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This article throws light upon the top seventeen annuals and their number of seeds per gramme. The annuals are: 1. Marigold (Tagetes Erecta) 2. Gaillardia Pulchella 3. Coreopsis lanceolata 4. Helichrysum Bracteatum 5. Petunia Hybrida 6. Ammobium Alatum 7. Chrysanthemum Paludosum 8. Monarda Citriodora 9. Gazania Splendes 10. Phlox Drummondii 11. Cosmos Sulphureus and a few others too.
Annual # 1. Marigold (Tagetes Erecta):
It belongs to family composite and is most commonly grown commercial flower and quality seed is always in demand. It is highly cross pollinated crop; hence an isolation distance of 1 km is required amongst varieties.
However, different species do not cross pollinate with each other. For seed production, under North Indian conditions, August planting has been found most promising. The planting is done at a spacing of 60 x 40 cm and plants start blooming after seventy days of transplanting.
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Seeds start maturing from November onward and should be collected when cypsela (seed crop) has dried up. After drying individual flower should be hold in the hand and dried petal should be rotated to obtain the clean seed. Seeds are also removed by crushing the cups. The seed yield of 312-375 kg/ha is obtained.
Annual # 2. Gaillardia Pulchella:
It belongs to family compositae and is highly cross pollinated crop. The plant attains the height at 60-90 cm. Flowers are produced abundantly in many colours viz. yellow, orange, scarlet, copper colours or combinations of these. There are two types i.e. picta type—single type and large flowers, and lorenziana type—Powers are double having quilled petals with split tips.
Thus an isolation distance 1000 m is required. Plants are planted at 60 × 60 cm distance during November and seeds are harvested from May to July. Seeds are borne on capitulum and have appendages. Therefore heads are harvested individually and are cleaned in special machines which remove it. Yield of 500-625 kg/ha is obtained.
Annual # 3. Coreopsis lanceolata:
It belongs to family compositae and being a highly cross pollinated and isolation distance of 1000 m is required for pure seed production. The crop can be transplanted as late in November to mid-December. The plants attain a height of 100-120 cm. Flowers are of sulfur yellow in colour.
The ideal distance of transplanting is 60 × 40 cm. Flowers mature in April-May and seeds shatter when are too dry therefore collect heads individually when are partially dry. It yields about 200- 250 kg/acre. Coreopsis tinctoria produces flowers of yellow to yellow with maroon making and produces 625-750 kg/ha.
Annual # 4. Helichrysum Bracteatum:
It belongs to family compositae and is a cross pollinated crop. A large number of varieties are available in different colour and height. Seedlings are transplanted in first week of November at a distance of 60 × 40 cm and seed is ready for harvesting in March-April. Individual flower heads are harvested when the colour shows the signs of maturity and head become fuzzy. A good yield 160-200 kg/ha is harvested.
Annual # 5. Petunia Hybrida:
It belongs to family solanaceae and flowers vary from i.e. single to double in different colours like white, cream, pink, purple, magenta, mauve, salmon or bi-coloured are available. The height of plant varies from 50-70 cm. The seedlings are transplanted in first week of November at 45 × 45 cm distance. Seeds are ready for harvesting from April to mid-June. Harvest the pods as they began drying otherwise shattering will occur.
Annual # 6. Ammobium Alatum:
It belongs to family compositae and flowers are bi-coloured (disc is yellow and ray florets are cream coloured). After transplanted in November at 45 × 30 cm, plants remain spreading and dwarf in nature up to 90 days and afterward length of main stem increase till anthesis. Due to its papery florets and long stem, it is useful for drying purposes. The branches are cut when flowers are dried in May and June. Seeds are cleaned and yield about 125-150 kg/ha are obtained.
Annual # 7. Chrysanthemum Paludosum:
It belongs to family compositae and flowers are single, white in colour and are produced in great profusion. Plants attain ultimate height of 30-45 cm and have spreading in nature. Seedlings are transplanted at 60 x 60 cm distance in November. Seeds are ready for harvest during March-April. Since there are numerous flowers and due to small size of seed, seeds are collected by shaking over sheet of cloth or chajj 4-5 times. Seed yield of 200-225 kg/ha is obtained.
Annual # 8. Monarda Citriodora:
It belongs to family Labiatae and needs cross pollination for good seed set. The plants attain height of 70-100 cm. The crop is transplanted in November-December at 60 × 45 cm. Flowers dry during May to July and harvested singly. It yields about 200-225 kg/ha.
