Gerbera

Gerbera Cultivation process

Gerbera is important commercial cut flower crop, and Gerbera flowers have a wide range of colors including yellow, orange, cream-white, pink, brick red, red color, terracotta and various other intermediate colors. Sometimes in double varieties, bicolor flowers are beautiful; Gerbera flower stalks are long, thin and leafy.

In Greenhouse Gerbera cultivated in Soil or Soilless media ( coco peat). both have own advantage & limitation.

1. Gerbera cultivation cost increase in soilless media is around 20-30%.
2. Production is higher in soilless media compare to soil media.
3. Required very close monitoring.
4. Soilless media is suitable for the large area more than 2 Acre.
5. In India mostly soil media preferred for gerbera cultivation due to electricity & irrigated water quality.

The major Gerbera producing states in India are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamilnadu, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.

1) Soil Structure Required for Gerbera Cultivation

There are two primary factors are considered while selecting soil –

1. The soil pH must be between 5.5 to 6.5.
2. The soil salinity level does not exceed 1 ms/cm; For better root growth and better penetration of roots, the soil should be highly porous and well drained.

Red lateritic soil ideal soil for Gerbera cultivation.
Therefore, as soon as you decide gerbera cultivation project site, you should analyze soil as early as.

Soil sterilization

Soil sterilization is required before gerbera plantation. Fungus Phytophthora is very dangerous for Gerbera crop.

There are three main soil sterilization methods available,

1. Steam: Not practical for Indian conditions.
2. Sun:  in this method plastic sheet isCover on the soil for 6-8 weeks. The sunrise will heat the soil, and this will kill the most fungus.
3. Chemical: this is most advance & useful method. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with silver is used for sterilization of soil.