Cultivation Of Marigolds: Proprietary Methods To Be Followed By Farmers In The Cultivation Of Marigolds!: Farmers can get high income by cultivating balls based on market demand. Flower yield starts two months after planting in the field.
Cultivation Of Marigolds: The cultivation of marigolds is one of the major commercial flower crops. These flowers are highly used for all auspicious events. So these flowers are in good demand in the market. Farmers are currently cultivating varieties with attractive colors that can be stored for a long time. Experts suggest that small farmers can earn income by cultivating marigolds in their small fields.
The ball can be cultivated in all soils. However, fertile soils are most suitable. The ball can be cultivated even in heavy soils if sewage is available. The effect of temperature on the cultivation of flowers. High temperatures have a severe effect on flowers. Shady places are not suitable for ball cultivation.
Varieties suitable for cultivation; Demand for African ball varieties is high. They are rich in yellow and orange colored flowers. The market value of these is high. These plants grow tall and vigorous and have large flowers. Good yield can be obtained by cultivating Pusa Naringa Gainda, Pusa Basanti Gainda, Arka Bangara, and Arka Agni, Arka Bangara-2 varieties. But these can be propagated only by stem cuttings. These varieties are seedless. Arka Pari and Arka Hani varieties are yielding well.
Commercially the ball is propagated by seeds. 800 grams of seed is required to grow enough per acre. If the seedling percentage is good, 400-500 grams of seed per acre is enough. To grow fiber, make pits 15 cm high and 1 m wide and add soil with 8-10 kg cattle manure per square meter and mix well immediately. The seeds germinate in a week. Strong fibrous plants can be produced if the seeds are planted in pots.
Regarding planting time, although the ball is cultivated for all seasons, flowers can be supplied from September to April if planted from the first week of July to the first week of February with a gap of one month. Generally, crops planted in September and October yield good-quality flowers.
Mulching and drip cultivators can plant 60 x 45 cm 60 x 60 cm in a triangular shape on 15 cm high, 3 feet deep beds. 8-10 tons of cattle manure per acre should be mixed in Idukki. Along with these, 30-40 kg of nitrogen, 80 kg of phosphorus, and 80 kg of potash per acre should be plowed. After 30 days of planting another 40 kg of nitrogen fertilizers should be applied.
During the rainy season, weed beds are high in the cultivation of marigolds. Weeding is done 3-4 times during the crop season with the help of laborers. If weeds are not controlled, the nutrients in the ball plants compete for water and reduce the yield and quality of the ball flowers. Generally ball plants grow vegetatively with one main stem and then branches. Therefore, by cutting the heads 10 days after planting, the growth of the main stem stops, and new shoots are formed from the side.
Generally, African varieties yield 4-5 tonnes of flowers per acre, and hybrid varieties 6-8 tonnes per acre. Farmers can get high income by cultivating balls based on market demand. Flower yield starts two months after planting in the field. A good two to two and a half months after the first cutting, the coating is produced. Harvesting is best done in the morning or evening after the flowers have bloomed. Flowers stay fresh longer if water is given before the flowers. Flowers can be taken every 3 to 5 days. After cutting, the flowers should be placed in a wet sack or bamboo basket and covered with a damp cloth, and transported to the market.
