Production of Cut Roses Year Round: Yield, Quality, and Vase Life

Finland is today among the globally leading countriesin the use of artificial lighting in the year-roundproduction of greenhouse crops. The high energycosts, however, have again made the utilization of arest period during the darkest winter season topical.As regards the production of cut roses, theyear-round cultivation expanded substantially inFinland in the 1990s, and the application of theshoot-bending growing technique has been taken in usewidely in Europe. This book focuses, in its firstpart, on the flower development of roses and theimpact of climatic conditions and various growingtechniques on this development and certain factorsaffecting the vase life of the flowers. The secondpart of the book reports on the results of researchconcerning the winter cultivation with artificiallights and the effects on the yield of such factorsas winter-time rest period and forcing temperature.The shoot-bending growing technique and the effectsof different cultivation methods on the vase life offlowers are discussed as well. Finally, a newintensified cultivation technique for roses ispresented. This book is intended for use by students,researchers, advisers and growers.

Liisa Särkkä, Principal Research Scientist, D.Sc.: heading agreenhouse research team at MTT Agrifood Research Finland, 17years experience in rose research. She has graduated with M.Sc.in Biology from the University of Umeå, Sweden, M.Sc. inHorticulture and Doctor of Science in Horticulture from theUniversity of Helsinki, Finland.