TABLE- 13.4
Annual # 9. Gazania Splendes:
It belongs to family compositae and highly cross pollinated crop. The plants attain ultimate height of 30 cm and produce daisy like showy flowers in red, brown, white, yellow and pink colour. The seedlings are transplanted in first week of November at 30 × 30 cm.
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Flowering occurs during March and harvesting pods is done when dry fully before seed shatters. By this method yield of 125-150 kg/ha is obtained from a good crop. However, due to employment of more labour farmers are harvesting a crop as a single cut when 75% crops is mature may result in reduction of marginal yield.
Annual # 10. Phlox Drummondii:
It belongs to family polemoniaceae and is very popular in all gardens due to its easy culture free flowering and wide range of colours with long blooming period. The flowers are produced on clusters at the end of branches well above the foliage.
The individual flowers are small about 2 cm across with round or pointed petals. The plants attain a height of 50-60 cm and seedlings are transplanted at 45 × 30 cm in November and seeds are harvested from April to June when the pod colour changes from green to brown. Harvesting is repeated 3-4 times for securing good yield of 300-325 kg/ha.
Annual # 11. Cosmos Sulphureus:
It belongs to family compositae and flowers are highly cross pollinated and hence, an isolation distance of 1000 m should be provided to maintain purity. It is transplanted in July at a distance of 40 × 30 cm. It flowers during August up to end of September.
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Seeds maturity are of yellow or orange colours and are very liable to shattering and thus seeds are individually collected daily. A good yield of 150- 175 kg/ha is obtained. Cosmos bipinnatus has more range of flower colours i.e., white, pink, salmon, violet, magenta etc. It is transplanted in August and flowering continues up to mid-November. A yield of 175-200 kg/ha is obtained easily.
Annual # 12. Verbena Hybrida:
It belongs to family verbenaceae and small colourful flowers are produced in different colour like white, red, blue, violet, salmon and intermediary colours on the Capitulum. It is preferentially out breeds but self-pollination occurs. For seed production an isolation distance of 500 m is kept amongst different varieties. For seed production it is planted in first week of November at a distance of 45 × 30 cm and seeds are harvested during March-April. A good seed crop yields about 250-375 kg/ha.
Annual # 13. Viola Wittorckiana:
It belongs to family violaceae. Flowers are very pretty due to shape and marking of contrast colour on blotches and size varies from 5 to 10-13 cm across. Flowers are of self colour or contrast colour. The pansy varieties are grouped into two group’s i.e. small or large sized flowers.
Small types produce flowers in great number and produce abundant seeds (62-75 kg/ha) where as large types flowers varieties produce less number of flowers but of big size and produce very less seed in plains of North India and requires hand pollination. These varieties produce good quality seeds in Sri Nagar valley of J & K.
Annual # 14. Calendula Officinalis:
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It belongs to family compositae and flowers are highly cross pollinated. Proper isolation distance of 1000 m helps in maintaining the purity of varieties. The seedlings are transplanted 45 x 30 cm during November and seeds are harvested during March-April. Individual dried flowers are harvested. A yield of 1000-1060 kg/ha is obtained from Pacifica mixed.
Annual # 15. Mesembryanthemum Crinifolium:
It belongs to family Aizoaceace and plants are dwarf with thick flashy leaves. Single flowers in different colours are produced and flowers open in the sun which is very shining and attractive. Different colours are maintained by 1000 m isolation distance. Seeds are extracted by beating the mature fruits when they get completely dried. A yield of 375-400 kg/ha is obtained.
Annual # 16. Tropaeolum Majus:
It belongs to family Tropaeolaceae. Plants are of trailing type and flowers have large long spur. Highly cross pollinated crop and it needs an isolation distance of 1000 m for maintaining purity. The crop is sown directly. Seeds are collected by brooming when crop is completely dried in April-May. An average yield of single type is about 1000-1250 kg/ha whereas of dwarf type is 150-200 kg/ha.
Annual # 17. Alyssum Maritimum:
It belongs to family Cruciferae and very small flowers of white and purple colour are produced in great profusion. Plants are very dwarf and hardly grow about 20 cm. Seedlings are transplanted in last week of October to first week of November at spacing of 30 × 20 cm and flowering occurs during January to March. Seeds are harvested in April as a single cut and good yield of 125-150 kg/ha are obtained very easily.
