It is an important bulbous
ornamental valued for the beauty of its spikes.
longer vase life. Due
to magnificent inflorescence with wide array of colors, gladioli are very much
popular among growers as cut flower. The flower spikes play role for value
addition in bouquets. Gladioli are of great horticultural value and are used in
gardening quite suitable as border, bedding and potted plant.
The world trade of cut flowers
runs in billions of dollars and Netherlands serves as the center of cut flower
trade where millions of flowers are sold through the auctions. The annual
growth in cut flower industry is six percent and global volume of cut flower
trade in 2003 was US$101.84 billion (Anonymous, 2010). In start Pakistan’s cut
flowers export was 87734 kg worth of 3.5l million rupees in 1996-97 which grow
up to 126354 kg in 2001-02 which is worth rupees 8.0 million (Anonymous, 2003).
It has been reported that recently Pakistan is earning 35 million
rupees from cut flower export (Bashir, 2010). Gladiolus
occupies eighth position in the world cut flower trade (Anonymous, 2006). The rapid growth in cut
flower export shows that this business can become Pakistan’s
second largest export sector after textile if government of Pakistan encourages the cut flower
growers by facilitating them to provide better technology in year-round
production, refrigerated transportation and exploring more foreign markets. Diverse climatic conditions
allow Gladiolus cultivation throughout the year in various parts of the country.
(Ahmad et al., 2002).
Gladiolus can be propagated
either by seeds, corms formation or by cormels differentiation. Although the
seeds are an effective means of Gladiolus propagation but seed raised
plants may not produce true to type plants and it takes four seasons for
blooming. Therefore commercial gladiolus cultivation, however, is limited by
the low multiplication rate of corms. Physiological dormancy of the corms and
cormels, which usually last for about 4 to 5 months and Fusarium corm
rot during storage are other problems in this respect generally resulting in
inadequate availability of quality planting materials (Hussain et al.,
2001).
The propagation by conventional method may
transmit several fungal and bacterial diseases e.g., Botrytis blight,
bacterial leaf rot etc., causing a heavy loss. Viruses are a major problem because
the plants are propagated each year by corms that harbor several viruses, among
which bean yellow mosaic virus and cucumber mosaic virus are the most common
ones. Infection by multiple viruses has more impact on the plant than that by a
single virus and the symptoms include color break of the flowers, mosaic of the
leaves and deformed plants, making the flowers unattractive for sale. The
viruses can cause stunting of the plant, resulting in a decreased yield for the
grower. Effective physical and chemical treatments are unavailable for virus
elimination, and even if eliminated, the plants can become infected again and
virus-resistant cultivars of Gladiolus are not available for breeding
(Stein, 1995).
Plant
tissue culture offers a potential to produce large quantities of materials
free from viruses and other pathogens, true-to-type
healthy stock within a short span of time (Hussain et al., 2001). These
techniques of bulbous and cormus plant have significant advantages compared to
conventional propagation methods. The techniques increase multiplication rates
(Novak and Petru, 1981). Plant cells or tissue cultured in vitro are
capable of regenerating whole plants affording biotechnology a novel method for
mass propagation (Murashige, 1977). Several reports on in vitro
propagation of gladiolus varieties are available; such reports underscore
differential cultivar responses (Misra and Singh, 1999).
Somatic embryogenesis is the most
promising technique for plant multiplication, because of its high proliferation
potential and the fact that the risk of chimeric plant development in this case
can be minimized or eliminated. Somatic embryogenesis has been reported for
many species (Ammirato 1983; Williams and Maheswaran 1986). This technique is
widely used. However one of the major bottlenecks in commercialization
of micropropagation is the poor survival of regenerated plants upon ex vitro
transfer. In vitro environmental factors such as gradients in
humidity and CO2 concentration, differential distribution of light
intensity and air temperature inside the culture vessel have significant impact
on growth and quality of the regenerated plants during micropropagation (Ibaraki,
2006).
