by Miller, William B.
The expectation for the 2002 forcing season’s Dutch tulip production is excellent. The late spring temperatures in the growing areas were chilly and ideal for a robust yield. Now that the bulbs have been removed from the ground, they have been peeled, sized, and packaged. Depending on their intended purpose, many of them are already on their way to customers in the United States and Canada, while others will be shipped throughout the fall.
Flower bulbs are now routinely transported across the seas from Holland to your greenhouse. The globalization of horticulture is accelerating, and flower bulbs represent global commerce. But not that long ago, bulbs were transported in ways that we now view as cruel. I’ll outline the methods and technology used to transport bulbs from Holland to North America in this essay. I’ll also suggest doable actions that farmers can take to keep their high-quality forcing bulbs.
I was all too familiar with the bulky, 50-lb. crates of Easter lilies when I was a kid working in my family’s business. Imagine the 200+ kg. wooden containers used by Dutch bulb exporters into the middle of the 20th century. These cartons were loaded by crane into the stuffy bowels of steam ships for the ocean voyage up until the mid-1950s. After some thought, it becomes clear that it was almost a miracle that any of these bulbs survived and thrived at all. The product likely suffered from poor temperature management, inadequate ventilation, and rodent damage. However, a successful flowering does highlight the incredible tolerance these bulbs possess.
By the 1960s, unitized “containers were quickly replacing steamships as the primary transportation unit. A flexible and seamless global delivery network for all products was made possible by these stackable and manageable modules. In the example of bulbs, a container might be loaded in Holland, transported to the United States by boat, then put on a dolly for delivery to the customer on the East Coast or transported by freight train for delivery to the West Coast or Midwest.
To ensure that the bulbs received fresh air throughout the journey, these containers were mechanically vented. Furthermore, in order to change the climate in each particular container, portable refrigeration units were created during the late 1960s. As a result, the container’s temperature and air quality were better controlled. Additionally, it permitted the shipping of bulbs at various temperatures. Faster turnaround times at each port, with containers often leaving the port less than 24 hours after arrival, are another significant benefit of container-based transportation.
Tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and crocus are examples of spring-flowering rooting room bulbs that are generally compact, resist water loss, have low respiration, and can withstand a range of temperatures. Spring-flowering bulbs initially seem “dormant.” In actuality, they are constantly and gradually growing and developing—they are not inert. The final forcing performance and quality of the flower or plant is greatly impacted by this growth and responsiveness to the environment. In other words, the environmental factors (particularly temperature) to which bulbs are exposed after digging directly affect forcing behavior.
Due to the possibility of equipment failure during shipping and the fact that flower bulbs constantly perceive their surroundings, flower bulbs are prone to several issues when traveling from Holland. The main challenges that North American soldiers face are frequently tied to issues with transportation. Inadequate airflow, which can cause an ethylene buildup, inadequate air temperature, and moisture condensation on bulbs can all cause issues that manifest as physiological anomalies (problems with flower development) or biotic damage (diseases and insects).
The transportation of all perishable goods, from bulbs to shrimp to tuna, has been transformed by the development of temperature-controlled shipping containers. From very early August for dry sales in retail outlets through January or February as pre-cooled bulbs for cut flower forcing, tulips may be received in good shape and ready to perform. This covers a period of up to seven months, which is longer than that of any other ornamental crop.
Time. Approximately nine days are needed for the ocean to travel from Rotterdam to Newark, New Jersey. The process of loading the container at the exporter’s plant, moving it to Rotterdam, securing it there, and then repeating the process once at the destination all take extra time. Depending on the location and manner, this can take anywhere from a single day to more than six. As a result, bulbs are confined in containers for at least two weeks and, in the event of a West Coast transit via the Panama Canal, up to four weeks.
Temperature. Any time within a six- to seven-month span is acceptable for tulip transportation. Shipping temperatures can range from 631/4 F (171/4 C) down to 401/4 F (51/4 C), depending on the intended usage of the product. Thinking about the operational
Modern oceangoing equipment is extremely durable and dependable, providing accurate and reliable temperature control inside the container. To track the temperature of the air moving around the bulbs, however, two portable temperature recorders should be included in every shipment. These are crucial in the event that the environmental control system for the container breaks down. You can get a sense of the harshness of the winter trip across the North Atlantic, the significance of containers to the bulb trade, and the toughness of this equipment by considering that ships have arrived in America with two feet of ice covering the ship.
ethylene and ventilation. Fusarium is the main disease issue tulip growers in North America are dealing with. The basal region of the bulbs are affected by this disease, which is known to be more problematic if field temperatures are high in the final 3–4 weeks before digging. A few large cultivars are also more prone; for instance, “Prominence” and its offspring are particularly Fusarium sensitive.
We recognize that Fusarium is a transportation concern when we realize how much ethylene the Fusarium fungus produces. To get rid of ethylene from the air around the bulbs, you should ventilate containers and unpack and ventilate bulbs as soon as they arrive at your plant. It is important to realize that the ethylene released by a single “fusarium bulb, both in the shipping case and pot or forcing box, might harm many nearby bulbs. Several research projects are currently being conducted in Holland and at Cornell University to look into further impacts of ethylene during transportation and potential mitigation strategies.
Tulips that have been damaged by ethylene show uneven, stunted growth, flower bud wilting, or total necrosis before the bud even leaves the bulb. For instance, in the early fall, dried bulbs with the disorder known as “kernrot” can be observed. The process starts with the “opening of the tip of the tulip bulb” as a result of ethylene-stimulated shoot growth. Mites can then crawl into the bulb and down to the growing new bud at that point. The bud actually perishes as a result of their feeding. The resultant plant, when pressed, has one to three leaves but neither a tall stem nor flowers. Simply a blackened stump, the bud is.
