GLADIOLUS (Gladiolus spp)
Iridaceae
Varieties
KKL 1, Pusa Gunjan, Pusa Bindiya, Pusa Subhangini, Nazrana, Punjap Morning, Punjap Dawn, Kumkum, Chaubattia Arunima, Chaubatia Ankur are commonly cultivated.
Soil and Climate
Well drained organic matte rich soil with the pH of 6 is highly suitable. Temperature should range between 27°C and 30°C.
Season
This crop requires minimum 10 hours of sunlight to over come blindness. So season should be adjusted or light substitution should be given.
Propagation and planting
Lifting of corms is carried out 6-8 weeks after harvesting of spikes. The corms should be cleaned, dipped in 0.3% Captan 50 WP for 30 min and shade-dried at an aerated place for about 15 days. Corms are then packed in crates or in net bags and should be cold-stored at 3-7oC. From cold storage, these corms should be taken out one month prior to planting and kept at ambient conditions at an aerated place. Before planting, these are once more dipped for one hour in 0.3% Captan solution. The depth of planting of the corms ranges from 5 to 10 cm.
Planting system
Ridges and furrows system is adopted.
Irrigation
For Open field condition, irrigation is done at 7-8 days interval. Under Poly house condition, drip irrigation is done at 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 during 4 leaf stage as foliar spray and 30 kg/ha during bud stage as soil application.
Aftercultivation
After the corms have sprouted well, watering should be done, if necessary. When the shoots are about 20 cm high they are covered by heaping the soil up to a height of 10 to 15 cm. This enables the plants to grow erect despite high winds and rains and suppresses weed growth. Earthing up the soil is a must in case of light soils. In case where spikes grow longer or stems are not strong enough to bear the lodging or mild stroke of wind, they are supported with about 1.5 meters strong stakes. Strings instead of stakes may be used at the time of the appearance of the spikes. Strings are stretched between the stakes along the row to provide easy and adequate support.
Plant Protection
1. Before storage, corms are dipped in hot water at 40 - 45oC + fungicide (captan or thiram 2 g/lit) to control Nematode and fungal disease.
2. Thrips can be controlled by methyl demeton 25 EC 2 ml/lit. or dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/lit.
3. Semilooper and Helicoverpa can be controlled by methyl demoton or monocrotophos @ 2 ml/lit.
Leaf spot
Spray Carbendazim or Mancozeb 2 g/lit to control leaf spot.
Wilt
Drenching of Bavistin (0.2%) at fornight intervals controls the wilt disease.
Blight disease
Blight disease can be controlled by spraying Mancozeb @ 0.2 %
Storage rot
Spraying of Benomyl (0.2%) controls the storage rot
Season of flowering and Harvesting
When first bud shows the colour of the variety harvesting is started.
Fluoride injury
Leaf scorch of gladioli is observed due to the presence of fluorine compounds in the atmosphere which got accumulated on the tips of leaves. The injury is associated with heavy application of super phosphate.
Harvest
Leaving 4 leaves on the plant, the spikes are cut in tight bud stage when the characteristic colour has fully developed in the mature unopened buds.
Post harvest treatment and Grading
Soak the stem in water to avoid wilting and lodging of stem and flower. Based on stem length and number of florets, the spikes are grouped into A, B, C, D grades.
Yield
Gladiolus takes 60 – 120 days to produce spikes. 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.
