Greenhouse and High Tunnel Production of Specialty Cut Flowers

The objective of this study was to determine best production practices for five different specialty cut flower species at an altitude of 7200 ft. Region-specific information about cut flower production is important because of unique environmental conditions. We grew five specialty cut flower species in two different growing environments: a greenhouse and a high tunnel. Flowers were grown year-round in the greenhouse and during late spring through fall in the high tunnels. We also used pinching as another production method for the potential increase in branching. The goals were to test the effects of species, growing environment, and pinching on the days from sowing to harvest, stem length, number of stems cut per plant, and marketable yield. Experiments were conducted at the University of Wyoming Laramie Research and Extension Center in Laramie, WY, to assess the potential for producing specialty cut flowers for local consumption. The species used in this study included ‘Princess Golden’ pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), ‘Lucinda Mix’ stock (Matthiola incana), ‘Double Mix’ strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum), ‘Dara’ ornamental carrot (Daucus carota), and ‘Celway Mix’ cockscomb (Celosia argentea). Results showed significant species × environment and season interactions, indicating the importance of species and production practice selections. We successfully sold the cut flowers to the university student farm for community-supported agriculture shares and farm market sales, as well as to a local florist for use in floral arrangements. This study concluded that careful species selection for season and growing environment is essential for the successful integration of these niche cut flowers into current or future greenhouse and high-tunnel production in Wyoming.

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Effects of Fertilizer Source and Rate on Zinnia Cut Flower Production in a High Tunnel

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7100333 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. 333

Author(s):

Guihong Bi ◽

Tongyin Li ◽

Mengmeng Gu ◽

William B. Evans ◽

Mark Williams

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Soil Health ◽

Growth Index ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Broiler Litter ◽

High Tunnel

Sustainable nutrient management in high tunnel production is critical for optimizing crop yield and quality and improving soil health. In this study, we investigated the influence of different pre-plant composts (composted broiler litter, vemicompost, and cotton gin compost) in combination with different rates of organic or conventional fertilizer on zinnia plant growth, marketable yield of cut flower stems (>30 cm), and soil nutrients in a high tunnel over two years. Results showed that in general, pre-plant compost influenced plant growth, and plants that received composted broiler litter had the highest plant growth index. However, pre-plant compost did not affect the number of marketable cut stems. Fertigation during the growing season influenced the number of marketable cut stems. Comparable rates of nitrogen, from either organic or conventional fertilizer, produced similar numbers of marketable stems, suggesting that the organic fertilizer used in this study can be used as a fertilizer source for the production of zinnia cut flowers. After two years of production under the high tunnel, soil-extractable phosphorus, sodium, zinc, and pH significantly increased, suggesting that salt accumulation should be closely monitored in response to different compost or fertilizer sources with long-term production under high tunnels.

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Improving Snapdragon Cut Flower Production through High Tunnel Season Extension, Transplant Timing, and Cultivar Selection

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci15910-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 56 (10) ◽

pp. 1206-1212

Author(s):

Maegen Lewis ◽

Melanie Stock ◽

Brent Black ◽

Dan Drost ◽

Xin Dai

Keyword(s):

High Elevation ◽

Stem Length ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

High Tunnel ◽

Cultivar Selection ◽

High Tunnels ◽

Season Extension ◽

Long Stem ◽

Advanced Production

The demand for locally grown, specialty cut flowers is increasing and now includes nontraditional regions for production, such as the U.S. Intermountain West. The objective of this study was to evaluate snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.) as a cool season, cut flower crop in northern Utah, where the high elevation and semiarid climate result in a short growing season with strong daily temperature fluctuations. High tunnel and field production methods were trialed in North Logan, UT (41.77°N, 111.81°W, 1382 m elevation) with cultivars ‘Chantilly’, ‘Potomac’, and ‘Rocket’ in 2018 and 2019. Each year, five to six transplant timings at 3-week intervals were tested, beginning in early February in high tunnels and ending in late May in an unprotected field. Stems were harvested and graded according to quality and stem length. High tunnels advanced production by 5 to 8 weeks, whereas field harvests continued beyond the high tunnel harvests by 2 to 8 weeks. High tunnels yielded 103 to 110 total stems per m2 (65% to 89% marketability), whereas field yields were 111 to 162 total stems per m2 (34% to 58% marketability). Overall, production was the greatest with March transplant timings in the high tunnels and mid-April transplant timings in the field. ‘Chantilly’ consistently bloomed the earliest on 4 and 6 May each year, ‘Potomac’ had the highest percentage of long stem lengths, and ‘Rocket’ extended marketable stem production through July in high tunnels. Selecting optimal transplant dates in the high tunnel and field based on cultivar bloom timing maximizes marketable yields and results in a harvest window lasting 4.5 months.

