Varieties                                                                                                                 

• TNAU Varieties: YCD-1, YCD-2
• Red: Ruby Red, Sangria, Fredorella, Vesta, Red Impulse, Shania, Dusty, Tamara and Salvadore.
• Yellow: Doni, Fredking, Gold spot, Horaizen, Talasaa, Panama, Nadja, Supernova, Mammut, Uranus and Full moon.
• Rose: Rosalin, Salvadore
• Pink: Valentine, Marmara, Pink Elegance, Terraqueen and Esmara.
• Orange: Carrera, Goliath, Marasol, Orange Classic, and Kozak.
• Cream: Farida, Dalma, Snow Flake, Winter Queen
• White: White Maria and Delphi.
• Purple: Blackjack and Treasure.

Climate

A 50% shade house or a naturally ventilated polyhouse is required for high-quality flowers. Ideal temperatures are 22–25°C during the day and 12–16°C at night.

Soil and Preparation

Well-drained, fertile, light soil or growing medium that is neutral to slightly alkaline, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0.

A mixture of FYM, sand, and cocopeat/paddy husk (in a 2:1:1 ratio) is ideal for cultivation.

Before planting Gerbera, it is crucial to disinfect the growing medium to eliminate *Phytophthora* fungus, as this fungus is highly detrimental to the crop. This can be done in the following ways:

• Covering the soil with plastic sheeting for 6–8 weeks.
• Chemical treatment: Using 7.5–16 litres of methyl bromide per 100 square meters or 450 ml of formalin per square meter, followed by covering with plastic sheet for two weeks.

After sterilising and subsequently washing the soil, one should wait for two weeks before planting.

Planting Time

This crop can be cultivated throughout the year. However, Gerbera plants are primarily planted during the months of September–October and February–March.

Propagation (Producing New Plants)

On a commercial scale, propagation is carried out by separating ‘suckers’ (new shoots emerging from the roots) and by using tissue-cultured plants.

Field preparation and planting

Raised beds, 1–2 meters wide and 30 cm high, are prepared.

After sterilising the soil, well-developed tissue-cultured plants (having 4–6 leaves) can be planted firmly; however, care must be taken to ensure the plant’s crown (upper part) is not buried in the soil.

Typically, there should be two rows per bed; a spacing of 37.5 cm should be maintained between rows, and 30 cm between plants within a row.

Irrigation
Immediately after planting, irrigate using overhead micro-sprinklers for four weeks to ensure uniform root development.

Subsequently, drip irrigation is carried out every 2–3 days, supplying 3.75 liters of water per plant over a period of 15–20 minutes. The average water requirement for Gerbera is approximately 500–700 ml per plant per day.

Nutrition: Fertigation is adopted starting from the third week after planting, according to the following schedule.

Fertilizer	Quantity (g/500m2)
A tank (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Calcium Nitrate	700
Pottasium Nitrate ( 13:0:46)	400
Fe EDTA / sulphate	20
B tank (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
Mono Ammonium Phosphate (12:61:0)	300
Sulphate of Potash (0:0:50)	700
Magnesium Sulphate	700
Manganese Sulphate	5
Zinc Sulphate	3
Copper Sulphate	3
Molybdenum (Sodium Molybdate)	1
Boron (Borax)	3

 

Manuring

Basal                                                                                                                      

• Neem cake 2.5 ton/ha
• P  – 400 g/100 sq.ft.
• MgSo₄ – 0.5 kg/100 sq.ft.

Top dressing

Calcium Ammonium Nitrate and Muriate of Potash are mixed in a 5:3 ratio and applied at a rate of 2.5 g/plant/month.

Inter-cultivation

1. Remove weeds manually as needed.
2. Remove flower buds for the first two months; allow flowering thereafter.
3. Hoe the soil every 15 days to improve the absorption of water and nutrients and to facilitate aeration to the roots.
4. Remove old leaves to promote the growth of new foliage and maintain cleanliness.

 Harvesting

Gerbera plants begin to flower three months after planting. Harvesting is done when the outer 2–3 rows of disc florets (the small flowers in the center of the bloom) are at a right angle (90 degrees) to the stalk. To extend the vase life, the flower stalks are immersed in a sodium hypochloride solution (5–7 ml per liter of water) for 4–5 hours.

