Flower farming, Marigold cultivation will yield good profits

ਮਾਹਿਰ ਲੇਖ

Mr. Gunjan Potdar, Jun 13, 2024

Flower farming techniques

Flower cultivation is done in two ways, first in which flower plants are planted in open fields like other crops and second is the technique of protected cultivation in which such an environment is artificially created (polyhouse) the plants or crops. Which benefits the crop and farmer

So today let us provide you complete information about marigold cultivation. According to agricultural experts, you can do marigold farming anytime in winter, summer and rainy season, marigold farming is mainly done in the cold season. it is also true that it is cultivated in all three seasons – monsoon, winter and summer.

Popular and improved varieties of marigold in India

1 African Marigold: - Its flowers are large, dense yellow, golden yellow to orange in color which give flowers throughout the year, this variety starts giving flowers in 90-100 days after sowing. Height of plants is about 75-85 cm.

2 French Marigold:- French Marigold starts flowering 75-85 days after sowing the seeds respectively, its plants are about 1 meter high with many branches, their flowers are spherical, with multiple petals and yellow and orange in colour. The diameter of large flowers is 7-8 cm. It happens.

3 Pusa orange:-

This variety flowers 123-136 days after planting. The color of the flower is reddish orange and its length is 7 to 8 cm. Is in between. The average yield per hectare is 35 m. Ton/hectare.

4 Pusa Basanti: -

This variety becomes ready in 135 to 145 days. The flower is yellow in color and is 6 to 9 centimeters long.

Preparation of land for marigold cultivation

Marigold can be cultivated in different types of soils but well drained loamy soil with pH value between 7.0 to 7.6 is considered good for production. While preparing the land, do a deep plowing and at the time of ploughing, Mix 15-20 tonnes of rotten cow dung or compost in the ground and make the field level. Mix six bags of urea, 10 bags of single super phosphate and three bags of potash per hectare in the field. Divide urea into three equal parts and give full quantity of single super phosphate and potash at the time of planting. Give second and third dose of urea in between the rows around the plants 30 and 45 days after transplantation. Please note that sunlight is very important for its cultivation.

Farmers should use bio-fertilizers like Azotobacter, Azospirillum etc. instead of chemical fertilizers to maintain soil quality and increase production. Use of bio-fertilizer also reduces costs.

If you are preparing a garden for the first time, it is better to plant plants prepared from the nursery instead of seeds.

Preparation of plants:-

However, farmers can also prepare plant nurseries themselves; About 600-800 grams of seeds are required for one acre of land. Which costs Rs 100 to Rs 1500 per packet, sow it in the rainy season from mid-June to mid-July. In winter season its sowing should be completed from mid-September to mid-October. Prepare nursery beds of 3x1 meter size, or use trays containing cow dung and soil or coco-pit. The seeds take about 5 to 10 days to germinate and the plants are ready for transplanting in 15 to 20 days. But if you buy ready-made plants, time is saved and you get healthy plants. Generally the price of a plant can range from Rs 4 to 10.

Planting:-

Transplanting should be done in the evening, plant African marigold at a distance of 45*45 cm. 50 to 60 thousand plants will be required for planting in one hectare Similarly, French marigold was planted at a distance of 25 * 25 plants from row to row. In this, one and a half to two lakh plants are required per hectare and after planting, do light irrigation.

Irrigation

Irrigation depends more on the weather, marigold plants do not require much moisture. If there is better drainage, irrigation should be done at an interval of 7-8 days in summers and at an interval of 11-14 days in winters. Marigold plants have weak stems, hence it is necessary to arrange external support to them. and it is also necessary to add soiling root from time to time.

Weed Management:-

Weeds are a big problem in the marigold crop during rains and winters, which directly affects the yield, hence it must be controlled on time as per requirement by hand or by using advisable herbicide.

Disease and insect management :-

However, if there is good drainage system in the marigold crop and weeds are controlled on time, then the problem of pests and diseases is reduced. But sometimes some insect like mites or aphids can affect the crop, for the control of which insecticides like Oberon, and Confidor or Confidor Super can be used as directed.

If the crop is affected by leaf miner or powdery mildew, fungicides like Aviator Xpro should be used as directed. If the farmer wants, he can also contact the nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra

Flower picking

Use and profit Flowers should be harvested after they have completely bloomed. The best time to pluck flowers is morning or evening. Before plucking the flowers, the field should be lightly irrigated so that the freshness of the flowers remains. The yield of flowers in one acre field is up to 3 quintals every week. In the open market, the price of its flowers is available at Rs 70-80 per kg, which means one can earn up to Rs 20-25 thousand every week. Apart from this, nematodes can be easily controlled by growing marigold crop in crop rotation with vegetables, also drug manufacturing companies and beauty product manufacturers also buy the flowers directly from the farmers at good prices.

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