Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) also known as Rajanigandha is one of the most important flowering crops cultivated for the production of long-lasting flower spikes or single loose flowers. They are valued much for their beauty and fragrance. It blooms throughout the year and florets are loosely arranged on a spike that can reach up to 30 to 50 cm in length. Loose flowers of are used for making garlands and extraction of essential oil and aroma compounds. The flower is very popular for its strong fragrance and its essential oil is an important component of high-graded perfumes. There is high demand for tuberose oil and concrete in international markets which fetch a very good price. Due to its export potential, the cultivation of tuberose cultivation is increasing throughout India. This crop can be maintained for 3 to 4 years with good management and can provide regular income through the year for farmers. Important states of tuberose cultivation are West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab.

Tuberose can be grown on wide variety of soils ranging from light sandy loam to a clay loam. The soil should be at least 45 cm deep, well drained, friable, rich in organic matter and has good moisture holding capacity. The crop is sensitive to water stagnation it cannot tolerate water logging even for a short period. The ideal soil pH for its better growth is the range of 6.5 to 7.5with good aeration and drainage are ideal for tuberose cultivation. A place protected from strong winds is the soil is preferable.

Tuberose can be cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions with an average temperature ranging from 20° to 30°C. The plant grows well in an open sunny location. The crop is reported to flower profusely throughout the year, if the climate is mild and free from extremes of high and low temperature. If the temperature is above 40°C, the length of the spike and quality of the flowers are severely affected. Very low temperature and incidence of frost will damage the plants and flowers.

There are mainly two types of tuberoses namely single and double named based on the number of rows of petals they bear. Single: They bear pure white flowers with one row/ whorl of petal/ corolla segment. Flowers are and are extensively used for loose flower purpose, essential oil, and concrete extraction. Single types are highly scented highly scented and more fragrant than double. Flowers of the Single type is commonly used for extraction of essential oil, loose flowers, making garlands, Single Mexican, Kalyani Single, Srinagar, Prajwal, Arka Nirantara, Rajat Rekha, Hyderabad Single, Calcutta Single, Phule Rajani, Kahikuchi Single, and Pune Single are the popular varieties.

Double:- They bear flowers having more than two rows of petals/corolla segments on straight spikes. Flowers are white in colour and also tinged with pinkish red. They are mainly sold in the market for flower decoration with spikes cut with flowers. The fragrance of flowers is very sweet, floral, and honey-like and can help give emotional strength. The flower spike of tuberose remains fresh for a long time and finds a distinct place in the flower markets. The popular varieties are Pearl for Double, Kalyani Double, Arka Prajwal, Arka Vaibhav and Arka Niranthara.

The land is brought to a fine tilth with good friability by doing 2-3 times ploughing, to a depth of 30 - 45 cm followed by harrowing and planking. Ridges and furrows or raised beds are prepared at the recommended spacing. Normally ridges/beds of 25 to 30 height of convenient length are good for planting. Ridges are opened at 30 to 40 cm spacing. Raised beds of 50 to 60 cm width are made with 30 furrows in between beds. It is better to apply well decomposed farmyard manure @ 8 tons per acre during the time of final plowing.

It is very essential to irrigate before planting to provide optimum moisture for sprouting and further irrigation should be avoided until the bulbs are sprouted. Subsequent irrigation to the crop is given depending upon the prevailing weather condition.

Well-developed spindle-shaped bulbs, with diameter 1.5 to 2.5 cm and above are ideal for planting. The bulbs which harvested are kept at least 4-5 weeks in well aerated room are to be used for planting. About 400 to 450 kg bulbs are required for planting one acre. Tuberoses are generally planted during May to July in plains and April-May in the hilly region. Seed bulbs are planted at a spacing of 20 cm to 25 cm from plant to plant. In ridges and furrow method bulbs are planted in a single row on one side of the ridge. In raised bed method with drip irrigation double rows are planted with row to row spacing of 30 cm and plant to plant spacing of 20 cm. The optimum depth of planting is 2.5 to 3.5 cm.