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

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.659d ◽

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.

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Adaptation of anthurium cultivars as cut flowers in a subtropical area

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2011000200007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 161-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Adriane Marinho de Assis ◽

Lilian Keiko Unemoto ◽

Ricardo Tadeu de Faria ◽

Deonísio Destro ◽

Lúcia Sadayo Assari Takahashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

The Other ◽

Stem Length ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Subtropical Area ◽

Number Of Leaves ◽

Anthurium Andraeanum

The objective of this work was to evaluate the adaptation of anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) cultivars as cut flowers in a subtropical area, located in north of Paraná State, Brazil. The Apalai, Ianomami, Kinã, nK 102, Parakanã, Rubi, and Terena cultivars were cultivated in a nursery under 80% shade. The number of leaves and inflorescences, floral stem length, length and width of inflorescences, and spadix length were evaluated. The experimental design was in completely randomized blocks, with six replicates and five plants per plot. During the 18 months evaluated, 'Parakanã' produced 11 inflorescences per plant, whereas the other cultivars produced seven to nine inflorescences per plant. The number of leaves produced per plant was: 'Ianomami', 25; 'Parakanã', 20; 'Apalai' and 'Terena', 15; 'Kinã' and 'Rubi', 11; and 'nK 102', 9. The Apalai, nK 102, Parakanã, and Rubi cultivars are the most recommended as cut flowers; the Ianomami cultivar is not recommended as a cut flower in this region.

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(84) Producing Cut Flowers in High Tunnels and Open Fields

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.4.1067d ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 1067D-1067

Author(s):

H. Chris Wien

Keyword(s):

Warm Season ◽

Single Layer ◽

Stem Length ◽

Pest Species ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Eustoma Grandiflorum ◽

High Tunnel ◽

High Tunnels ◽

Season Extension ◽

Choice Of Species

Flowering plants grown and marketed locally as cut flowers have become economically important in recent years, concentrating on species that are too delicate to ship long distances. Although the bulk of this production is done outdoors, extending the season at both ends by using high tunnels (unheated greenhouse structures covered with a single layer of polyethylene), has become popular. To determine the advantages and drawbacks of using high tunnels as season extension structures for cut flowers, variety trials of seven and four flower species were conducted in 2004 and 2005, respectively, both in a high tunnel and in an adjacent field. In the cool, rainy 2004 season, plants in the tunnel were ready for harvest 20 days sooner than the same varieties outside. Outside plants had 25% more stems than tunnel-grown plants, but there was no difference in average stem length. In the dry, warm season of 2005, tunnel-grown plants were 8 days earlier, and had 58% more stems, which were increased in length by 16% over field-grown plants. Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) and snapdragons (Antirrhinum) were grown in both seasons, and gave similar results both times. Tunnel-grown lisianthus showed a 34% increase in stems per plant, and an 8% increase in stem length, and the stems could be harvested 8 days earlier. Snapdragons were 9 days earlier in the tunnel both years, but tunnel-grown plants produced 22% fewer stems. Disease and insect pressures occurred in both locations, but pest species causing problems differed. With careful choice of species to be grown in tunnels, cut flower production in this environment can be optimized.

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Effect of Plastic Mulch Color on Cut Flower Production of Snapdragon and Dianthus in a High Tunnel Production System

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898.31.4.241 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 241-245

Author(s):

William G. Sherrer ◽

J. Raymond Kessler ◽

Wheeler G. Foshee

Keyword(s):

