The roses in my garden are a blessing to me. Roses especially attract me among other flowers in the garden. The unique appearance and beauty of roses have a way of bringing happiness to people. While many people associate roses only with the color red, roses come in various colors such as black, red, pink, and white that appeal to everyone. A bouquet of roses can enhance any occasion. Although roses are originally considered a winter flower, their popularity and beauty have made them available year-round. Because roses can easily adapt to different climates, they are cultivated in most countries throughout the year. The rose is often referred to as the queen of flowers due to its color, fragrance, grace, and beauty. Roses are also commonly used to adorn gardens, lawns, and verandas, especially in social and religious events. Additionally, roses are utilized in the perfume and fragrance industry.
I am excited to share my experiences and insights on successfully starting and running a rose garden for commercial purposes.
There are different varieties of roses, namely: Hybrid Tea, Hybrid Perpetual, Polyantha, Floribunda, Miniature, and Climber.
Selection of Land
Roses thrive in well-drained soil, preferably loamy soil mixed with organic fertilizers. Ideal land for rose cultivation is elevated or medium-elevated, unshaded, well-connected, with water irrigation facilities, and with soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Land Preparation
For dry land, it is advisable to wait until spring before providing light irrigation. It is essential to thoroughly mix organic fertilizers into the soil and apply lime or other necessary fertilizers to maintain the soil’s pH. Deep plowing, around 8 to 10 inches in depth, is recommended. During tillage, Chlordane (162 kg/acre) should be applied to keep insects and spiders at bay, while bromide chloropicrin (162 kg/acre) can be used to prevent soil-borne diseases. During the final cultivation, it is important to mix an appropriate quantity of TSP and MOP fertilizers well into the soil.
Weather
Flowers require 6 hours of sunlight for optimal growth. The temperature should be maintained between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.
Time of Planting
The timing for planting roses varies depending on the climate of the region. However, in Bangladesh, roses can be planted throughout the year. Excessive heat and rainfall can both hinder rose cultivation. Generally, this flower is cultivated in two seasons. It is recommended to plant 12,000 saplings per acre.
Breeding
Rose seedlings can be made from several types of seeds, but mainly grafted seedlings are used for cultivation. Generally, rose seedlings can be prepared through layering, cutting, budding, and other methods.
By Layering:
To create rose seedlings through layering, start by removing 3-5 cm of bark from a healthy, sturdy branch using a sharp knife. Then, mix equal parts of loamy soil and rotted dung manure and apply it by hand to the exposed area. Secure the soil with paraffin to prevent it from drying out, which also allows for easy visibility of root growth from the outside. If the soil dries out, use an injection syringe to add water. Roots typically appear within 5-6 weeks. Once roots emerge, remove half of the layering just below the polythene tie, and after 2-3 days, release the other half. Place the layering graft in shade for 2-3 days, then open the polythene tie and plant it in the soil.
By Cutting:
Select strong, healthy branches for cutting grafts. Cut a 20-22 cm stem for grafting with an even upper head and a horizontal lower head to be planted in the ground. Remove a few leaves and thorns from the lower part of the branches and bury the cutting grafts in soil mixed with organic manure, and regularly fertilize them. Cutting grafts are typically ready within 6-7 weeks. Exotic roses with short stems may not be suitable for grafting.
By Budding:
Budding allows for the quick production of a large number of seedlings. This method involves attaching buds or shoots of good rose varieties onto the branches or stems of wild rose plants. Native wild rose plants are used as rootstock because they can adapt to the local climate even if their flowers are not of high quality. To perform budding, cut the branches of wild roses from June to August and plant the cuttings. The best time for budding in our country is from November to January. Use a slight sharp blade to make a T-formed cut in the branch of the root plant, then pullout the bud into the cut part and tie it with a thin polythene tape. After a few days in the shade, move it into the sun. Water it carefully initially so that the bud does not get wet. Prevent any buds from the root tree from sprouting or growing, and remove any that do. Saplings will appear from the new bud within 2-3 weeks. If the polythene wrap becomes too tight, carefully untie it to allow the stem to grow properly.
If the polythene wrap becomes too tight, carefully untie it to allow the stem to grow properly.
