THE EFFECTS OF PROTECTED CULTIVATION, PRE-SPROUTING AND LATERAL TUBER REMOVAL ON TUBEROSE PRODUCTION

Protected cultivation (in an unheated greenhouse) decreased the time to flowering by 10 days, increased stem yields by nearly 150%, increased lateral tuber production and improved flower quality compared to field cultivation. Flower stem and lateral tuber yields increased with the size of the planted tuber with a diameter of at least 25 mm being necessary for satisfactory production of high quality blooms. Clumps of tubers gave greater yields than individual tubers although bloom quality from individual tubers was superior.

Pre-sprouting tubers (by heating) increased overall stem yields by 50–60% but had little effect on bloom quality or lateral tuber production.

Within an unheated greenhouse, cloching for 3 weeks from planting slightly advanced flowering but had little effect on yields.

Removing lateral tubers up to the time of flower spike emergence did not advance flowering but increased the number of flowering stems produced.

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