scholarly journals North American Specialty Cut Flower Production and Postharvest Survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian E. Loyola ◽  
John M. Dole ◽  
Rebecca Dunning
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Temperature Management ◽  
Vase Life ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Insect Management ◽  
Customer Complaints ◽  
Flower Production

In the United States and Canada, there has been an increase in the demand for local specialty cut flowers and a corresponding increase in production. To assess the needs of the industry, we electronically surveyed 1098 cut flower producers and handlers in the United States and Canada regarding their current cut flower production and postharvest problems, and customer issues. We received a total of 210 responses, resulting in a 19% response rate. The results showed that the main production problem was insect management; crop timing was the second most important problem and disease management was the third. Crop timing encompasses a range of related issues such as determining the correct harvest stage, harvest windows that are too short, flowering all at once, or lack of control when the crop is ready to harvest. The main postharvest problems were temperature management, hydration, and flower food management. Timing and stem length were the two most mentioned species-specific production issues, with each one listed by 10% or more of the respondents for eight of the total 31 species. Regarding on-farm postharvest handling, hydration and vase life were the two most mentioned issues; they were reported for five and three species, respectively. For postharvest during storage and transport, damage and hydration were the most common issues; these were listed for three species each. The most commonly mentioned customer complaints were vase life and shattering, which were reported for six and two species, respectively. These results will allow researchers and businesses to focus on the major cut flower production and postharvest issues and on crops that are most in need of improvement in North America.

scholarly journals FIELD-GROWN CUT FLOWERS: AN ECONOMICAL ANALYSIS FOR PRODUCTION IN THE OZARKS

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 659d-659
Author(s):  
Gloria McIntosh ◽  
Gerald Klingaman
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Response ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Vase Life ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Flower Production ◽  
Economical Analysis ◽  
Celosia Cristata ◽  
Number Of Stems

Several cut flower species were studied to determine their feasibility for cut flower production. Three fertilizer treatments (0.5, .1, and .15kg/m2 respectively) were used and their effect on number of stems, stem length and fresh weight were determined. Celosia cristata and Ageratum houstonianum `Blue Horizon' proved to respond best to fertilizer treatments. Celosia fertilized at a rate of .15kg/m2 will produce approximately 200 stems/m2. Ageratum will produce appoximately 400 stems/m2 when fertilized at a rate of .10kg/m2. Fertlizer rates of .10 and .15 kg/m2 for Eustoma culture yielded 86 stems/m2, which was lower than other species used in this test. Extended vase life and consumer response could possibly justify using this species in cut flower production. An economic break-even analysis will be presented to show what price will have to be received per stem to cover costs.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Trachelium Cultivars as Cut Flowers

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2005 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
RongNa Liang ◽  
Brent K. Harbaugh
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cooperative Extension Service ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
Flower Production

Trachelium caeruleum has been grown in the United States as a cut flower for about a decade. Only two cultivars, 'White Umbrella' and 'Purple Umbrella', were readily available for commercial use before 1997, but nine new cultivars became available in the last few years. Comparative performance trials have been lacking for these cultivars in the United States. This trial evaluated 11 cultivars of Trachelium for cut flower production performance (vegetative and flowering characteristics) and postharvest longevity.  This document is HS991, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 20, 2004. 

scholarly journals Postharvest Performance of Selected Colombian Cut Flowers after Three Transport Systems to the United States

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ria T. Leonard ◽  
Amy M. Alexander ◽  
Terril A. Nell
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Transport System ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Dianthus Caryophyllus ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Temperature Management ◽  
Vase Life ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Rapid Transport

