Carnation are most important cut flowers of world. Most preferred flower for commercial purpose because of there excellent keeping quality, withstand in long distance transportation and remarkable quality to rehydrate. Europe and USA cultivated this crop on large area where as in India it is cultivated on smaller scale. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka are major carnation producing states. Flowers come in different shades such as yellow, pink, lavender etc.

Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra are major areas for commercial cultivation of carnation.

It can be grown on any type of soil but soil with good drainage capacity gives best results. Rich sandy loam or loamy sand is most ideal soil for carnation cultivation. pH of soil for optimum growth of crop is about 5.5 to 6.5.

Flower are group into two major classes 1) Standard type 2) Spray type.

Varieties in 1) Standard carnations are Ariane, Corso, Candy Master and Tanga, Solar, Star, Athena, Happy Golem, White Liberty, Emotion, White Dona, Lisa, Domingo, Master, Gaudina

2) Spray carnations, the varieties include Rhodos, Alliance, Barbara, and West Moon.Estimade, Indira, Vera, Durago, Berry, Orbit Plus, Sunshine, Autumn, Rosa Bebe, Spur, Suprema.

Use raised bed for cultivation. Prepared raised bed of 15-20cm height, 1-1.2m width and of convenient length. Keep distance of 45-60cm between beds.

Time of sowing
Under green house controlled environment, it can be grown throught the year. For northen plains, planting is generally done in month of September-November and flowers are harvested in February to April.

Spacing
Standard carnation are planted at the distance of 20 X 20cm and spray carnation distance are planted of 30 X 30cm.

Method of sowing
Direct sowing of suckers on raised bed.

Seed Rate
For one acre near about 75,000 suckers are required. within 21 days, the cuttings normally develop good root system.

Seed Treatment
Before planting, treat suckers with NAA@1000ppm (1gm/Ltr of water) it will help to improve root formation.

Nutrient Requirement (mg/m²)

For good growth of crop, apply proper amount of fertilizer. Apply well decomposed cow dung@5-10kg at the time of land preparation. Overall dose of N:P:K@434:81:916mg/m2 should be given. After 3 weeks of transplanting, apply dose of N:P:K@20gm:20gm:10gm per m2.

Other operations:

Pinching
It is necessary to produce good quality flowers. 30 to 35days after planting, apical shoot is remove leaving 5-6 nodes on plants.

Supplementary lighting
In November to January month when light intensity is poor, 100watt incandescent bulb is hang at about 1.5m above bed. It will help to increased stem length and flower size.

Growth regulator
For early flowering with long stem, take spraying of GA3 solution@100ppm two times i.e. at time of first pinching and second when axillary shoots are 8-10cm in length.

Frequent watering is needed for carnation crop. Apply water 2-3 times in a week during summer where as in winter apply water for 2-3 times with 15days interval. Apply water immedietly after planting.

• Pest and their control:
  

Red Spider Mite: It is serious pest of carnation. They feed on leaves and suck sap thus causes yellowing of leaves.

If infestation is observed, take spray of wettable Sulphur@1.5gm per Ltr of water or Propergite@1ml or Fenazaquin@1ml or Dicofol@1.5ml per Ltr of water.

Bud Borer: It is also serious pest of carnation. On bud they lay eggs and larva bore into bud and eat bud, thus destroyed bud completely.

If Infestation is observed, take spray of Proclaim @ 0.2ml or Deltamethrin @ 0.5ml or Indoxacarb @ 0.5ml or Thiodicarb @ 0.4gm per Ltr of water.

Aphid and Thrips: They suck sap from leaves and causing yellowing of leaves. They secrete honey dew like substance and black sooty mould is developed on affected areas.

If infestation is observed take spray of Fipronil @1.5ml or Imidacloprid @0.5ml or Acetamiprid @0.4gm per Ltr of water.

Fusarium wilt: Serious disease of carnation. Wilting of plant is observed along with rotting of stem below ground level. In severe condition plant die rapidly.

Remove infected plant and do drenching of soil with Ridomil@2gm/litre of water.

Alternaria Leaf Spot: On leaves, stem, and some time on flower, small purple spots are observed. In severe infection plant get die.

If infestation is observed, spray crop with Zineb @1gm/litre or Mancozeb @1.5gm/litre or Hexaconazole @1ml/litre or Propiconazole @1ml/litre of water.

Rust: Reddish to dark brown powdery masses of spore observed on stem, leaves. In case of severe infection leaves get turn yellow and plant get die.

To avoid infestation of this disease, take preventive spray of Mancozeb @ 1.5gm/lit or Zineb @ 1gm/lit and sulphur @ 1gm/lit of water.

When to harvest is depend upon bud size and petal growth. Carry out harvesting in morning. Cut should be given on stem with help of sharp knife with care to avoid injury to stem or mother plant. In production period, cut flowers every two days. After harvesting of flower, immediately keep them in water or in preservative solution (Citric acid + Ascorbic acid@5ml each/lit of water) for atleast 4hours. Avoid exposing harvested flower to direct sunlight.

After harvesting complete grading operation and then bunch them properly. Flower are stored in cold storage at temperature of 2-4^oC.