Ethylene exposure causes gummosis, a different condition in tulips. Gummosis is the development of a tough, transparent, brownish-tan material on the bulb’s exterior. A shipment that has a significant percentage of gummosis tulips is highly suspicious, and your supplier should be informed.
Humidity. Another crucial element for a trouble-free bulb shipment is the relative humidity inside a shipping container. Warm, humid air entering the container during ventilation might cause water to condense on the bulbs, especially with precooled shipments at 481/4 F (91/4 C). When this occurs, it is crucial to start drying with fans as soon as you get to the warehouse. Failure to do so may lead to further disease-related issues.
In a very complicated, global sector, there are a number of specific processes that must be followed in order to force bulbs successfully. In this post, we looked at a few of the processes that go into this international trade. Even now, the technology mentioned makes it possible to transfer more bulbs from other bulb-producing nations, particularly those in the Southern Hemisphere. The domestic forcer may not need to know the specifics of bulb transportation, but it is important to understand what factors can affect a bulb’s proper and reliable execution throughout transportation.
The Royal Dutch Wholesalers’ Association for Flowerbulbs and Nursery Stock, Hillegom, The Netherlands, provided research funding; Holly Lohren, Maersk/Sealand provided first-hand knowledge of the steamship industry; and other businesses and individuals who shared their expertise in the flower bulb sector.
William B. Miller
Professor William B. Miller teaches flowerbulb and greenhouse crop physiology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Call (607) 255-1799, fax (607) 255-9998, or send an email to [email protected] to get in touch with him.
Excess dirt should be removed from the healthy bulbs. Place them on many pieces of newspaper and let them to cure for several days in a protected area, like a garage or shed.
How are tulip bulbs transported?
Put the bulbs into a box filled with loose sand, peat moss, vermiculite, or another suitable storage medium. Send them out right away by mail, choosing a delivery option that gets them there in three days or fewer.
How are flower bulbs transported?
Gently separate the flower bulbs as you dig them. Depending on the type of bulb being separated, this can be accomplished by cutting each bulb into several pieces or by breaking the bulbs up into smaller clumps.
Replant the bulbs in the preferred well-draining place once they have been separated. The majority of flower bulbs should typically be planted twice as deep as they are tall. When bulbs start to take root and get ready for the upcoming bloom season, this will guarantee the greatest likelihood of success.
In what way are tulips spread?
Tulips are a well-liked flower and a top seller for florists, particularly in the spring when massive amounts of the blooms are shipped in from Holland. The flowers are a particularly popular option for spring bridal bouquets and come in a wide range of colors. Seeds or bulbs are used to grow tulips. The seeds that grow into the bulbs that make up the flowering plant are dispersed by nature.
Seeds Reproduce
Tulips Tulips need to spread their seeds in order to sprout and thrive, much like other plants do. The methods used to disperse the seeds have an impact on how successfully tulips reproduce, both in terms of quantity and quality. In nature, tulip seeds are disseminated through a variety of techniques. After being dispersed, the seeds grow into bulbs after germination. For optimal growth, tulips require well-drained soil and a location with lots of sunlight. Sand can be added to the soil to improve drainage. You can remove the smaller juvenile bulbs from close to the root of mature flower bulbs and transplant them to produce new tulip bulbs once they start to multiply.
Tulip Bulbs
Tulips can be grown from either bulbs or seeds, but bulbs yield flowering plants more quickly. The plant that emerges from a tulip bulb often blooms the following year. Tulip seeds germinate in just a few months, but the plant may not produce blossoms for several years. The cause is that it might take a tulip seed up to five years to mature into a bulb.
Seedpod
Inside the flower’s seedpod are the tulip seeds. Like other plants, flowers must be pollinated in order for seeds to develop. A tulip is a self-pollinating plant, which means that the flower may spread pollen by transferring it directly from the anther to the stigma on its own. As a cross-pollinating flower, the plant also depends on insects, the wind, people, or other animals to spread pollen from one tulip bloom to another. You can take the seeds out of the pod of a tulip plant after the blossom has faded and plant them in the fall. After blooming, the pod will ultimately turn brown and crack open if you let the plant go to seed.
Nature’s Role
Tulip seeds are most frequently dispersed by the wind. The flat, light seeds can be easily carried a distance by even a light wind. Additionally, tulip seeds adhere to animal fur. Where they fall, seeds frequently take root. Tulip seed dispersal is also accomplished by birds. The seeds are consumed by some birds, who then excrete them in their droppings. On their feathers, other birds transport the seeds to new locations.
Do not store flowers in the trunk
The lack of ventilation can harm your flowers’ ability to develop, and even if you believe your trunk to be secure, they won’t appear as healthy after a lengthy journey. However, you should only use your trunk if the weather is rather pleasant outside if you must. The blooms may freeze or wilt if the temperature is too high or low.
Avoid the dashboard:
Another location you shouldn’t put a flower while driving is on the dashboard. Despite being level, the surface is directly in the path of the sun, which isn’t always the best for recently cut flowers. You wouldn’t want your lovely bouquet to end up looking worn out and droopy, would you? Additionally, it limits your field of vision when driving, which is extremely risky and dangerous.
Store in a water-filled bucket
The best way to transport any number of bouquets—one, two, or too many to count—is in a bucket of water. They can stay upright and will stay hydrated in this manner. Just enough water will do to wet your flowers’ whistle; you don’t want to fill the bucket too full as this could cause a spill if you encounter a bump along the road. However, even with little water, you may prevent the bucket from moving about by adding weights or sandbags to either side.
Pro tip: If you’re not going very far, you may skip the water and keep your bouquet(s) standing erect in the bucket; just remember to put the flowers in a vase as soon as you get there.