32 



CIRCULAR 2 



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



moved to warmer conditions they usually do not ripen satisfactorily. 

 Exposures up to 5 to 8 days to a temperature of 40° or even some- 

 what less do not usually prevent mature green tomatoes from ripen- 

 ing satisfactorily when later removed to a favorable temperature. 

 If fairly rapid ripening is desired, temperatures from 60° to 70° 

 should be used. At 70° or above, ripening is accelerated, but so 

 also is the development of decay which will be found difficult to 

 control. The relative humidity of tomato storage or ripening rooms 

 should be from 80 to 85 percent (31). 



TURNIPS 

 (Temperature, 32° F. ; relative humidity, 90 to 95 percent) 



Turnips require the same storage conditions as carrots. They can 

 be expected to keep for 2 to 4 months. 



CUT FLOWERS, FLORISTS' GREENS, RHIZOMES, TUBERS, CORMS, 



AND BULBS 



By T. M. TVhiteman, junior horticulturist 



The recommended temperature, relative humidity, and approxi- 

 mate length of storage period for the commercial storage of cut 

 flowers, florists' greens, rhizomes, tubers, corms, and bulbs are given 

 in table 6. Detailed descriptions of these requirements are given 

 in the text following. 



Table 6. — Recommended temperature and approximate length of storage period 

 for cut flowers, florists' greens, rhizomes, t liters, conns, and tults 1 



Commodity 



Cut flowers: 2 



Babysbreath 



Bouvardia 



Butterflybush.... 



Calendula 



Calla 



Candytuft 



Carnation 



China-aster 



Chrysanthemum. 



Clarkia 



Columbine 



Cornflower 



Crocus 



Dahlia 



Daisy, English... 

 Delphinium: 



Hardy lark- 

 spur. 



Annual lark- 

 spur. 



Feverfew 



Forget - me - not, 

 true. 



Foxglove 



Freesia 



Gaillardia 



Gardenia 



Gladiolus 



Heath 



Tern- j 



pera- Approximate length 

 ture of storage period 

 (° F.) 



40 I 3 to 4 days. 



40 i 7 to 10 days. 



40 j 3 to 4 days. 



40 I 3 to 6 days. 



40 10 davs. 



40 3 to days. 



40 I 1 week. 



7 to 10 days. 



2 weeks. 



3 to 6 days. 

 3 to 4 days. 

 3 to 6 days. 



2 weeks. 



7 to 10 days. 



3 to 6 days. 



Do. 



40 3 to 4 days. 



40 3 to 6 days. 

 40 3 to 4 days. 



Do. 



2 weeks. 



3 to 6 days. 



1 week. 



2 weeks. 



7 to 10 days. 



40 

 32-36 



40 

 45-50 



35 



40 



Commodity 



Cut flowers— Contd. 



Hvacinth 



Iris 



Laceflower 



Lily: 



Easter 



Goldband 



Speciosum 



Lily-of - the- 

 valley. 



Lupine 



Narcissus..., 



Orchid, Cattleya. 

 Peony: 



Tight buds... 



Loose buds 



Phlox 



Poinsettia 



Primrose 



Rose 



Snapdragon 



Snowdrop 



Squill 



Statice 



Stevia. 



Stock, common..- 



Strawflower 



Sweet pea 



Tulip 



Violet 



Tem- 

 pera- 

 ture 

 (°F.) 



35-40 

 40 

 40 



35 

 40 



40 

 32-36 

 45-50 



35 



35 



40 



50 



35-40 



40 



40 



32-36 



32-36 



35-40 



40 



40 



35-40 



40 



32-36 



40 



Approximate length 

 of storage period 



1 week. 



7 to 10 days. 



3 to 6 days. 



1 month. 

 Do. 

 Do. 



1 week. 



3 to 6 day3. 



2 weeks. 

 1 week. 



3 to 4 weeks. 

 10 to 14 days. 

 3 to 4 days. 



Do. 

 Do. 



1 week. 



3 to 6 days. 



2 weeks. 



Do. 



3 to 6 weeks. 

 3 to 4 days. 



3 to 6 days. 



1 month. 



3 to 4 days. 



2 weeks. 



3 to 6 days. 



1 See footnote 1, table 3. The average freezing points which hare been determined on certain cut flowers, 

 bulbs, etc., are as follows: Gardenia. 28.30° F.; Easter lilv, 27.50°; orchid (Cattleya), 30.08°; peony, 29.05°; 

 rose. 30.04°; Oregon wild fern. 23.60°; hollv, 26.50°: gladiolus (bulbs), 26.65°; hyacinth (bulbs), 28.70°: Regal 

 lilv (bulbs). 27.10°; tulips (bulbs), 25.39°; tulip (bloom), 2S°; narcissus (daffodil, bulb), 30.1°; narcissus 

 (Paper White, bulb), 28.9°. 



1 Approximately 80 percent relative humidity. 



