RELATIONS BETWEEN QUALITY AND ORIGIN OF FORCING BULBS, FORCING METHODS AND THE ORNAMENTAL VALUE OF FORCED TULIPS

Improvement of the quality of Dutch horticultural produce is a research and management topic to maintain a strong international market position.
Introduction of new quality standards gives additional information to buyers and will lead to better prices and, consequently, to a better price/cost ratio for top quality.
This will encourage flower growers to produce better quality.
In order to gain significant information about quality aspects related to price formation of tulip flowers on Dutch flower auctions, an investigation has been made into the following questions concerning forced flowers of tulips cv.
Merry Widow and cv.
Monte Carlo.

1. Which quality aspects per stem or per bunch on the day of auction are related to the ornamental value and the vase life of tulips?

2. Is there a relation between type and origin of bulb stocks, way of forcing and the product characteristics on the day of sale?

3. How is quality paid for in the auction system of today?

4. Which economic choices are to be made in relation to bulb size and bulb quality and production of top-quality tulip flowers?

5. Is it possible to improve the quality of the total supply by introducing quality standards and supply regulations at auctions?

This paper reports on the results of the investigation into the first two questions, about bulb size and quality, production methods, experience of forcers, forcing period in relation to quality aspects of the flowers (such as stem diameter, stem length, stem weight, condition of the flower on the day of auction and the quality in the vase after six days.
Further reports will follow.

V International Symposium on Flower Bulbs

B.M.M. Kortekaas, C.O.N. de Vroomen

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.266.37