The botanical name of Gladiolus is Gladiolus spp; it belongs to the family Iridaceae
Varieties: Pusa Gunjan, Pusa Bindiya, Pusa Subhangini, Nazrana, Punjab Morning, Punjab Dawn, Kumkum, Chaubattia Arunima, Chaubatita Ankur.
Soil and Climate: Well drained soil with the pH of 6 is highly suitable. Temperature should range between 270C and 300
C.
Season: This crop requires minimum 10 hours of sunlight to over come blindness. So season should be adjusted or light substitution is given.
Propagation and planting: Corms conforming the grades (height/circumference) 8/10, 12/14,
10/12
Bed system: Ridges and furrows
Irrigation: Open field 7-8 days interval. Poly house - Drip irrigation 2-3 days interval.
Manuring
Basal
N 60 kg/ha.
P 150 kg/ha
K150 kg/ha
Top dressing N alone is given.
30 kg/ha - 4 leaf stage as foliar spray.
30 kg/ha - Bud stage as soil application.
After cultivation: Hand weeding is done whenever necessary.
Plant Protection: Corms are dipped in hot water at 40 - 450C + fungicide (captan or thiram 2 g/lit) to control Nematode and fungal disease.
Thrips – Methyl demeton 25 EC 2 ml/lit. or dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/lit.
Semilooper and Helicoverpa – methyl demeton or monocrotophos @ 2 ml/lit.
Leaf spot
Spray Carbendazim or Mancozeb 2 g/lit.
Season of flowering and Harvesting
When first bud shows the colour of the variety harvesting is started
Early varieties
Mid season varieties
Late season varieties
Post harvest treatment and Grading: Soaking stem in water to avoid wilting and lodging of stem and flower. Based on stem length and number of florets grouped into A, B, C, D grades.
Yield: Only 85% of stalks produced will give flowers and remaining 15% will become blind, so 2.0 to 2.5 lakhs stalks/ha can be harvested per crop
