COMMERCIAL STORAGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 



33 



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

 for cut flowers, florists' greens, rhizomes, tubers, corms, and bulbs — Contd. 



Commodity 



Florists' greens: ' 

 Ferns: 



Common 

 wood. 



Dagger 



Asparagus. ~ 



Galax 



Holly 



Laurel, mountain 

 Leucothoe, droop- 

 ing. 



Lycopodium 



Rhizomes, tubers, 



corms, and bulbs: 3 



Begonia, tuber. _ 



Caladium 



Calla 



Canna 



Tem- 

 pera- 

 ture 



(°F.) 



32-45 



40-45 

 40-45 

 32-45 

 32 

 32-40 

 32-40 



32-45 



45 



45 



35 



45-50 



Approximate length 

 of storage period 



2 weeks to 4 months. 



Do. 



7 to 10 days. 



2 weeks to 4 months. 



1 month. 



3 to 6 weeks. 



Do. 



2 weeks to 4 months 



4 to 6 months. 



Do. 

 6 to 8 months. 

 6 to 7 months. 



Commodity 



Rhizomes, tubers, 

 etc.— Continued 



Crocus 



Dahlia 



Freesia... 



Gladiolus 



Hyacinth 



Lily - of - the - val- 

 ley. 

 Lily: 



Easter 



Regal. 



Narcissus 



Snowdrop.. 



Squill 



Taro 



Tuberose 



Tulip 



Tem- 

 pera- 

 ture 

 (°F.) 



55-60 

 45-50 

 55-60 

 35 

 55-60 

 25-28 



35 

 35 

 55-60 

 55-60 

 55-60 

 45 

 40-45 

 50-55 



Approximate length 

 of storage period 



4 to 6 months. 



6 to 7 months. 

 4 to 6 months. 



7 to 8 months. 

 4 to 6 months. 

 12 to 14 months. 



6 to 8 months. 



Do. 

 4 to 6 months. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 

 6 to 8 months. 

 4 to 6 months. 



Approximately 80 percent relative humidity. s Approximately 75 percent relative humidity. 



CUT FLOWERS 



Cold-storage rooms for cut flowers are operated mainly- by whole- 

 sale florists in the large cities. Here flowers are usually held for 

 short periods only. The temperatures given herein are recommended 

 to insure a reasonably long life for flowers after their removal from 

 storage. 



Cut flowers in storage should be kept with the stems well sub- 

 merged in water. They should not be crowded in the containers 

 because of the danger of mechanical injury and the decay that may 

 result because of lack of ventilation. In most cases care should be 

 taken not to spill water on the blooms since these usually discolor 

 quite readily. 



Chrysanthemums {Chrysanthemum hortorum) and gladioli 

 {Gladiolus spp.) may be stored at 35° F. for 2 weeks, and usually 

 remain very salable. Longer storage is possible, though frequently 

 not practicable. These flowers are usually tied in bunches of 12 

 and 25, respectively, but are not wrapped when placed in storage. 

 Pompons, however, are sold in bunches of various sizes. 



As a rule the proper cutting stage for the large-flowering types 

 of chrysanthemums is just after the green color in the center of the 

 flower has disappeared. No general rule can be given for pompons, 

 since several varieties, especially some of those in the anemone group, 

 need more development on the plant than the single varieties. 



Gladioli should be cut when 3 or 4 of the lower buds show color 

 and are partly opened. For distant shipments before storage the 

 flowers should show color but should be in the tight bud stage. 



Easter lily {Lilium longiflorum) , common peony {Paeonia offici- 

 nalis), Chinese peony {P. albiflora), Speciosum lily (Z. speciosum), 

 Regal lily (Z. regale), and goldband lily (Z. auratum) can be held at 

 35° F. for comparatively long periods, although 30 days is usually 

 the maximum storage period. The lilies in this group should be cut 



