How to Start Geranium Farming: A Step-By-Step Planting to Harvest Guide

Geraniums are bushy aromatic perennial plants widely cultivated for their oil content. The plant is native to South Africa. In later years, it is commercially cultivated in France, Belgium, Spain, Morocco, Madagascar, Egypt, Reunion Island, Congo, China, India, and the former USSR countries. Geranium is adaptable to all climatic conditions, so we cultivate it in tropical, subtropical, temperate, and Mediterranean climates. Climate conditions, drought tolerance, and aromatic nature make it unique.

How to Start Geranium Farming

Climate Requirement for Geranium Plant Cultivation

The flowers of these plants are red or white. However, it thrives in humid subtropical climates. It can be taken at different altitudes between 1100 and 1999 meters (MSL). The crop requires 1200 mm to 1600 mm of rainfall during its entire growth period. Many diseases are caused by heavy rains, such as root rot, and this reduces yields. Temperatures of 5°C to 25°C are ideal for subtropical cultivation. Despite this, this crop can survive in low-lying areas and up to 44°C in horticultural plains.

Soil Requirements for Geranium Farming

Since geraniums are shallow-rooted plants, they require well-drained soil with good drainage. Red lateritic soils with a pH of 5.5-8.0 work best for this crop, although a calcium-rich porous soil performs best. Growing Geranium outdoors in moist, well-draining soil containing equal parts soil, peat, and perlite is necessary.

Land Preparation For Geranium Farming

For irrigation or fertilizer to be effective, the soil must have good aeration and fine tilth particles.
Geraniums are perennials, so they need good aeration, so ploughing soil is recommended before cultivating them.
Geraniums require two to three ploughings to grow and develop properly. After plowing, remove all unwanted plants and leave the field empty for two to three days. By doing this, insects and weeds will be eradicated from the field.
Before growing, farmers should apply 1.5 to 2 tons of farmyard manure. Also, farmers can boost soil fertility with green manure to increase Geranium production.

Planting Geranium Cuttings

Cuttings are used for vegetative propagation. Geraniums are propagated by cuttings of about eight nodes in length taken from healthy plants. The rest are trimmed except for the first three or four leaves from the top.
With a sharp knife, make a slanting cut just below the 6th to 7th node and dip the area in 0.1%, Benomyl solution for 10 to 20 seconds.
The plants are then planted in the nursery beds at a spacing of 5 cm. Beds are given proper shade and watered twice daily for about 3-4 days, then once daily after that. It is best to raise the nursery during the months of November to January.
It will take about two months from planting to transplant the cuttings.
It takes about 20 days for cuttings to root in mist conditions, however.
To transplant the rooted cuttings, they are carefully dug out of the nursery, dipped in 0.1% Benomyl solution, and transplanted immediately at 60 x 60 cm intervals.

Irrigation in Geranium Cultivation

It is best to water them consistently once established, even though they have relatively low water requirements. If there is not enough water, they can drop leaves and wilt; if there is too much water, they can become spindly. Between waterings, allow the soil to dry somewhat but not completely. When growing, water moderately, and when winter comes, water sparingly. Overwatering and underwatering cause stress to plants and may cause their leaves to turn red.

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Manures and Fertilizers Application for Geranium Cultivation

The soil is amended with 2 tons of good quality FYM, 15 kg N, 15 kg P2O5, and 15 kg K2O/acre as urea, superphosphate, and muriate of potash before transplanting the cuttings.
About two months after the first nitrogen application, a second dose of 15 kg/acre is applied.
For each harvest, nitrogen is given in two equal split doses-the first two months after harvest and the second after two months. Six equal doses of N are applied to the crop in three harvests, totalling 80 kg/acre/year.
By applying 12 kg N/acre (6 kg/acre basally and 6 kg/acre as a foliar spray with 1% urea solution 45 and 90 days after basal application), herbage yield and oil yield were reported to increase 447% and 140 %, respectively, over the control.
Furthermore, zinc sulphate (20 kg/ha) and boron (4 kg/acre) have been reported to increase herbage yields. A copper and molybdenum application applied in four split doses after each harvest has also increased yield by 37%.

Pests And Diseases In Cultivation Of Geranium Plant

Pest and control measures: In Geranium cultivation, termites are the most common. By mixing 8 kg of heptachlor per acre into the soil and irrigating, it can be controlled.
Diseases and control measures: In Geranium cultivation, wilt is a common disease. The disease can be controlled by spraying 0.5% Benlet solution 20 days before harvest. Apply fungicide to the cut ends after harvesting and repeat spraying after 12 days. To ensure healthy growth, provide optimal irrigation and proper digging. The incidence of wilt disease increases when too much water is given.

How to Harvest Geranium Crop

When to harvest: You can pick individual leaves once the plants reach six inches tall during the growing season.
How to harvest: The leaves can be harvested using garden scissors. Leaves should not be torn from branches.
Time- Period: This flowering plant with red or white flowers takes four months to grow.
First cutting: After four months, a one-acre crop produces the leaves from which 10 kilograms of oil can be extracted.
Second cutting: It can produce 16 to 17 kg of oil per acre after eight months (first cutting: 4 months + second cutting: 4 months = eight months).

You can collect scented Geranium seeds by cutting the seed heads into paper bags and allowing them to dry. Once the seeds have escaped the seed heads, let them dry for two weeks to ensure they are thoroughly dried, and then choose which seeds are viable.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, Geranium farming is a lucrative business with many benefits. Geraniums have a wide range of uses and business applications, including their beautiful blooms. For farmers, it is certainly an option worth considering. It’s an excellent opportunity to grow your farm and income, so take advantage of it.

How to Start Geranium Farming: A Step-By-Step Planting to Harvest Guide