In
Gladiolus there is a clear scope for further refinement in
in vitro culture
methodology to acquire a higher number of shoots to complement traditional
nursery methods (Hussain
et al., 2001). Gladiolus cormels, which can be
considered as mature explants are recognized as a suitable source for
regenerable callus from which plants may be regenerated via somatic
embryogenesis (Kim, 1988). The use of cormel and leaf explant derived callus is
useful for inducing somatic embryogenesis capable of high rates of plants
regeneration. Such embryos are required for the development of an in vitro
selection system and any other biotechnological purposes (Remotti, 1995).
Fall planting bulbs
Fall planting, spring bloomers.
P - Planting time
" - how deep to plant (from the base of the bulb)
* Alliums -P Nov & 2-3" - a local expert said most
of the alliums do well here except for the giant/large ones. Sunset shows a lot
of big ones grow in our area. When growing small-headed alliums, mass the bulbs
as they multiply rapidly. Alliums with onion odor only give it off when they
are bruised or cut. Following are some of the varieties of small-headed ones:
A. cerulean/azureum (blue garlic), A. moly (golden garlic), A. Neapolitan
(Naples garlic), and A. sphaerocephalum (drumstick).
* Agapanthus - P Nov & 2-4" - very hard to grow in
Phoenix, plants may just sit there for a couple of years till you get tired of
them and throw them out
* Anemone: P Nov & 2-3" - It is hard to tell the
top from the bottom - just put it in any which way and the shoots will find
their way to the top - De Caen varieties are single and St Brigid are
semidouble to double - some gardeners soak them for a few hours before planting
- Plant new bulbs each year
* Babiana - P Fall & 4" - flowers resemble freesia
blooms, each stem has 6 or more blooms - leave in thesame place several years
as they will increase and bloom more profusely. Blooms are in blue, lavender,
purple, red and white.
* Blue Dicks (dichelostemma pulchellum) - For pictures and
information go to:http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_dicap.pdf and
http://ntap.k12.ca.us/whs/projects/flowers/blued.htm
* Brodiaea - Narrow grass-like foliage and large clusters of
bell-shaped, lavender-blue flowers - many varieties now changed to triteleia -
plant in full sun, 6-8" deep, grow 12" - 14" tall, appreciate
being dry in the summer
* Calla (Zantedeschia) - P Nov & 4-6" - survives in
moist, boggy soil, light shade - I don't see a lot of them growing in Phoenix
which leads me to believe they are a little difficult to grow - like acid soil
* Chasmanthes - P Fall & 4" deep - foliage is like
iris/gladiolus - foliage may appear after first fall rains - orange-red or
yellow flowers - foliage and flowers stalks range from 3" to
5â"flowers start blooming early in the spring - multiply rapidly by seed
and bulb - don't need irrigation in summer but will tolerate it - dig when
dormant - cut apart sections of corms & discard small offsets & flattened
dead corms that are under each mature one - replant right away - may not flower
1st year - seed will take 3 years to flower (kaz - manâ - thee)
* Clivia - Sunset says it will grow here, but I don't think
I have seen any growing here. If you try to grow it, plant it so it receives
afternoon shade.
* Crinum - P Nov & Feb & 4" - has big lilylike
flowers, long strap leaves that are 2-3 feet long - each flower stalk is 4 feet
tall and has a cluster of 8-12 flowers on it - flowers don't open all at 1 time
- blooms look like belladonna lilies but are twice as big - blooming starts the
last of May & continues all summer - most of the blooms are a light pink or
white - a few are deep pink or maroon - some flowers are fragrant - mature
bulbs are usually half the size of a football - spring and fall are best time
to plant - divide infrequently - don't like to be disturbed - don't take much
water - I plant mine on the east side of the house - Sunset recommends they be
planted with ther tops of the necks even with the soil surface - I leave most
of my necks out of the ground - I cover my bulbs with soil up to about where
the thin neck starts. An article I read recently says that the fleshy roots
must remain attached for the bulb to transplant successfully. To give the bulb
a good start dig a planting hole 1 foot wide and at least 1 foot deep. Amend
the backfill with compost or manure. Set the bulb so the neck protrudes at
least 1 to 2 inches above the soil. For transplants, just dig beside the
original clump and remove an offset. The biggest crinum is the grand crinum
(Casiaticum) which has up to 50 fragrant , spider-like, white flowers in a
single cluster.
