Evaluation of suitable planting month for growth, spike and bulb production of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Lin.) in the foothills of Northwestern Himalayan region

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the planting of bulbs in different times (months) of year for sustainable flower and bulb production of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Lin.) cv. Rajat-rekha in subtropical climate in Doon Valley at Indo- Italian fruit Development Project, Dhakrani, Dehradun, Uttarakand (India). The results indicated that the bulb planted in the month of April (T₃)-May (T₃) treatments were statistically on par but significantly produced more vegetative growth, flower & bulb production. Bulb planted under T₃ and T₄ treatments observed maximum spike yield (30.70 and 31.06 tha⁻¹) and bulb yield (20.82 and 24.04 tha⁻¹), respectively. Planting of bulbs in the months of April-May produced more spikes ranged from 7.51 to 60.85% than bulbs planted in the months of December-January. The lowest spike and bulb yield (19.31 and 12.89 tha⁻¹), respectively were registered in the T₁₂ treatments though the T₁₁ & T₁₂ treatments were nonsignificant statistically. Hence the planting time (month) of tuberose in the Doon Valley during April-May expressed quality production of flowers and bulbs. Therefore, April-May followed by June- July period for planting of bulb can be recommended for quality production of tuberose in the Doon Valley.