Post-harvest care

The base of the stalk (the heel) should be trimmed about 2–3 cm from the bottom, and the stalks should be placed in fresh chlorinated water. The flowers should be sorted into different grades based on stalk length, bud size, and color. They should be packed in individual poly pouches and then arranged in two layers within carton boxes.

Grading                                                                                                                  
Flowers are categorised into grades A, B, C, and D based on stem length and thickness.

Yield                                                                                                                        
This crop yields two flowers per plant each month. Harvesting begins in the third month after planting and continues for two years. An annual yield of 130–160 flowers per square meter can be obtained from open-field cultivation, while greenhouse cultivation can yield 175–200 flowers per square meter annually.

Physiological Disorders

1. Bushiness

This is an abnormality characterized by numerous leaves, short petioles and small laminae, giving certain Gerbera varieties a bushy appearance. The nodes are not clearly visible, and there is no elongation of the internodes.

2. Stem break

This is a common post-harvest problem in cut Gerbera flowers. It is primarily caused by water imbalance. It can be regulated by ethylene and may be associated with premature senescence resulting from water stress.

3. Yellowing and purple margin

Nitrogen deficiency causes leaves to turn yellow and early senescence of leaves. Phosphorus deficiency causes leaves to turn pale yellow and their edges to turn purple. Increasing nitrogen and phosphorus levels improves the development of suckers (new plants) and flower production in Gerbera.

4. Bent Neck

‘Bent neck’ refers to the failure of the stem tissue—located just below the flower head of a cut flower—to harden or mature properly, causing the stem to bent or droop.

Plant protection

Pests

1. Aphids: These suck sap from the leaves, causing them to turn yellow. They secrete a sticky, honey-like substance (honeydew) that leads to the growth of black fungus (sooty mold) on the affected parts.

Control: Apply Imidacloprid 17.8 % SL @ 1 ml/l or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/l

2. Whitefly: This pest appears during hot and dry weather. It feeds on the lower side of leaves, excretes a large quantity of honeydew-like substance, which leads to the development of black sooty moulds on the leaves.

Control:Spray Imidacloprid 17.8 % SL @ 2 ml/l or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/l

3. Leaf Miner : Flies cause white spots to form on the leaves. The larvae create winding white tunnels within the leaves; the larvae live in the soil.

Control: Spray chlorpyriphos @ 1 ml/l or Nuvan (Dichlorovos) @ 1 ml/l

4. Cyclamine Mites : Older leaves curl up. New leaves become distorted and tough (leathery); flowers or petals become deformed or fail to develop properly. Petals curl inwards and undergo discolouration.

Control: Spray Vertimac (Abamectin) 1.9 EC @ 0.4 ml/l or Karathane (Dinocap) @ 0.4 ml/l

5. Nematode: Leaves turn yellow, plant growth is stunted, leaf size is reduced, and galls (knots) form on the roots. Water stagnation in greenhouses and contaminated water during the rainy season create favourable conditions for nematode proliferation and spread.

Control: Soil application of Bacillus subtilis (BbV 57) or Pseudo monasfluorescens @ 2.5 kg/ha or Hydrogen peroxide with silver @3 ml at the time of planting for the management of root knot nematode.

6. Snails / Slugs : Snails and slugs thrive under plant debris and soil under cool and moist conditions. They come out to feed during night hours. Symptoms include the appearance of round holes in leaves and flower petals.

Control: Snail Kill (Iron EDTA complex) @ 1 pellet/ m² or Lannate (Methomyl)@ 1.5gm.

Diseases

1. Flower bud rot:

Control: Spray copper oxychloride @ 2 g/l

2. Powdery mildew: A white, powdery coating appears on the underside of the leaves. It thrives by using the plant as a food source. It usually affects older leaves but can occur at any stage of crop growth. Severe infection causes leaf drop.

Control: If infestation is observed take spray of Zineb 75WP@400gm or M-45@400gm per acre in 150 ltr of water.

3. Stem rot: This disease primarily affects the lower part of the plant. It mainly spreads in high-moisture areas due to certain fungi.

Control: To control this disease, RidomilMZ@0.2% or 2gm/ltr of Thiram @0.2% in mixed with soil.