* Crocosmia bulb - P Fall & 2" - Sword-shaped
leaves - blooms of orange, red or yellow - useful for splashes of color -
blooms in spring - divide clumps when flower color begins to decline - used to
be called "Montbretia" - related to the freesia - plants 2-4"
high - each flower spike blooms from 3-4 weeks - a local expert recommended
them for the Phx area
* Crocus - P Nov & 2" - Low growers from
Mediterranean region, but usually won' t naturalize where winters are warm -
they do best in cold winter areas
* Daffodils - P Oct & Nov & 6-9" - All
daffodils , narcissus and jonquils are NARCISSUS. To gardeners, however, they
are divided as follows:
1. Daffodils - large-flowered varieties
2. Narcissus - small-flowered & usually early-blooming
3. Jonquil - Narcissus jonquilla and its hybrids - very
fragrant golden yellow flowers with short cups in clusters of 2-6 on stems -
rush like foliage
o There are 11 divisions of daffodils, and some of those
divisions have divisions. The big, double-nosed bulbs will give you the biggest
and most flowers. Probably the best ones to grow in the Phoenix area are the
early-blooming, small-flowered ones. Plant the bulbs 6-9" deep to insulate
them from our summer heat. When deciding on the location to plant daffodils,
remember that the flowers usually face the sun.
* Daylily (hemerocallis) - P Spring or fall & 4-6"
- Evergreen types do better in the South, Daylily plants are tough and
trouble-free - you can set out bare-root plants at any time during the growing
season - plants from containers can be planted year-round - there are
improvements in daylilies being made all the time. Some bulbs now have 40 blooms
to a bulb. Divide in the fall or early spring - The crown (the area where the
root clump meets the foliage) should be level with the top of the ground. The
plant does best in an area that has sun and shade in and out all day. If
planted in full sun the leaves will burn, the flowers won't last as long, and
they will need more water.
* Easter Lily - P Sep/Oct & 3 times the width of the
bulb - Plant your lily outdoors soon after it finishes blooming, leaving the
old flower stem on. Plant a little deeper than it was growing in the pot. Plant
in filtered sun or well-lighted shade. Reduce watering after the foliage dies
back. The plant may bloom that fall, but after that it will be on its regular
cycle of blooming in May. Bulbs may be divided in the spring or fall. Removing
the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to shed makes the flowers last
longer.
* Freesia - P Oct/Nov & 2" - "old
fashioned" white (Freesia alba) is the most fragrant of freesias,
naturalizes wonderfully in mild-winter gardens, freesias come in lots of
different colors, both single or double - they can be left in the ground year
round, but will tend to revert back to the cream-colored bulb - the newer
hybrids aren't as fragrant as the old ones - cut back on watering when the
leaves start to yellow, withhold water completely during their summer dormancy
- narrow, sword shaped one-foot leaves with flower stalks about a foot high
also
* Galtonia - Plant in the fall - strap-shaped leaves -
summer blooms of sweet-scented white flowers on 2-4' flower stalk - flowers
best if bulbs aren't disturbed
* Garlic - both elephant garlic and the regular kind, which
you can buy at the grocery store - pink/lavendar ball-shaped flowers 2-3' tall
* Gladiolus - P Oct 15 to Dec 30 & 5-7" - For a
long growing season, plant every week or two over a period of 4-6 weeks (Nov
through Jan ) - the bulbs are slow to start growing - mound some extra soil
abound the base of the stems before they start blooming to keep them from
falling over - I have heard that you can plant gladiola just about the year
round - buy bulbs that are 1" to 1" in diameter and have a high crown
which rises to a definite peak (broad, flat ones are older and less vigorous) -
cut flowers for bouquets when lower flowers begin to open, but leave at least 4
leaves on plant so bulbs will have enough food to replenish themselves - after
flowers have finished blooming, cut off stems beneath the lowest flower as
stems will set seeds, diverting energy from food storage - bulbs can be left in
ground the year round
* Grape Hyacinth (muscari) Sunset says they will grow here,
but I don't remember seeing any grow here - small, grass-like leaves - flowers
are a couple of inches tall, blue, purple or white and some are fragrant - very
long-lived, but not in the Phx area
* Homerias - P fall through winter & 2" - Plant is
about 1' to two feet tall, with thin, narrow leaves and small light yellow or
