Gerbera cultivation

GERBERA

Soil requirement and growing medium

Soil used in growing medium should have pH 5.5 to 6.5. Electrical conductivity should not be more than I (mS/cm ) for soil and irrigation water. Soil texture should Well-drained and porous as the roots may go up to 50- 60cm deep.

Don't use poultry or other manures . Soil and FYM to be mixed in 2: I proportion. Well rotten FYM should be mixed thoroughly in the soil before sterilization.

Sterilization of growing medium

Sterilization of soil is required for reducing risk o Phytophthora, Pythium, Fusarium. Formalin or formaldehyde (l lit. in 10 lit water) is sprinkled (1-2 lit/sqm) with rose can on mixed growing medium layer o I-I feet height and covered with plastic. Remove plastic after I week, flush the traces or formalin with water 50-80 lit/ sq. m. Wait tor one week for good tillage condition o soil.

Planting beds and initial fertilizer application

Raised beds of 80 cm width are suitable for planting, base should be 90 cm with height 45-60 cm. Gravels can be put at the bottom of the bed for better drainage. Keep 45 cm space between beds as working space. Add and mix 2.5 kg Single Super Phosphate and 0.5kg Magnesium Su hate for 10sq. m. bed area.

Plant three rows of plants per bed with 30 cm distance on one bed. plant to plant distance should be 30 cm. Planting is done with root hall and crown is kept above soil surface (l cm). Irrigate lightly after planting. In 1000 sq m area, 5000 plants can be planted with 3 rows while in 500 sq.m. area, 2500 plants can be accommodated.

Cultural operations after planting

The relative humidity is maintained at 70-80% for first 4 weeks. Irrigate plants lightly with rose can after planting daily for 4 weeks (twice in a day). Drenching of soil with fungicide captan and benlate ( I gilit) after 3 and 6 days, respectively is recommended. Spray Nuvan (Dichlorvos) (l .5 ml) after 9 days.

Humic acid (1.5 ml/lit) is applied as a drench after 7 days. Chelated micronutrients are sprayed (0.5g; lit) after 1 0 days at the interval of 3-4 days up to one month.

Fertilizers are applied as drench to soil with 14:42:14 (1.5g/ lit) after 13 days. Another drench with @ 2 g 'lit. can be given after 17 days. Continue this at the interval of 3-4 days up to 4 weeks. Kelthane and Endosulfan sprays are applied to take care of mites and other insects as and when required. Remove weeds regularly. Drench solution should be applied at the rate of 40ml/plant while for spray use 12 lit. of solution/1000 plants the plants are small initially.

Fertilizers and irrigation (Fertigation)

After one month plants get established and liquid fertilizers can be given through drip. Apply 20:20:20 N:P:K at alternate day @ g / plant) through drip during 2" d and 3 rd month along with micronutrients and Calcium chelates. From fourth month onward apply or + 0:0: 50 at alternate day @ 0.4 g / plant as the flowering picks-up. Calcium nitrate (250g) and chelated micronutrient mixture (Rexolin or Fertilon Combi-ll trade names) at 25 g (for roughly 1000 plants) should be given once in 8-10 days through drip. Grown-up plant needs 700 ml water / day hence dripper now at each plant has to be checked and adjusted accordingly.