Planting Method
The native rose flower cuttings are produced by planting the seedlings in a bed system and collecting selected varieties of branches for grafting. The seedlings are produced using various grafting methods such as layering, cutting, budding, and others. The seedlings are then planted in specific land by creating a ball of soil at their base. Planting is generally done by creating a 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) diameter and 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 inches) hole, well placed in which the seedling is planted and the hole should be well covered with soil. Fast-growing plants need to be spaced 2 feet (plant to plant) and 3 feet (row to row) apart. It’s important to ensure that no stems are allowed to grow from the lower part of the graft.
Fertilizer Application Guidelines
- Raw dung manure: 2000 kg per acre during land preparation
- Organic Fertilizer: 600 kg per acre during land preparation
- MOP: 20 kg per acre during land preparation
- TSP: 50 kg per acre during land preparation
- Zinc: 12 kg per acre during land preparation
- Cake Fertilizer: 150 kg per acre during land preparation
- Urea: 100 kg per acre 20-25 days after planting (first year)
- Urea: 15 kg per acre before bud emergence
Care During Cultivation
Irrigation and Drainage:
Water the land lightly 2 to 3 days after planting rose seedlings. Subsequent irrigation should be done every 15 to 20 days. If there is extra water in the land as a result of rain or irrigation, it must be drained.
Weed Control:
Control weeds before they cause damage to the plants. Use weed-killer trifluralin at the rate of 1.8 kg per acre.
Pruning:
Regular pruning is necessary to remove dead and diseased branches, shape the plant, promote flower growth, and ensure adequate sunlight. Prune the plant after flowering, preferably in October or November after the monsoon season. Cut branches to 8-10 inches in length using a sharp knife. Lightly prune white, yellow, light yellow, and bi-colored roses, while hard pruning is recommended for red roses. Apply both insecticides and fungicides before and after pruning to prevent dieback disease.
Mulching:
Covering the soil with compost, cow dung, straw, wood dust, rice husk, kachuripana, etc., is called mulching. Mulching is crucial for rose plants as it helps retain soil moisture, enriches the soil with organic matter, and prevents weed growth.
Hoeing:
In rose cultivation, it’s important to do some light hoeing so that the roots get all the light, air, and water they need. This will help improve soil moisture and reduce weed growth.
Pest Control
Cutworms or any other harmful insects should be removed as soon as they are spotted. Red spider mite infestation and dieback disease are serious issues. Dieback disease causes various parts of the rose plant to turn black and die. If a plant is affected, the diseased part should be cut and sprayed with Dithen M-45 at a concentration of 2 gm per liter of water.
Flower Production
Typically, an acre yields between 370500 to 494000 flowers annually.
Harvesting Flowers for Commercial Use
Buds start to appear on the plant after 80 to 110 days of planting. It’s best to harvest the flowers when the buds begin to show color but before the petals fully open. A shrill knife should be used for cutting.
Early morning and before sunset are ideal times for picking the flowers. When harvesting, leaving a long stem attached to the flower can fetch a better price in the market.
Flower Processing
Prepare a solution of 400 ppm hydroxyquinoline citrate mixed with a 4% sugar solution and spray it on the buds. Once sprayed, the buds should be wrapped in polythene and placed in cartons. This method allows for storage or transportation over three days at a temperature of 4 to 10 degrees Celsius.
Flower Packing or Wrapping
Construct a box measuring 3.28 feet long, 13 inches wide, and 2.5 inches high to store rose flowers. Each box can hold 80 roses with stems 26 to 28 inches long. Polythene and absorbent paper should be placed between the boxes. Bundle 20 buds together and secure them with a rubber band to prevent damage. Finally, tie the top of each bundle with wrapping paper and an attached ribbon.
To Prepare Exhibition Flowers
For exhibition rose plants should be selected and planted in pots during rainy season. Regularly water and fertilize the plants to encourage abundant, beautiful leaves and large blooming flowers. Prune the plants at least two and a half months before the exhibition – pruning in mid-November will lead to flowering in February. Occasionally, prune the branches to create a bushy tree, leaving two buds on each branch and discarding the rest. Remove any buds that grow before the specified time. To enhance the brightness of the flowers, apply a solution of 25 grams of iron sulfate in 4 liters of water. A week before the exhibition, place the tub in a shaded area to protect the flower petals from damage in the hot afternoon sun. If rose plants appear weak, mix 2 grams of urea per liter of water and spray on the leaves in the morning for a few days to quickly refresh the plants.