This study examined three transport systems used to transport fresh, non-stored cut flowers from Bogotá, Colombia, to the United States on a monthly basis for 1 year. Five cultivars of cut rose (Rosa hybrida), alstroemeria (Alstroemeria peruviana), carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), and gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) were commercially transported using a 7-day conventional distribution system with temperature controls and two rapid transport systems (3-day or 24-hour) with little or no temperature controls, respectively. Temperatures during the 24-hour transport system increased steadily and temperatures were at or above 10 °C for ≈18 h, with half of that time above 15 °C for all shipments. The 3- and 7-day systems had temperature fluctuations ranging from 3 to 24 °C and 3 to 19 °C, respectively. Flowers transported using the rapid transport systems had a significantly longer vase life compared with the 7-day transport in 83% of the shipments of alstroemeria and roses, in 58% of the shipments of carnations, and in 50% of the shipments of gerberas. Vase life increased 5.6% to 17.1% (0.7 to 2.1 days) for roses, 3.2% to 16.7% (0.5 to 2.7 days) for alstroemerias, 12.8% to 34.6% (1.1 to 6.2 days) for gerberas, and 4.6% to 8.8% (1.1 to 2.3 days) for carnations when using the rapid transport systems compared with the 7-day transport system. Some cultivars were more tolerant of the longer transport. The results show that when using fresh, non-stored flowers, the rapid transport systems had equal or longer vase life than the 7-day transport system in the majority of shipments for each flower species. Results also demonstrate that better temperature management during transport is a critical issue in the floral industry that needs to be improved upon.

scholarly journals Fungicides Used Alone, in Combinations, and in Rotations for Managing Gladiolus Rust in Mexico

Plant Disease ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (11) ◽  
pp. 1491-1496 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Valencia-Botín ◽  
S. N. Jeffers ◽  
C. L. Palmer ◽  
J. W. Buck
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Disease Development ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Quinone Outside Inhibitors ◽  
Plant Activator ◽  
Disease Pressure ◽  
Action Groups

Gladiolus rust, caused by Uromyces transversalis, is a quarantine-significant pathogen in the United States. However, the fungus is endemic to commercial gladiolus-producing areas in Mexico and has been intercepted frequently on gladiolus plants entering the United States for the cut-flower market. The present study assessed 15 fungicide active ingredients (five quinone outside inhibitors: azoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin; six triazoles: cyproconazole, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, myclobutanil, propiconazole, and tebuconazole; three succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors: boscalid, flutolanil, and oxycarboxin; and one broad-spectrum protectant: chlorothalonil) and one plant activator, acibenzolar-S-methyl, applied alone, in combinations, and in various rotations for efficacy against U. transversalis on field-grown gladiolus plants in Mexico. Experiments were conducted in 2010, 2011, and 2012 in commercial fields in Atlixco and Santa Isabel Cholula in Puebla and Cuautla and Tlayacapan in Morelos. Fungicides were applied at 2-week intervals starting when plants had three full leaves. Disease severity was recorded each week for at least 7 weeks after the first application. Under high disease pressure in 2010, fungicides were less effective than in 2011 and 2012, when disease pressure was not as high. In all 3 years, most fungicide treatments significantly reduced disease severity. Triazoles were more effective than quinone outside inhibitors when applied as individual products in 2010, and combinations of two fungicides in different mode-of-action groups were more effective than fungicides applied individually in 2011. In 2012, rotations of fungicides, either with individual products or with combinations of two products, provided excellent rust management. Reducing disease development by U. transversalis on commercial gladiolus plants in Mexico will reduce the potential for introducing this pathogen on cut flowers into the United States.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Forty-seven Cultivars of Lisianthus as Cut Flowers

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 812-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent K. Harbaugh ◽  
Michelle L. Bell ◽  
Rongna Liang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Flower Color ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Eustoma Grandiflorum ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Cultivar Groups ◽  
Postharvest Longevity ◽  
New Cultivars

Lisianthus [Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf). Shinn.] is emerging as an important cut flower in the United States while in European and Asian markets it is already listed among the top ten cut flowers. Many new cultivars have been released in the United States within the last 5 years, but comparative performance trials of these cultivars have been lacking. This trial evaluated 47 cultivars of lisianthus representing series (cultivar groups) that were marketed in the United States in 1998. Evaluations were made for rosetting, plug performance, cut-flower characteristics (vegetative and flowering attributes) as well as postharvest longevity of cut flowers. Significant differences among cultivars were found for all of the attributes evaluated. `Malibu Purple', `Catalina Blue Blush', and `Alice Pink' were selected as the best performers in the seedling (plug) stage since they had less than 5% rosettes, large leaves and a vigorous root system. Cultivars were placed in classes based on flower color, flower size, and number of petals (single or double flowers). Cultivars were ranked for each of the attributes and the total rank sum of all attributes (TRS) was used to select the best in class. Cultivars selected as best in class were `Malibu Purple', `Malibu Blue Blush', `Alice Purple', `Balboa Blue', `Avila Blue Rim', `Mellow Pink', `Flamenco Wine Red', `Flamenco Rose Rim', `Alice Pink', `Avila Rose' and `Echo Pink', `Alice White', and `Mariachi White'.

