🌸 Chrysanthemum and Marigold — Production Technology
Chrysanthemum and Marigold — Production Technology.
Chrysanthemum and marigold are major commercial flower crops in India, supplying both cut flower and loose flower markets with strong demand in festivals, rituals, and decorative trade.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Introduction
Chrysanthemum is known as the "Queen of the East" and belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is one of the most popular commercial flower crops grown for cut flowers, loose flowers, and pot plants.
Varieties
| Type | Varieties | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Large flowered (Standard) | Snowball, Yellow Gold, White Prolific | Cut flowers |
| Small flowered (Spray) | Button Local, Poornima, Rajat | Loose flowers, garlands |
| Pot mums | Basanti, Sadbhavna, Birbal Sahni | Indoor decoration |
Climate and Soil
- Temperature: 15-25°C; sensitive to frost
- Photoperiod: Short-day plant; flowers when day length < 13 hours
- Soil: Well-drained sandy loam; pH 6.0-7.0
- Light manipulation: Artificial lighting to delay or promote flowering commercially
Propagation
- Terminal stem cuttings (5-7 cm) rooted in sand beds or cocopeat
- Rooting in 3-4 weeks under mist
- Tissue culture for virus-free planting material
Production Technology
- Spacing: 30 x 30 cm (loose flowers); 15 x 15 cm (pot plants)
- Pinching: Single pinch at 4-5 weeks after planting for spray types
- Disbudding: Remove lateral buds for single large bloom (standard types)
- Staking: Support with wire mesh or bamboo stakes
- Fertilizers: N:P:K at 200:100:200 kg/ha with split N applications
- Photoperiod management: Short-day treatment using black cloth for off-season flowering
Harvesting
- Harvest when outer petals fully open and centre petals still closed
- Cut flowers: 60-80 cm stem length
- Loose flowers: picked when fully open
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Crop | High-Value Exam Points |
|---|---|
| Chrysanthemum | Short-day response, pinching and disbudding are key crop operations |
| Marigold | Tagetes erecta vs T. patula, loose flower market dominance |
| Harvest | Timely stage-based harvest determines shelf life and quality |
| Yield focus | Nutrition, spacing, and pinching strongly influence output |
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
Introduction
Marigold is the most widely grown loose flower crop in India, popular for garlands, religious offerings, and decorations. Two main species are cultivated:
- African marigold (Tagetes erecta) — Large flowers, tall plants
- French marigold (Tagetes patula) — Smaller flowers, dwarf, used in borders
Varieties
- African: Pusa Narangi Gainda, Pusa Basanti Gainda, Inca, Doubloon, Crackerjack
- French: Red Brocade, Flame, Rusty Red, Bolero
- Hybrid: Arka Agni, Arka Bangara (IIHR, Bengaluru)
Climate and Soil
- Temperature: 18-35°C; tolerant to heat
- Hardy crop; grows in all soil types with good drainage
- pH 7.0-7.5; moderately salt-tolerant
Production Technology
- Propagation: Seeds sown in nursery; transplanting at 25-30 days
- Spacing: 40 x 30 cm (African); 30 x 20 cm (French)
- Pinching: Top pinch at 40 days after transplanting to promote branching
- Fertilizers: N:P:K at 150:80:80 kg/ha; organic manures improve flower size
- Growth regulators: GA3 at 100 ppm increases flower size and stem length
Harvesting and Yield
- First harvest: 60-65 days after transplanting
- Harvest fully opened flowers in the morning
- Yield: 15-20 tonnes/ha (African); 8-10 tonnes/ha (French)
- Duration of harvest: 3-4 months with picking at 3-4 day intervals
Uses
- Garlands and decorations — Predominant use in India
- Xanthophyll extraction — Natural yellow pigment used in poultry feed
- Essential oil — From French marigold (Tagetes oil) used in perfumery
- Companion planting — Repels nematodes and certain insects
References
2 sources • [1] [2]
References
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[2]
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