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Contents

Produced by Koko Siga (Fiji) Ltd. & Jan Hintze – Jungle Plant and Flower Service with funding assistance provided by

Crawford Fundhttp://www.crawfordfund.org/

Contacts for authors:Kyle Stice – kylestice@hotmail.comJan Hintze - hintze@ozemail.com.au

For more pictures and information on Gingers and Heliconias check out the following websites

www.heliconia.org www.heliconiasocietypr.org www.gingersrus.com

© Copyright 2009

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Introduction ..................................................... 5

Pictorial ............................................................ 6

Getting ready for Planting .................................. 13

On the Farm........................................................ 15

Are your flowers ready to pick? ........................... 16

Unsuitable flowers .............................................. 16

Harvesting .......................................................... 17

Marketing .......................................................... 18

Contents

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IntroduCtIon

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The Pacific Islands are rich with ginger

and heliconia varieties and ideal growing

conditions. Some of the most important ginger

and heliconia cut flower varieties are included

in the following guide with their

international names.

IntroduCtIon

‘Bu Seni’

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Common name: NappiScientific name: Heliconia bihai

Common name: BuckyScientific name: Heliconia stricta

Common name:Scientific name: Heliconia collinsiana

PICtorIal

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Common name: PrincessScientific name: Alpinia purpurata

Common name: Eden PinkScientific name: Heliconia orthotricha

Common name: Red GingerScientific name: Alpinia purpurata

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Common name: RostrataScientific name: Heliconia rostrata

Common name: SassyScientific name: Heliconia psittacorum

Common name: TropicaScientific name: Heliconia hybrid

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Common name: Hot Rio NitesScientific name: Heliconia hybrid

Common name: Indian HeadScientific name: Costus spicatus

Common name: Claw 2Scientific name: Heliconia bihai

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Common name: Daintree RedScientific name: Heliconia hybrid

Common name: Red Banana Scientific name: Musa coccinea

Common name: Red Torch AdrianScientific name: Heliconia hybrid

Common name: TagamiScientific name: Heliconia stricta

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Common name: Red Banana Scientific name: Musa coccinea

Common name: Red Torch AdrianScientific name: Heliconia hybrid

Common name: Almost White (torch ginger)Scientific name: Etlingera elatior

Common name: Pearl (torch ginger)Scientific name: Etlingera elatior

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Common name: Frilly pink (torch ginger)Scientific name: Etlingera elatior

Common name: Daisy (torch ginger)Scientific name: Etlingera elatior

GettInG ready for PlantInG

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GettInG ready for PlantInGBelow are the steps in

propagating and planting a heliconia from division

of rhizomes

1

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Planting Material

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The first step is to identify the variety you want to plant and then locate the most recent growths

Remove from soil and divide clump into shoots, wash away excess soil.

Dig the soil around the offshoot cutting the rhizome as you go. Often several shoots will be connected in one clump.

Offshoot is ready to be planted at the desired spacing. Stem should be cut to remove leaves and shoot should be planted with a stake to hold it up. Shoots can either be planted directly into the field or into a bag first.

1

3

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Below are the steps in propagating and planting a ginger from offshoots

on the farm

Heliconia will spread wildly if it is not

controlled. This type of overcrowding will

decrease the number of high quality flowers

produced and encour-age pest and disease

infestation.

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Gingers and Heliconias should be planted in lines.

The lines should be spaced 3 meters apart, which allows for the plants to spread 1

meter on each side making, eventually, a bed 2

meters wide with a walkway of 1 meter between each

bed, for ease of harvesting.

Gingers and Heliconias should be planted in lines. should be planted in lines.

The lines should be spaced 3 meters apart, which allows for the plants to spread 1

on the farm

Looking after your plants

Heliconia will spread wildly if it is not

controlled. This type of overcrowding will

decrease the number of high quality flowers

produced and encour-age pest and disease

infestation.

Digging and cutting plants that spread out-

side of the beds is an important management

technique. The clear strip between the beds below allows for easy access for maintenance and

harvesting.

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are your flowers ready to PICk?

unsuItable flowers

Sassy – Heliconia psittacorum

Harvest with only one bract open

This red ginger has day flowers already open which will turn black and start to smell by the time the customer gets it.

Lobster claw – Heliconia bihai

Harvested with two or three bracts open

This costus already has day flowers which have died leaving the flower unsuitable for sale.

Shampoo ginger – Zingiber spectabile

Harvest when first dayflower appears from bract (this flower should be removed before sale).

This claw heliconia has been left on the farm too long and the sun has taken away the nice red colour

Red and pink ginger – Alpinia purpurata

Harvest with about 50 % of bracts fluffed out

This torch ginger is fully open and has already developed day flowers, not suitable for selling.

harvestInG

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are your flowers ready to PICk?

unsuItable flowers

harvestInG

Flowers should be tied in bundles and placed in a bucket of water left in a cool shady place.

Flowers within a bunch should be the same length, usually the same variety, and the same maturity

Flowers must be harvested earlier

than at present. No one wants to buy old flowers

because they do not last long. Heliconias and Gingers with the

dayflowers showing are a sign that the flower

is old and should not be sold.”

“Flowers should be harvested as close to the ground as possible to help thin out

your planting

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marketInG There are lots of places to sell gingers and heliconia flowers

Roadside stalls

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Municipal markets

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marketInG

Roadside stalls

Florists

Hotels and restaurants

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notes