sunset

Product: Safari Sunset Botanical name:  ‘Safari Sunset’

( red form × L. laureolum female form) safari : ‘Safari Sunset’

Quality specifications for Australian wildflowers Leucadendron root rot. root Phytophthora Once established, ‘Safari Sunset’ is drought drought is Sunset’ ‘Safari established, Once Hard frost. light tolerate will and resistant promote to flowering after needed is pruning Removing crop. next the for stems straight long forces season the in early head first the create to stems flowering more of growth the some by accepted is which ‘multi-head’, a markets. Some export markets will not accept product product accept not will markets export Some considered are cones the as cones, mature with or contain might that fruit a be to AQIS with or exporter your with Check insects. your of requirements import the regarding market. target high- very a and growing fast is Sunset’ ‘Safari cultivation. intensive under yielding within yields marketable produce will is irrigation Adequate planting. of years 2 quality. and length stem good for important a with soil acidic drained, well a require Plants , Like 5. exceeding not pH to susceptible is Other productsthis which to specification can be generally applied: ‘Safari Magic’, ‘Silvan Red’, Leucadendron L. L. laureolum, ‘Gold Strike’; Blush’, ‘Katie’s salignum and their selections and hybrids. Flowering season: Flowering depending on December, to February location. life: vase Typical 21 days. 7 to especially Export the vase life, can reduce if the transport the not cold, conditions are product dries out or transport takes too long. Preharvest pest management is is management pest Preharvest insect minimising for important . the to damage chewing product this marketing or storing Avoid product market not do – long too for , or bracts dried-out or dull with leaves. or bracts the on tips brown or are bracts young the when selling Avoid soft. too originates in in originates Leucadendron Cold weather tends to to tends weather Cold intensity the improve of colour in the bracts, bracts, the in colour of making ‘Safari Sunset’ Sunset’ ‘Safari making a major winter crop in in crop winter major a and bears bears and Africa South separate male and female female and male separate some areas. some growth. on separate plants. plants. separate on flowers popular product, but not if if not but product, popular bypass of lot a is there Like most proteas, proteas, most Like ‘Safari Sunset’, a female female a Sunset’, ‘Safari Leucadendron selection, was bred in New New in bred was selection, Zealand and is vegetatively vegetatively is and Zealand propagated. The flower heads develop at the tips of tips the at develop heads flower The with clothed stems upright long, very large is Each leaves. green dark oblong, wide; mm (30–50 shaped goblet and opened) fully when across cm 10 to up bracts wine-red glowing features and small the around arranged spirally it matures flower the As flower. central cone, woody large attractive, an develops in feature prominent a becomes which a has Sunset’ ‘Safari flowers. late-season do heads flower the and life vase long other some in seen as easily, bruise not family. the of members for crop important an is Sunset’ ‘Safari both target who growers, Australian almost is It markets. export and domestic at saleable product, all-year-round an maturity. of stages different clear are bracts the stage, earliest the At small the enclose tightly and firm, and red a head flower the giving flower, central head flower the As shape. tulip slender to red wine deep a develops it matures, more becoming winter), (in colour purplish reflex bracts the finally and shaped, goblet cone. central woody prominent a reveal to become have bracts the spring early By bronze and centre the in yellow to cream product Late-season outside. the on red to a also is size final its at cone the with grown for the cut-flower market. market. cut-flower the for grown Worldwide, ‘Safari Sunset’ is probably probably is Sunset’ ‘Safari Worldwide, important most the

Product: Safari Sunset Botanical name: Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’ (Leucadendron salignum red form × L. laureolum female form) Cultivar: ‘Safari Sunset’ Product: Safari Sunset STAGES OF OPENING

The stages shown apply to the product at market entry. Pay attention to the weather, time of year, and mode and duration of transport, because the flowers will continue to open during transport. You must consult with your target market to ensure Stage 1 Stage 2 that the flowers arrive at Immature stage: bracts soft and Prime stage (especially for export): the desired stage. still developing – unacceptable to fully coloured bracts fully enclosing markets small central flower