Tuberose for continuous flowering needs good integrated nutrient management with organic manure as well as chemical fertilizers. At the time of land preparation 8-10 tons of well decomposed Farmyard manure per acre is applied along with 200kg of neem cake enriched with 1kg Trichoderma Harzianum. In general, the chemical fertilizers recommended per acre are 120 kg nitrogen, 60 kg phosphorus and 100 kg potash per acre per year is recommended for tuberose production. Depending on the soil test results dosage can be modified. Of the full recommended dose of fertilizers 25 per cent is applied as basal dose at the time of planting. Three months after planting remaining quantity of fertilizers are applied in equal split doses at monthly intervals as top dressing.

In drip irrigated crop to save labour and enhance nutrient use efficiency fertilizers and yield increase fertilizers can be given though drip as fertigation schedule. The recommended fertilizer dose is 100 kg nitrogen, 60 kg phosphorous and 90 kg potash per acre. As a basal dose 25 per cent of recommended fertilizers are given at the time of planting using common fertilizers. Fertigation schedule: Starting at 3 weeks after planting 10 fertigations are given at weekly interval with Urea @ 6 kg, Mono potassium phosphate (MKP) (0:54:32) @ 2.5 kg and Sulphate of potash (SOP)(0:0:50) @ 2.5 kg per acre. Next 25 weeks give urea @ 2.5 kg, Mono potassium phosphate@2 kg and Sulfate of potash @ 1.5 kg per acre per fertigation are given at weekly interval. Next 14 weeks give urea @ 3.0 kg, Mono potassium phosphate@1 kg and Sulfate of potash @ 1.5 kg per acre per fertigation are given at weekly interval. Need based foliar sprays of zinc sulphate @ 0.5%, ferrous sulphate @0.2% and Boric acid@ 0.1% improves plant growth and flowering.

keep the plots clean and free of weeds and to avoid the exposure of bulbs, the plots should be weeded periodically earthed-up once a month. Manual weeding is effective and should be done at monthly interval. Herbicide application is also effective in management of weeds. Use only chemicals which are recommended for tuberose crop.

The important insect pests causing economic yield losses are thrips, aphids, bud borer, grass hoppers, red spider mites, thrips, weevils and nematodes. The important diseases are Alternaria leaf spot flower bud rot, leaf blight or Botrytis blight, powdery mildew, rust Sclerotia wilt and stem rot.

In India tuberoses are cultivated for production of flower spikes and loose flowers on a commercial scale for the domestic market. Flowering of tuberose starts 3 to 3 1/2 months (80 to 100 days) after planting and flowering time is July onwards August-September is the peak period of flowering. Tuberose flowers all the year round. Including ratoon cropping the crop duration is about 24 to 30 months. Depending on the purpose, harvesting is done by cutting the spikes from the base or single flowers are harvested as they open day by day. For marketing of cut flower spikes, the tuberose is harvested.by cutting the spikes from the base when 1-2 pairs of flowers open on the spike. Spikes are harvested at bud- burst stage preferably in the morning before sunrise or late in the evening by clipping with a sharp knife or secateurs that gives a clean cut. About 4-6 cm basal portion of the scape has to be left to allow the growth of bulb. For loose flower purpose individual flowers which grow at the horizontal position on flowers stalk are plucked early in the morning by 8.00 a.m. 

After harvesting the main crop, the flower stalks are headed back (cut to the base) and the plots should be well- manured and irrigated. About 3-4 ratoon crops can be taken from a single planting. For the proper growth and development of plants, fertilizer dose as given in the main crop should be applied in two equal split doses in January-February and April. All other cultural practices should be done as in case of main crop. There is early flowering in ratoon crop as compared to main crop.

For cut flower purpose, long spikes are preferred and are sold in round bundles or bunches having 25 to 100 spikes. The stem portion of the bundle has to be wrapped with paper. To avoid damage of the flowers and buds, the whole bundle should be wrapped in soft, white tissue paper or polythene sheet/cover. These bundles are then packed in strong cardboard boxes and transported to the market. 

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