Production System ◽

Stem Length ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Bare Ground ◽

Plastic Mulch ◽

High Tunnel ◽

Flower Production ◽

Auburn University ◽

Dianthus Barbatus ◽

Inflorescence Length

The objective of these studies was to determine the effects of colored plastic mulch in a high tunnel production system on cut flower production of ‘Potomac Appleblossom’, ‘Potomac Orange’, ‘Potomac Pink’, ‘Potomac Yellow’, and ‘Supreme Gold Yellow’ snapdragons (Antirhinum majus) in 2007 and ‘Cool Bronze’, ‘Cool Rose’, and ‘Cool White’ snapdragons and ‘Amazon Neon Purple’ dianthus (Dianthus barbatus) in 2008. In 2007, snapdragons were evaluated on blue (BM), red (RM), or white plastic mulch (WM) at the Auburn University, E.V. Smith Research Center (Shorter, AL). Over all cultivars, total stem length, inflorescence length, and stem diameter values were highest on BM and lowest on RM, though inflorescence lengths and stem diameters were not different on BM and WM. ‘Potomac Orange’ and ‘Supreme Gold Yellow’ had the longest total stem lengths and ‘Potomac Yellow’ the shortest while ‘Potomac Pink’ and ‘Potomac Yellow’ had the highest stem diameters and ‘Potomac Appleblossom’ had the lowest over all mulch colors. In 2008, ‘Cool Bronze’, ‘Cool Rose’, and ‘Cool White’ snapdragons and ‘Amazon Neon Purple’ dianthus were evaluated on black (BkM), blue, red, or white mulch or bare ground (BG) at the Auburn University, Wiregrass Experiment Station (Headland, AL). Total stem lengths were highest on BkM and lowest on BG over all cultivars, however the second highest total stem length was on BM, which is in agreement with the 2007 study where BkM was not included. Inflorescence lengths and stem diameters were highest on BkM, BM, and RM in 2008, which agrees with results for 2007 for BM, but not for RM. The same pattern of differences was found for stem diameters. ‘Cool Bronze’ had the highest total stem lengths, inflorescence lengths, and stem diameters while ‘Cool Rose’ had the lowest over all mulch colors. For ‘Amazon Neon Purple’ dianthus, BkM and BM resulted in the highest stem numbers and stem lengths. These studies were conducted at two different locations and at two different times of the year. Though there were inconsistencies in response to mulch color, BkM and BM generally resulted in longer and thicker stems in snapdragons and the highest stem numbers and stem lengths in dianthus.

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Ornamental Kale as a Cut Flower under High Tunnels in the Southeastern United States

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech04100-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 855-862

Author(s):

Suzanne O’Connell

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Stem Length ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Planting Dates ◽

High Tunnel ◽

Color Changes ◽

Air Temperatures ◽

High Tunnels ◽

Ornamental Kale

The potential to expand the production of ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) grown as a specialty cut flower in the southeastern United States appears promising, especially for the winter holidays. This 2-year replicated study investigated the effects of two fall plantings and three cultivars on ornamental kale yields grown under organic high tunnels. In addition to the production study, informal interviews of local florists were conducted. The earlier planting dates resulted in longer stem lengths (≥5 cm) and fewer days to harvest (≥5 days) across both seasons. Commercial stem length goals were not achieved (≥60 cm) but local florists did not appear to have the same standards (≥31 cm). The cultivars Crane Bicolor and Lucir White had longer stems and larger heads than Crane Red. Our high tunnel system provided favorable air temperatures for vegetative growth from late September through early November indicating an earlier planting date may be possible. Commonly accepted nighttime temperatures required to induce color changes occurred in early to mid-November during our study period.

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(78) Sheltering Cut Flower Plants to Increase Stem Length

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.4.1066b ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 1066B-1066

Author(s):

H. Chris Wien

Keyword(s):

Field Experiments ◽

Light Transmission ◽

Stem Length ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Eustoma Grandiflorum ◽