Cmnom o defects

Common defects to be avoided at market entry: n S tem and weevils n Insect damage to flowers or foliage n B ypass shoots n S un and frost burn on Frost damage: short Bypass shoots: this is a Bent stem – discard flowers and leaves flowering side shoots and problem with late-harvested n B ent stems reduced leaf size – discard product – trim when small n P oorly constructed or tied bunches n O ld product

Bracts burnt due to cold Sun and frost damage Severe insect chewing: damage (poor storage?) – discard bracts almost completely – do not market missing – discard Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Later stage: bracts starting to Winter stage: bracts reflexing from Late season (early spring) stage: bracts reflex from developing central developing central cone fully open and paler; prominent central cone woody cone clearly visible – acceptable in some markets

Old product: damaged, dried leaves – do not market

Dieback at tips of bracts Old product: badly tied and insect bunch – do not market damage – discard; avoid by managing insect pests before harvest

Typical bunches look Multi-headed stems: Poorly like this: a different product trimmed – acceptable in some stem ends: markets bad harvest practice – Bracts with black tips trim neatly – do not market before marketing Product: Safari Sunset

FLOWERS STEMS

Appearance Flower head fully formed and at final size. Appearance Rigid and strong enough to support blooms. Bracts fully enclosing the central flower cone Bend <15°. (stage 2) or more open to reveal the developing Free of disfiguring trim marks or other blemishes. woody cone (stages 3–4). Neatly cut end. Flower head follows in a straight line from the stem (and is not offset from the stem at >15°). Length According to market demand, typically as Flower head not hidden by leaves. recommended in ‘Grading and bunching’ below. No bypass shoots or secondary blooms. RECOMMENDED HANDLING AT HARVEST When to Bracts firm (leathery at tips and not soft) and fully harvest coloured. Colour corresponding to time of year Minimise drying out and exposure to heat – pick when it is cool, harvested (stages 2–5). preferably straight into buckets of clean water or a reputable Flower head at final size. commercial postharvest solution, and hold in the shade. Move cut Avoid harvesting when flowers are wet. stems promptly to a cool, shaded packing area. Cool quickly to remove field heat. Damage No damaged, dull, brown, wilted or chewed bracts. GRADING AND BUNCHING No asymmetrical, deformed or damaged blooms. Grading Grade quickly to minimise time stems are out of Contamination Ensure the flowers are free of grit and soil, weed water. seeds or weeds, and signs of insects or spiders, Reject any contaminated stems. such as webbing. Sort stems according to flower maturity, length and thickness. Flower head proportional to stem Pests and No apparent pest or disease damage. length: market smaller heads on shorter stems. diseases Discard any poor-quality product with insects or fungal infections. Bunching Flowers are generally marketed in bunches. The number of stems per bunch varies, and is LEAVES determined by their length and by market and buyer requirements. Generally a marketable bunch of ‘Safari Sunset’ will contain 10 stems. Appearance Fresh; mid green; not dull or wilted. Multi-headed stems are usually bunched in 5s. Minimum discoloration (<3% by area and Presentation is important. Stay consistent for the affecting <10% of leaves). grade and make all bunches the same. Use 2 ties: 1 near base (3 cm from bottom) and Do not harvest or store when foliage is wet. At harvest again loosely 2/3 of the way up the bunch. Two Strip leaves from lower 12–15 cm or <1/3 of the ties make bunches easier to pack. stem, being careful not to damage the stem – cut Especially for export, stems should be with sharp secateurs if necessary. approximately the same diameter within a bunch, with the ends aligned. Damage Minimum evidence of pests, diseases or other blemishes such as mechanical damage. Leaves Stem length Stem length (cm) entire (no insect feeding damage). 100 Contamination No scale insects. No spider webs. 90 Free of visible chemical residues. 80 70 60 50 40

Sleeves This product is not usually sleeved. HOLDING AND STORAGE LABELLING AND DOCUMENTATION

Cooling Effective cooling soon after harvest is important to Label boxes and buckets as recommended in Postharvest Manual* retaining quality and maximising vase life. There are or as required by customer. two options: Ensure box contents are exactly the same as specified in the

