HARVESTING, HANDLING AND HOT WATER TREATMENT OF NARCISSUS BULBS IN BULK

In the U.K. narcissus are grown almost exclusively in ridges.
This permits mechanical harvesting either by a digger which deposits the crop on the ground or by a complete harvester.
Until recently all bulbs were subsequently put into small containers, usually trays, for drying by natural means and for storage so that the period in which the bulbs were out of the ground became the most expensive in the growing cycle.
Rapidly rising labour charges made it imperative to search for methods to reduce these costs.

In 1974 investigations were started at Kirton and Rosewarne Experimental Horticultural Stations to assess the possibility of handling narcissus bulbs in bulk through all stages from lifting to replanting including warm and cold storage and hot water treatment.
Some aspects of the work are incomplete and others need refining but the results show that given the right temperature and air flow narcissus bulbs can be dried and stored in bulk bins or in loose bulk.
They can be hot water treated in bulk bins as efficiently as by other means and can be given post-lifting high temperature treatment at 35°C for early forcing.
Early indications are that cold storage at 9°C will also be possible in bulk bins but this treatment may need additional equipment.

III International Symposium on Flower Bulbs

A. Moore

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1980.109.43