Rudbeckia Hirta ◽

Stem Strength ◽

Flower Stem ◽

Number Of Stems

The stems of many flower species used as cut flowers are too short to be commercially useful. Non-chemical techniques are needed to increase the length of the harvested stems without weakening stem strength. Field experiments were conducted that explored the use of black or red shade fabric, used either as a canopy, or as a side curtain, with three species of cut flowers. Trachelium caerulum, Eustoma grandiflorum (Echo Champagne), and Rudbeckia hirta (Prairie Sun) were grown in split-plot experiments in which shade and shelter treatments were applied as main plots, and the flower species formed the subplots. In 2004, shade canopies of 70% light transmission were compared in black and red (“ChromatiNet”) netting, and 50% red netting. Stem length increased from 51 cm for unshaded controls to 54, 56, and 59 cm for 70% black, red, and 50% red, respectively. Productivity of the plants was decreased an average of 21% by shading. In 2005, shade canopies of 50% black or red were compared to side curtains of the same materials, and an unsheltered control, growing the same species of flowers. Stem length was increased by 25% when plants were grown under a shade canopy, and by 14% in the side curtain plots. Shading treatments reduced stem yield by 31%, whereas side curtains had no significant effect on number of stems per plant. Color of the netting did not affect stem length or stem yield in 2005. In both years, the thickness of harvested stems were increased significantly in the shelter treatments. The three species reacted similarly to the treatments imposed in both years. Shelter treatments can be a practical way of increasing cut flower stem length.

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Selection of cut flower species affected promotion of flowering and stem elongation by far-red lighting or heating treatments on end of day under limited sunshine from autumn to winter

Horticultural Science ◽

10.17221/174/2018-hortsci ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (No. 3) ◽

pp. 169-179

Author(s):

Yoshihiro Takemura ◽

Masayuki Kishimoto ◽

Fumio Tamura

Keyword(s):

Stem Elongation ◽

Internode Length ◽

Stem Length ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Days To Flowering ◽

Selection Of

The effect of a brief exposure to treatments of end-of-day (EOD) far-red (FR) light and EOD-heating on flowering and stem elongation in certain species cultivated in areas with limited sunshine from autumn to winter has been investigated. Thirteen EOD-FR treated cultivars among all 24 cultivars tested in experiment 1, showed earlier flowering than control plants. Additionally, Kanzaki No.21, F1 Winter cherry and Gypsy deep rose were earlier to flower under the all night-FR treatment than under the EOD-FR treatment. Further, 13 cultivars among all cultivars tested in experiment 1 showed greater stem length, whereas 16 cultivars of them showed greater mean internode length than controls when treated with EOD-FR. The days to flowering in 13 cultivars treated by EOD-Heating, flowering was earlier than in controls. Also, stem length and mean internode length were also promoted by the same treatment in 7 cultivars. Additionally, flowering and stem elongation of Stella rose, Arizona sun, Suzuhime and Extra carmine rose were promoted by a combination of both treatments, and productivity and quality were improved. These results suggest that the treatments tested can help the production of cut-flowers in areas with limited sunshine from autumn to winter, although the method of application of the treatments must be optimized for each species.

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Response of Branching and Nonbranching Cut Flower Cultivars of Sunflower to Pinching and Planting Density

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech03622-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 257-262

Author(s):

Hans C. Wien

Keyword(s):

Unit Area ◽

Flower Size ◽

Planting Density ◽

Stem Length ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Leaf Stage ◽

The Difference ◽

Number Of Stems ◽

Relationship Of

Pinching sunflower (Helianthus annuus) grown for cut flowers in the vegetative stage increases stem yield at least 3-fold. Four experiments were conducted to further investigate the cultivar response differences to pinching, to explore the response to planting density, and to examine the effect of the time of pinching. In the first two experiments, two branching and one nonbranching cultivar in 2011, and three branching cultivars in 2012, were grown at 6 × 6-, 9 × 9-, and 12 × 12-inch spacing and pinched at the six-leaf stage. Pinching led to stem yield increases, but reduced flower size and stem length. Combining closer spacing with pinching further decreased flower size, increased the number of stems, and the gross value of stems per unit area. At highest densities flowers were too small to be saleable. The inverse relationship of flower size to stem numbers per unit area held true across all cultivars in both years. The branching cultivar Starburst Lemon Aura was the most productive of the cultivars tested when pinched, yielding 15,744 stems/1000 ft2 at the closest spacing. In 2013 and 2015, delaying the time of pinching from the 6-leaf to the 10-leaf stage reduced stem production among three nonbranching cultivars from 2.8 to 1.8 stems/plant, compared with an increase from 4.2 to 5.1 stems/plant for the branching cultivar Goldrush. The difference in pinching response among cultivars in 2013 and 2015 may have been related to relative severity of septoria leaf blight (Septoria helianthi) that infected the lower leaves. The results of the four experiments confirmed the efficacy of pinching on productivity and value of sunflowers, with best results obtained when pinching was done at the six-leaf stage.

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