• Cool, process, cool – for example, remove field documentation and on the end of the box. JN: 9964 • Layout by Wild Poppy Design • Edited Stevens, by Editing, Matthew ScienceScape Sydney heat by cooling flowers immediately on entry into shed to 10 °C in buckets of solution, process TRANSPORT flowers (bunch, grade), and then cool to 2–4 °C by either forced-air cooling (if boxed) or holding Refrigerated vehicle at 2–4 °C for long-distance transport. overnight in a cool room. • Process within 1 hour of cutting, and then cool to 2–4 °C by either forced-air cooling for 20–30 COMMON POSTHARVEST PROBLEMS minutes (if boxed) or holding overnight in a cool Refer to Postharvest Manual* for general advice. room (if in buckets). Use preharvest insecticide sprays to reduce the Forced-air cooling of packed flowers is ideal for Fungal decay pest population at harvest. large volumes of product. in storage due to botrytis Dip flowers that are to be packaged and held for (grey mould) Temperature Hold in a high-humidity cool room (95%) at 2–4 °C. any significant length of time (up to 5 days) in a and humidity registered fungicide and insecticide solution with Another way of achieving high humidity is to cover Insects added wetting agent for not less than 1 minute, the flowers with plastic sleeves or plastic sheeting, (for export) then dry naturally for 2 hours to ensure thorough as long as there is no condensation on the leaves, disinfestation. which can lead to decay in storage. OR: Fumigate flowers before dispatch to kill insects. Pulsing It is unclear whether pulsing in sugar before shipping benefitsLeucadendron . Ethylene ‘Safari Sunset’ is not sensitive to ethylene. sensitivity Postharvest Postharvest solution: Hold in clean potable water solutions with an added registered biocide. Holding solution: Same as postharvest solution. Messages for importers and wholesalers Sell quickly. n Recut stems and place into fresh water containing a reputable commercial postharvest solution, a registered biocide or cut-flower food. Cool product Longer-term For longer storage seek professional advice, and before marketing or sending on and keep it cool. storage test in the market before committing product. n Maintain good hygiene and keep containers clean. Trials have shown that longer storage is possible when stems have been dipped in registered Messages for retailers fungicide and stored dry and well wrapped in n Recut stems and place into fresh water containing cut-flower food or a boxes at 1 °C. registered biocide. n Use clean buckets and containers for displays. PACKAGING n Do not display flowers in areas that are exposed to full sun, draughts, high temperatures or vehicle exhausts, and preferably do not display near Pack only dry, cold flowers. fruit and vegetables. Use refrigerated displays if possible. Especially for export, stems in each box should be approximately n Tell the customer how to care for the flowers and emphasise the need the same diameter and length, and flower head size should be for cut-flower food in solutions. Give the customer a sachet of cut-flower consistent. food to take home. Pack bunches with flower heads at each end of the box and stems in Messages for consumers the middle to avoid damaging blooms. n Keep vase filled with the correct solution of cut-flower food. Check daily, Pack stems firmly in boxes or use export hooks or stem breaks so the product will not move and be damaged. Use shredded paper to as flowers can use a lot of water. If cut-flower food is not used, change the protect flower heads. Avoid packing too many stems per box. water at least every second day. Always use clean vases and clean water. n Use boxes with holes to allow forced-air cooling. Do not display in areas that are exposed to full sun, draughts or high temperatures. Keep as cool as possible without freezing. Minimise water loss. For long-distance shipping consider lining boxes with a layer of paper. n Discard other flower types in the same vase when they reach the end of their vase life. Cool flowers to 2–4 °C before transport.

SUPPORTING INDUSTRY PARTNER: The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. The Commonwealth Author: Bettina Gollnow. Photographs by: Lowan Turton and Dr Ross Worrall. of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, This publication is one of a series of Quality Specifications for Australian Wildflowers. arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, ISSN 1440-6845. ISBN 978-1-74254-018-4. RIRDC Publication No. 10/045. www.rirdc.gov.au made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the *The Postharvest Manual is the manual ‘Postharvest Handling of Australian Flowers from Australian Native Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. Plants and Related Species’, 2nd edition, 2010. ISBN 978-1-74254-000-9. RIRDC Publication No.10/027. © 2010 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests concerning reproduction and Both publications were developed by RIRDC Project No. PRJ-000331. rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165.