orange/apricot flowers - flowers only last a day but more keep coming for at
least a month
* Hyacinths - P Oct - Dec & 5-8" - new bulbs must
be planted each fall, after cooling in the refrigerator for 6 weeks - if the
buds have short stems, a collar or tube of cardboard may be put around the
plant to make the stem grow longer
* Iris - Tall bearded, spuria, aril bred, median and
Louisiana grow here - plant from late Sept to about Oct 20 - for pictures and
info on their Iris Seminars held in Sept, go to: http://www.shepardiris.com
* Ixia - P fall & 2" - Very narrow leaves, flower
stems are 18-20" tall and the slightest breeze causes the stems to start
moving - short spikes of 2" flowers which do not open on overcast days -
bulbs can stay in ground the year round, although they would rather be dry
during the summer -
* Lily Lankongense - this is the only lily that Sunset shows
will grow in Phoenix - it is fragrant and takes our alkaline soil - suggest it
be planted with morning sun
* Mariposa Lily (calchortus kennedi) - P fall &
3-4" - flowers are orange, yellow, white or pink - To see a color picture,
go to: http://www.rimjournal.com/arizyson/wldf ... riposa.htm and
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/july/pap ... rlily.html
* Morea Polystacha (African Iris) - this plant is growing at
Desert Botanical Garden near Archer House - it blooms off and on during the
spring and summer with blue/purple flowers shaped like a Dutch iris - it has
tall grass-like leaves and stems - multiplies agressively
* Orinthogalum (Star of Bethlehem) - P Fall & 4-6"
- grassy looking, droopy leaves about a foot tall, same size flower stem has
clusters of white flowers
* Oarabicum (Arabian Star of Bethlehem) - wonderfully
fragrant, waxy looking creamy-white flowers with a shiny, black-eye center
* Onutans (Silver Bells) - fragrant, flowers are white
inside & green outside with a white margin
* Oumbellatum (Star of Bethlem) - easy to grow, may
naturalize and become weedy, white flowers with a green midrib on the outside -
flowers close at night to protect the pollen
* Oxalis - P Fall & 1" - Very agressive (especially
the yellow variety) and spreads rapidly
* Ranunculus - P Oct 15/Nov 15 & 2-3" - Brilliantly
colored flowers make long-lasting cut flowers - flowers have multiple layers of
delicate, crepe paper-thin petals - foliage grows in a mound and 12-18"
stems emerge from that - the blooms last up to 6 weeks - the Tecolote variety
has mainly double flowers in a wide range of colors - each clawlike jumbo bulb
will have approximately 35 flowers - #1 bulbs, however, will only have 20
flowers - Plant the tuber's claw pointed end down and 1 to 2 inches deep in
full sun - for best results, plant new bulbs each fall
* Scilla, Peruvian - Although Sunset doesn't list them as
growing in Phoenix, I have grown them about 10 years - rather floppy leaves,
10-12" stem has a ball-shaped cluster of approximately 50 starlike bluish
purple flowers
* Sparaxis (Harlequin Flower) - P Oct/Nov & 1-2" -
Sword-shaped leaves about a foot high - very colorful flowers - each
funnel-shaped flower has a yellow center, a dark color surrounding this, and
then a 3rd color on the rest of the petals - they normally bloom for a long
period but didn't this spring in the extra hot weather we had
* Sprekelia formosissima (Aztec Lily, amaryllis
formosissima) - P Fall & 3-4" - foliage looks like daffodil leaves -
each foot tall stem has dark red, 6" wide bloom that looks like an orchid
- bulbs can stay in the ground - probably do best in partial shade - plant with
the neck of the bulb at soil surface - often reblooms if you let soil dry out
after it finishes blooming - blooms best when crowded
* Tritonia - Swordlike leaves approximately 1 to 1 1/2' high
- spikes of bright-colored flowers - bulbs can remain in the ground - bulbs are
quite tiny - one of the local experts recommended them for the Phx area
* Tulips - If you want to grow tulips in Phoenix, you will
have to buy bulbs every fall and pre-chill them in the refrigerator for 6
weeks. A couple of "wild" tulips that will grow here and you can keep
them in the ground from year to year are:
o Tulipa clusiana:(Lady tulip, candy tulip) cream colored
with deep purple center amd a red band on the outside from top to bottom
o Tulipa saxatillis - rosy-lilac with a yellow base -
multiplies rapidly by stolons - may not appear till first of year
o Fall 2004 McClure & Zimmerman catalog lists 7
"wild" tulips that it appears will grow in the Phoenix area without
pre-chilling and can stay in the ground year round.
