EFFECT OF PLANTING DATES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FLOWER QUALITY OF GLADIOLUS IN PAKISTAN

Gladiolus is one of the leading bulbous flowers due to the high demand of its double row spikes of different colors in domestic and international markets. Gladiolus flower quality and growth performance are largely depending on growing media, environmental condition but planting dates are considered as key factor which effect the growth indices and quality attributes of the flowers. To evaluate the effect of different sowing dates on growth and flowering of gladiolus, a study was conducted at National Agriculture Research Council Islamabad (NARC) during the year of 2017. Results revealed that sowing date of gladiolus flower significantly affect the reproductive and vegetative phase of plants. It has been observed that seed emergence and spike length was enhanced when seeds were sown at initial dates as compared to late sowing. In contrary to these, plant height and rachis length was reduced at early sowing dates but significantly increased with sowing of seeds at later dates. Overall, it has been concluded from the present study that gladiolus growth performance and flowers quality are improved when seeds were sown at earlier dates compared to late sowing.