Learn Cut Flower Growing in Greenhouses
Greenhouse Cut Flower Production is intensive horticulture. It requires less land but a greater investment in equipment (compared with production in the open). This form of production can also be more complex -requiring not only an understanding of the plants and related horticultural skills; but also an understanding of how to provide and manage artificial environments.
This course is unique and ideal training for anyone looking to work in this exciting and rewarding field of horticulture.
Course Content
There are twelve lessons in this course, as outlined below:‑
1. Introduction to Cut Flower Production
To describe the nature and scope of Cut Flower production in greenhouses.
2. Cultural Practices
To determine key cultural practices that are commonly required to develop and maintain a good rate of growth in a cut flower crop.
3. Flower Initiation & Development
To explain the initiation and development of flowering in a cut flower crop.
4. Pest & Disease Control
To determine management practices for cut flower crops grown in a greenhouse
5. Greenhouse Management A.
To discuss a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
6. Greenhouse Management B.
To explain a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
7. Management, Harvest & Post Harvest
Determine a range of harvest and post harvest techniques related to cut flower production.
8. Herbaceous Perennials
Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected herbaceous perennials.
8. Annuals & Biennials
Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected annuals and biennials.
10. Bulbs, Corms, Tubers & Rhizomes
Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected bulbs, corms, rhizomes or tubers.
11. Filler Plants
Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected filler plants.
12. Miscellaneous
Determine greenhouse production techniques for roses, and for orchids.
Aims
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Describe the nature and scope of cut flower production in greenhouses.
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Determine key cultural practices that are commonly required to develop and maintain a good rate of growth in a cut flower crop.
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To explain the initiation and development of flowering in a cut flower crop.
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To determine management practices for cut flower crops grown in a greenhouse.
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To discuss a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
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To explain a range of greenhouse management techniques related to cut flower production.
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Determine a range of harvest and post harvest techniques related to cut flower production.
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Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected herbaceous perennials.
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Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected annuals and biennials.
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Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected bulbs, corms, rhizomes or tubers.
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Determine greenhouse production techniques for selected filler plants.
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Determine greenhouse production techniques for roses and orchids.
What You Will Do
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Develop a resource file
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Analyse soils
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Analyse plants for their response to growing conditions
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Plan and Implement Practical flower growing
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Design an irrigation system
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Lots more
How Do You Harvest and Use Fresh Flowers
Just about everyone loves the appearance of attractive flowers, or the smell of sweetly, fragrant ones. Most people love to bring flowers into their homes to brighten them up, particularly if they don’t have a garden to enjoy. Many will buy their flowers from a florist, supermarket or road side stall. If you are lucky enough, however, to have access to fresh flowers from your garden, or perhaps from a friend or neighbour, then it can be very enjoyable to pick and use your own flowers.
Different species of flowers need to be picked differently, and treated differently after picking. Some flowers can be picked well before the buds open - the buds then open later on. For other species, the flower must be at least partially opened. In some cases, flowers won’t open if they are picked too early.
General Guidelines for Picking Flowers
- Pick them as early as possible in the day, particularly on hot days.
- Check the flowers before picking to see if they have any pests or disease problems that might infect your indoor plants, or might be a nuisance or danger to you, such as spiders, ants, aphids, thrips, etc. If the flowers are diseased, avoid them, spray the flowers or shake them gently to dislodge any pests (this can help remove pests, but will not help with diseases).
- Use sharp cutting tools when cutting flowers. Dip the tools in disinfectant before cutting the flowers. This ensures as little damage as possible is done to the plant you are cutting flowers from, and minimises the spread of diseases.
- Take the cut flowers inside as soon as possible to prevent them drying out.
- Flowers cut in warm conditions will have a lot of heat in the plant tissue, and unless cooled quickly, that heat will continue to hasten deterioration. It is therefore essential to get the temperature of most flowers down to 10-15 degrees Celsius as soon as possible after harvest. The best way to do this is to stand the picked stems in deep, cold water, or place them in a fridge temporarily (2-5 degrees C). Prolonged storage in a fridge should be avoided as this can inhibit flower opening on some types of flower.
Storing Flowers
Flower species vary markedly in how long they can be stored for. Some orchid flowers can remain open for two months, but most flowers do not last so well. Flower quality deteriorates from harvest onwards. Good storage slows deterioration, but does not stop it.
Vase Life
Vase life refers to how long the flower will last when placed on display in a vase or similar container. Vase life is influenced by a number of factors including:
- How and when the flowers were harvested. Harvesting and storing the flowers under optimum conditions (see above) will greatly extend vase life.
- How hot the area is in which the flowers are displayed – too hot and the flowers will dry out very quickly. Too cold and some flowers may not fully open.
- Humidity levels – the more humid the conditions in your home the less likely the flower will be to dry out. Too humid however and the flowers may brown off from fungal diseases (not as common). Hot, dry air from heaters will rapidly dry out flowers. Placement of vases/containers to avoid the worst of this will help extend flower life.
- Using “extenders” to prolong the flowers life. These can usually be obtained from florists or some nurseries. They are often provided by florists as part of the service when you buy flowers from them. They are usually small sachets containing mixtures of sugars and other chemicals that help feed the flower (taken up with water through the cut base) and keep the water in the vase/container clean.
- An alternative to placing flower stems in water is to insert them into florists “sponge” or “block”. This is a rigid, foam-like material that holds high levels of moisture when soaked. This can usually be obtained directly from florists or from florist suppliers. You might also recycle some from floral arrangements you obtain from florists or have been given.
Requirements of Specific Species
Alstroemeria
Pick when there are 4-5 flowers open on a stem, and store wet at 4 degrees Celsius until ready for use. Use a preservative solution in the water.
Carnation
Pick when the outer petals are almost fully opened. Cool by putting straight into cold water, then placing in cool storage at 2-4 degrees Celsius, until ready for use. Stand in a solution of sugar and bacteriacide.
Cattleya Orchids
Pick 2 to 4 days after the flower bud opens. They can be stored in water at 8-10 degrees Celsius (never below 8) for up to two weeks.
Chrysanthemum
Most are picked when some flowers are fully open, though some varieties can be picked a little earlier.
Gerbera
Pick when the outer row of flowers begins to show pollen. Store dry at 2 degrees Celsius in wax boxes for up to 2 days.
Gladioli
Pick when the first flower is almost open. The flowers can be stored at 4 degrees Celsius for up to 7 days in a moisture retaining material. They can be stored for longer periods at similar temperatures if standing in water, provided they are treated prior to cooling (treat for 24hrs in a solution of sugar and bacteriacide).
Roses
Pick sometime between when colour appears in the bud, to when the first one or two petals are starting to burst open. If being stored, cut a day earlier and place immediately in a preservative solution, then put them into cold storage at 1 degree Celsius until you are ready to use them (you can store for 1 to 7 days).