* Veltheimia bracteata (Winter Red Hot Poker) - P Fall -
handsome foliage - remains green just about year round - late winter/early
spring flowers appear - tubular, drooping, pinkish-purple tinged with green -
put top of bulb neck just above surface of soil
PLANTING TIPS
* Planting: About November 1st is the earliest planting
date. Do not plant until the daytime temperatures are in the low 80's. If the
bulbs are planted while the ground is still hot, the bulbs may rot or start
growing too soon. As a result, the foliage will grow very big but the blooms
will not develop properly. It is also important to plant the bulbs at the
proper depth. It they are planted too shallow or too deep they will not perform
as desired. The majority of the bulbs will appreciate being planted in full
sun. A general rule of thumb is to plant to a depth of 4 times the thickness of
the bulb.
* Put a tablespoon of treble superphosphate mixed in at the
bottom of the bulb planting hole, then a like amount of bone meal mixed with a
little sand for the bulb to rest upon. Work these mixtures in several inches
below the bulb planting depth.
* As all gardeners know, some plants may absolutely refuse
to grow for you, no matter what you do. There are so many plants that grow in
the Phoenix area, if one refuses to grow, move on to something else. You will
never manage in your lifetime to grow all the plants that will grow in the
Phoenix area.
Gladiolus Cultivation in Pakistan
“ A sustainable flower farming option for progressive farmers“
Gladiolus flowers have become the market leader in terms of flowers selling and cultivation in Pakistan after roses and tube roses. Event Designers like this flowers a lot. As this is the only flower which gives filling flowers impact but also easy to find round the year in the Market.
Mr. Tahir Mahmood of Gullpashi a leading floral designer in Lahore said that “ without gladiolus flowers it is very hard to manage the flora event because of its year round availability in the market and secondly if we don’t find colors gladiolus we do color the white ones according to the client requirement. The only problem for us is the highly unpredicted price factor.”
White Gladiolus are being grown about 90% of the total gladiolus cultivation in Pakistan because farmers are growing according to the market forces. Pink and red are following. Farmers can plants 60,000 bulbs per acre averagely. Imported Gladiolus bulb cost them about Average 7 Rupees. If they go for full season cultivation with season specials they can plant about 6 acres. And can earn more than 4 million per season.
There are more than 2000 hectors under gladiolus cultivation in Pakistan. Mostly in Punjab like, Lahore, Shiekhupura, Kasur, Patoki, Okara, Faisalabad, Jhang districts are common, but glads are also cultivated in Rawalpindi, Islamabad , Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim yaar Khan Regions since long. In Sind farmers are mostly growing gladiolus in and around Hyderabad. In KPK Abbotabad, Mansehra, Ugi, Swat and Dir regions.
Progressive farmers are taking keen interest in gladiolus because of its long cultivation and harvest time and its highly unpredictable price factors; sometime in the season from October to May one stick being sold for Rs. 5 and sometime 65. There is no other crop like gladiolus flowers when we compare whole sale markets and per acre profitably.
“The key to success in gladiolus is keep planting and keep selling” , Col. Tariq was on the opinion, one of the big gladiolus farmers outside Lahore. “In the end you have to look in to the average price per stick that is around Rs. 22 in the year 2014-15.”
There are 5 ever growing whole sale markets in Pakistan for the gladiolus flowers, Sagian Bypass Lahore, Allahabad, on Kasur depalpur Road, Pattoke, Teen Hatti Karachi and in Islamabad.
If gladiolus flower would grow with due care it has great returns on investment. It only requires well drained soil, Right Bulbs Size for right season, different gladiolus bulbs varieties for different seasons, and if grown on Drip these can give tremendous quality flower and more productivity.
In whole sale markets quality flower always gives profit.
