Harvesting

• Standard carnations are harvested when the outer petals are unfolded nearly perpendicular to the stem and in recent times they are harvested in more tight condition.
• The spray carnations are harvested with two flowers open and the rest showing colour.
• In standard carnations 2-3 nodes and in spray carnations 3-4 nodes are left on the shoots for next cropping.
• Rapid precooling of flowers to the temperature 4.4 to 8.8^oC maintains flower quality and increases the longevity.