Effect of Harvesting at Different Nodes on Growth and Flower Yield of Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus Linn) in Second Season Crop

The present study was under taken in a commercial floriculture farm under protected cultivation with three cultivars of carnation during July 2010 to February 2011. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept. Harvesting of carnation flower stalk at 3^rd node from the ground level recorded minimum number of days to sprouting of buds than other harvesting nodes i.e., 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th nodes. Days to first flower bud appearance, colour break stage and days to harvest was also minimum with harvesting at 3^rd node in cultivars Domingo, Dover and Keiro. And the length of lateral, length of flower stalk and flower, diameter of flower stalk and flower, number of flower stalks per plant, fresh flower weight and vase life was maximum with harvesting at 3^rd node than other harvesting heights in cultivar Domingo.