then bunches of large-flowered Gerbera must consist
of 10 stems and bunches of Gerbera mini of 25 stems, possibly with added Gerbera
leaves.
Yield
The average yield under greenhouse is around 200 cut flowers/m 2 /year of which 85% of I
grade quality while it is 180-225 flowers/m 2 /year under open condition with only 15-20% of flowers
being if I grade.
Important tips and best practice for crop cultivation
• Always use double type varieties with black centre
• Shadenet ensuring 50% shade should be used for cultivating the crop
Marketing and distribution and transplanting:-
Gerbera has a good demand in cut flower arrangement, so can be marketed to major/ big
cities where these can be supplied to hotel, Institutions, etc. Being sensitive to temperature,
carnations must be transported using reefer vans for extended vase life. The flower are either
transported in refrigerated van at 4-5 0 C or percooled flowers are transported by the air.
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