Evaluation of Trachelium Cultivars as Cut Flowers

2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 316-318
Author(s):  
RongNa Liang ◽  
Brent K. Harbaugh
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
The United States ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Vase Life ◽  
Blue Color ◽  
Color Group ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Lake Powell

Trachelium caeruleum has been grown in the United States as a cut flower for about a decade. Only two cultivars, `White Umbrella' and `Purple Umbrella', were readily available for commercial use before 1997, but nine new cultivars became available in the last few years. Comparative performance trials have been lacking for these cultivars in the United States. This trial evaluated 11 cultivars of trachelium for cut flower production performance (vegetative and flowering characteristics) and postharvest longevity. The evaluation was in the spring of 1999 at Bradenton, Fla. (27.4 N, 82.5 W; AHS Heat Zone 10; USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 9b). Plant height for all cultivars except `White Umbrella' was above 30 inches (76 cm), a height required for acceptance as a high quality cut flower. `Summer Lake' had the smallest inflorescence diameter of 3.9 inches (10.0 cm) and `Lake Powell' the largest at 6.1 inches (15.4 cm). `White Umbrella' (160 days from seed to flower) was the earliest to flower and `Lake Powell' (169 days) the last to flower. Vase life was as short as 7 days for `Summer Lake' to as long as 11 days for `White Umbrella'. `Lake Powell' (white color group), `Summer Blue Wonder' (blue color group), and `Lake Superior' (purple color group) had the highest overall rankings.

scholarly journals Studying the Market Potential for Specialty Cultivars of Sunflower Cut Flowers

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 611-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryne Short ◽  
Coleman L. Etheredge ◽  
Tina M. Waliczek
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
African Americans ◽  
The United States ◽  
Market Potential ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Good Target ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Locally Grown

In the United States, there is an increasing demand for field- or greenhouse-grown, specialty, locally grown cut flowers. However, certain cultivars of cut flowers are not readily available in the market. The purpose of this research was to produce a crop of novelty sunflowers (Helianthus annuus ‘Firecracker’) and study the marketability of the cut flowers to wholesale and retail florists and consumers. The plants were grown in greenhouses. Stems were harvested and shown to local floral wholesalers/retailers who were individually interviewed on their perceptions of the cut flower as a product. Farmers’ market patrons were administered a quantitative survey to determine their perspectives on locally sourced products and willingness to pay (WTP) for the specialty cut flower (SCF). Results indicated half of the local florists interviewed responded positively to locally grown floral products in general, with all florists willing to pay at the least the same amount for the SCF as they are currently paying for their standard commercially grown, imported cut sunflowers. Farmers’ market customers expressed a WTP of $1.34/stem and/or $10.13/bunch of 10 stems for the SCF with participants who expressed a higher concern for sourcing local products often more willing to pay a higher price for the SCF. Furthermore, among demographic comparisons, there were no differences in WTP based on age, income, and education. However, females were more likely to purchase the SCF when compared with males, and African-Americans were less likely to buy the SCF and willing to pay less for 10-stem bunches when compared with respondents of other ethnic backgrounds. Although many buyers responded positively to the product, results indicate women and those who prefer to buy local would be a good target demographic market for the product.

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF PHOTOPERIOD AND GIBBERELLIC ACID ON GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF CRASPEDIA UNIFLORA.

HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1092a-1092
Author(s):  
David C. Annis ◽  
Terri Starman
Keyword(s):  
Gibberellic Acid ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Foliar Spray ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Flower Production ◽  
Long Day

Flowers of Craspedi a uniflora (Billy Buttons), a New Zealand annual plant, have been introduced recently into the U.S.A. florist market. Craspedia is relatively unknown in the U.S.A., but is beginning to be utilized by florists as a cut flower and has potential for specialty cut flower production. Craspedia uniflora cut flowers were grown from seed in an inflated, double-layer, polyethylene greenhouse. Short day (SD) and long day (LD) photoperiod treatments were applied by daylength reduction via black cloth and night interruption lighting, respectively. Treatments began 10 weeks after sowing (15 leaf stage) and continued until harvest. Gibberellic acid was applied as a single foliar spray to runoff at 0 and 500 mg·liter-1 at initiation of photoperiod treatment. Long day treatment reduced days to anthesis, increased flower number, and decreased stem length and plant fresh weight. Gibberellic acid (500 mg·liter-1) increased foliage height under both photo period treatments and increased plant dry weight under LD but reduced dry weight under SD treatment. Flower fresh weight, diameter and bud number were not affected by treatment.

scholarly journals 203 Selection Strategies for Selecting Alternative Cut Flowers for Greenhouse Production

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 477A-477
Author(s):  
Andrea Crowell ◽  
Steven E. Newman
Keyword(s):  
Botanical Garden ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Vase Life ◽  
Cut Flower ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
Greenhouse Production ◽  
Aesthetic Quality ◽  
Stem Strength ◽  
Selection Strategies ◽  
Anthyllis Vulneraria

The cut-flower industry is continually searching for unique products to introduce to the floral industry. Our objective was to select potential species for trial as new greenhouse-grown alternative cut flowers. Hardy perennials from the Rock/Alpine Garden at the Denver Botanical Garden served as the selection pool. Plants in this collection were fitting due to their durability in Colorado conditions and their rugged unique beauty. Several trial cuts of potential species were taken, and the flowers were evaluated for flower size, stem length, stem strength, foliage, vase life, usefulness, and general aesthetic quality. Next, an informal survey of growers, retailers, researchers, and consumers was taken to determine which flowers had already been seen on the market and which flowers would be potentially successful in the trade. After assimilating the information, the following six species were selected for trial future greenhouse production: Anthyllis vulneraria, Dianthus giganteus, Diascia integerrima, Echium lusitanium, Heuchera sanguinea `Bressingham Hybrids', and Trollius yunnanensis.

scholarly journals First Report of Gladiolus Rust Caused by Uromyces transversalis in Michoacán, México

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 687-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Rodríguez-Alvarado ◽  
S. P. Fernández-Pavía ◽  
M. Valenzuela-Vázquez ◽  
J. G. Loya-Ramírez
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Cut Flowers ◽  
First Report ◽  
Flower Production ◽  
Light Yellow ◽  
Bright Yellow ◽  
Mycology Laboratory

During October 2005, rust lesions were observed on leaves of gladiolus (Gladiolus sp.) plants being grown for flower production in a 20-ha field in eastern Michoacán, México. Disease incidence was near 100% in the field. Five symptomatic plants were collected on 11 and 25 October 2005, from each of 10 farms for further examination. Uredinia were scattered, orange, elliptical to irregular, and arranged transversely across the leaf. The sori were covered by the epidermis initially and later were erumpent and pulverulent. Urediniospores were bright yellow gold, ovate to oblong, and measured 15 × 19 μm (average). The urediniospore wall was hyaline and minutely echinulate. Telia were scattered, dark brown, elliptical, arranged transversely across the leaf, and were covered by the epidermis. Teliospores were irregularly pyriform, ovate, irregular or angular, light to dark brown with a conical or truncate apex and measured 17 × 23 μm (average). The teliospore wall measured 1 μm (average) thick at the sides and 3 μm (average) thick at the apex. Pedicels were light yellow and measured as much as 60 × 3 μm (average). On the basis of these characters, the rust was identified as Uromyces transversalis (Thüm.) G. Winter (1). To our knowledge this is the first report of U. transversalis causing gladiolus rust in Michoacán, México. Originally reported from Africa, the disease has been reported from Argentina, Brazil, southern Europe, and Oceania (1). Gladiolus rust caused by Uromyces transversalis is a quarantine disease for Europe and the United States. There have been unpublished reports of interceptions of this rust on cut flowers of gladiolus going from México into the United States (1). References: (1) J. R. Hernández. Invasive Fungi. Gladiolus Rust. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Online publication. ARS, USDA, 2004.

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