Harvesting and Marketing Cut Flowers

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 79, Issue 6, 15 December 1949, Page 555

Harvesting and Marketing Cut Flowers

CUT FLOWERS FOR THE MARKET

THE cut-flower industry has been well established for many years J- in other countries, but only within recent years has it come into its own in New Zealand. Methods which have come to be accepted in the industry are described and advice offered to intending growers in this article by C. G. Aldridge, Horticultural Inspector, Department of Agriculture, Christchurch.

FOR certain phases of floral work the making of wreaths, posies, and bouquets and the supply to hospitals, hotels, and shippingthe demand has varied little in New Zealand. Only a small percentage of the public buys these lines, and the future holds some promise for the industry if good-quality lines can be • provided at prices which are an inducement to every housewife to have floral , decorations in the home. To do this the grower must use production methods which keep costs at a minimum, and the blooms must arrive at the markets fresh and attractive, which is probably the'most important phase of flower production. A grower may be diligent, his gardens well cultivated, and his blooms perfect, but unless they arrive at the market still retaining their freshness they will bring only a second-grade price. Many successful growers have developed an artistic sense which enables them to know just when and how to pick their blooms, how to handle them, and how to appreciate them. This brings its own rewards apart from remuneration. Harvesting The best time for cutting flowers is generally recognised as early morning or late afternoon. However, gladioli can be cut even in the heat of the day with no detrimental results if they are

placed in deep receptacles of cool water in a shady place. Careful handling is essential to the harvesting of cut flowers. Rather than reach over the beds, with the possibility of damaging plants, harvesters should work beds from both sides. Flowers should always be cut with stems as long as possible. For this reason, and also to prevent the sap from becoming a nuisance, narcissi are pulled instead of being cut and the stems are trimmed after they have been bunched. With the exception of the everlastings, most flowers should be cut either in the bud or when the bud is about to open. Roses, poppies, liliums, iris, and tulips are among those which should be cut in the bud; hyacinths, gladioli, narcissi, and stocks are among those which should be cut when the lower florets have opened. Cutting at these stages reduces damage during transport and ensures that the florist receives blooms having the longest possible life. Grading Some growers first pick all the topgrade blooms and then go over the beds again taking all the secondgrade ones. This method is used mostly where labour is employed in the packing shed, but a grower who works on his own usually picks all suitable blooms at the one time and

Bunching Some growers advocate the use of a bunching cradle to facilitate the handling of the flowers. This cradle is simply

grades them in the packing shed as the flowers are being bunched. Floral buyers very quickly come to know whether a grower is consistent in his grading. Buyers often visit markets before the auction begins and ask for lines of a certain grower —obviously because they know his lines. Some men have been most successful growers in times of depression and in times of plenty, and the secret of their success is that they have become known for consistency in the quality of their lines. That does not mean that all their lines were of highest quality, but inferior blooms were never found squeezed in among their first grades to make up the number. Their second-grade blooms were up to a certain standard, and all below that standard never found their way to the market. If the season is such that few flowers are of a high standard, a grower should not be tempted to . mix inferior blooms with “specials” or shortstemmed flowers with the long-stem-med ones. They should be kept separate, for if a buyer notices one inferior bloom in a bunch, the quality of that bloom, will determine the quality of his bid.

made from a piece of wood 18in. x 6in. x lin. and a length of No. 8 fencing wire. The required number of flowers is placed on the

cradle and tied. Use of the cradle probably facilitates tying, but whether it is quicker than bunching by hand and using rubber bands is doubtful. Methods of tying differ between growers. Some prefer to use . raffia, some a soft twine, and others rubber bands. Objections to rubber bands are that if they are too tight, the stems are bruised and very often break, and if they are slack, the bunch frequently falls apart. However, with a little practice choosing the correctsized bands becomes easy. Undoubtedly their use makes bunching easier and quicker than tying, and the bunch is neater. Flowers should not be jumbled together in bunches haphazardly, but should be arranged so that the florets are not crushed. With one stem held upright in the left hand, additional blooms are placed in such a manner that they face outward. When this circle is completed the remainder are worked into the bunch either above or below until the required number is bunched. The rubber bands are then applied and the stems trimmed neatly.

After bunching Iceland poppies it is customary either to singe the ends of the stems or to dip them into boiling water, which improves their keeping quality. Though no standards are fixed, auctioneers like to have uniformity in the number of blooms in a bunch. The following table is a fairly-general guide: Number in Number in bunch bunch Anemone .. 12 Ranunculuses 12 Carnations .. 6 Roses .. 12 Calla lilies ..6 Stocks .. 12 Freesias .. 12 Narcissus Gladioli .. 3or 6 Soleil d’Or 12 Hyacinth .. 3or 6 Trumpet Iris .. .. *6 or 12 daffodils *6 or 12 Lilium .. 3or 6 Violets .. 25 Poppies .. 12 * According to price. When some lines are early and will bring exceptionally-high prices, it is customary to reduce the number of blooms in a bunch; as the season progresses and prices drop, the usual number is reverted to. Foliage is arranged with cut flowers only in the case of violets, bunches of which sometimes are surrounded by the leaves, thus making posies. After being bunched the flowers are placed in deep receptacles of cool water and usually left to stand overnight; this is important, as it restores freshness to the blooms and when taken to the markets in the early morning they present a natural, fresh appearance. Packing

To a grower who is close to a good market packing presents no difficulties, as the flowers can be packed firmly but not tightly in a container and placed in the market without danger to the blooms. For trumpet daffodils, gladiolus, iris, liliums, calla lilies, and other tall plants, inexpensive travelling boxes are easily constructed; they are returnable to the grower. Some growers who take a pride in their products have made neat, varnished containers which, when filled with choice blooms, look very attractive and contribute toward a satisfactory price being obtained. Strong, light containers are used for cut flowers to be sent to a distant market, alternate bunches being laid in them in opposite directions. Care must be taken that no moisture is on the flowers or they will sweat and deteriorate rapidly. Cardboard boxes having close-fitting lids are unsuitable, as aeration is prevented, thus allowing the accumulation of carbon dioxide and causing the blooms to have a short life. The same effect is produced by wrapping cut flowers in waxed paper and placing them in airtight boxes. Too often good blooms arrive in the flower market in a dirty case lined with newspaper. Everywhere today commodities are displayed in attractive containers, yet many growers cannot realise that the small additional expense of providing good cases lined with clean paper is warranted. It may be argued that the case is used only to convey the flowers to the market, where they are removed from the case and held up for sale, but the little extra cost and labour involved are well repaid by the establishment of a

good name, resulting in increased returns. Marketing Most auctioneers are pleased to be helpful and an intending grower is well advised to seek the advice and help of a flower salesman, for no . one understands the selling end of the business as he does. He can be told what the grower intends to produce and asked whether these lines are in demand. When the grower contemplates sending in a consignment he should tell the auctioneer what quantities are available and how many may be expected each week. An endeavour should be made to carry out commitments and thus build up confidence between grower and auctioneer. A visit to the markets to see in what condition his produce arrives, see it marketed, and compare it with other lines repays the grower. If he feels that his produce did not bring the price expected, he can talk it over with the auctioneer, which is far better than dodging from one market to another trying to “catch the price.” Some growers send their choice lines to one market and their inferior plants to another, but whether this method brings any material gain is doubtful, as in one place they establish a name for quality and in the other a name for a poor product. Establishing a name for quality lines and honest dealing spells success.