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Pincushion Botanical Name: Leucospermum Patersonii × L

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Pincushion Botanical Name: Leucospermum Patersonii × L ’ gold high ‘ Product: Pincushion Botanical name: Leucospermum patersonii × L. cordifolium Cultivar: ‘High Gold’ eucospermum L Quality specifications for Australian wildflowers Product: Product: Cultivar: Cultivar: name: Botanical Leucospermum flowers are commonly flowers in Australia, in Israel, and in the volcanic ‘High Gold’ ‘High soils of Hawaii and the Canary Islands. Pincushion called ‘pincushions’ on account of their rounded, symmetrical flower heads, Plants are fast growing but susceptible to root which have masses of styles, or ‘pins’, problems (Phytophthora root rot and root knot sticking outwards. nematode) and fungal leaf spots, as well as Leucospermum patersonii × L. cordifolium L. × patersonii Leucospermum botrytis. Frost will damage foliage and flowers, ‘High Gold’ is a vigorous, early-flowering and if severe can kill the plants. Pruning plants cultivar with large, bright yellow flower hard after flowering encourages long, strong heads up to 8.5 cm in diameter. The flowers stems for the next season’s crop and keeps appear to glow against the dark green, plants at a manageable height. heart-shaped leaves. Pincushions have an excellent postharvest life, Each ball-shaped flower head consists of making them popular on both domestic and many individual florets. Each has ‘petals’ export markets. ‘High Gold’ is susceptible to (botanically tepals, which are sepals and water stress: lack of water makes the flower petals fused together in a tube), from which heads go soft, but heads will rehydrate. Pick the style (‘pin’), folded over in the bud, straight into buckets of deep water if the opens outwards, first looping out from weather is hot. the flower head, and later fully releasing to point outwards. Initially the pin is curved, The flower heads are fragile and the pins are following the line of the flower head, but very easily broken off or bent. The whole head when the flower head matures, the pins all will easily snap off if handled roughly. For this point upwards like pins in a pincushion. As reason, the flowers need to be harvested at the pins emerge, the tepals reflex to show the correct stage (when relatively few pins are their golden yellow tones. sticking out) and handled carefully. During transport in boxes, the heads must be protected The individual florets open sequentially from with shredded paper. On unpacking, the heads the base of the bloom. Often the pins come may appear flattened, but the pins will spring out first on one side, but then even out out again if they are handled carefully and are around the head. The correct picking stage well hydrated. is determined by the number of individual pins in the bloom that are looped and Growers should aim for a single flower pointing out. Harvesting at the correct stage head at the tip of a long, straight stem. of opening is critical for maximum vase life. Secondary flower heads may develop and Most Leucospermum species are spreading should be flicked off (disbudded) while shrubs that produce many flowers per unit they are small to avoid unsightly stubs on area of crop, usually in spring. Good yields the marketed stem. are achieved once the plants reach 2 to 3 years of age. Leucospermum species are indigenous Flowering season: August–December. to southern Africa, growing on nutrient- deficient, acidic, sandstone- Typical vase life: 15 days. derived soils. Export can reduce the vase life, especially if the transport conditions are not cold, the However, they product dries out, or transport takes too adapt to a wide long. range of soil types within a narrow Other products to which this range of pH and specification can be generally fertility, as long applied: other selections of as the drainage is Leucospermum; e.g. L. cordifolium and good. Pincushions selections; L. ‘Scarlet Ribbons’. are grown for cut Typical bunches look like this (shown with and without sleeves): Product: Pincushion STGSF A E O 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 that the flowers arrive at the desired stage. Stage 1 Stage 2 Immature stage – all styles tightly Early stage (earliest stage to market, looped: unacceptable to markets especially for export) – up to 30% of basal styles open and curved COMMON DEFECTS Common defects to be avoided at market entry: n D amaged or deformed flower heads Bird (parrot) damage: tips of pins missing Double-headed stem – discard n I nsect or bird damage on right side of flower head – discard n O vermature product n M ultiheaded stems n U ndersized flower heads n P oor-quality foliage Brown patch on stem and Insect borer damage Poor leaf quality (due to Frost-damaged leaves and poor leaf quality – discard frost in previous season) stem (damage occurred – discard – discard before bud set) – discard Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Mid stage (later stage for export and Mature stage – all pins curved: Overmature – centre of flower early stage for domestic markets) suitable for domestic markets head turning brown: – 50%–75% of pins curved (but not unaccepted by markets pointing straight up) Deformed flower head Abnormal pins (small and – discard shrivelled) – discard Old stock showing discoloured Broken pins – avoid by handling Yellow foliage (left) compared with healthy foliage (right) leaves – discard and and packing flowers – avoid through adequate crop nutrition do not market more carefully Product: Pincushion ‘FLOWERS’ STEMS Appearance Flower head fully formed, evenly rounded and at Appearance Rigid and strong enough to support blooms, final size. without being too heavy and bulky. Top of flower head firm and round, not pointed. Bend <15°. Flower head well coloured: green and Free of disfiguring trim marks or other blemishes. luminescent, rather than yellow. Neatly cut end. Flower size proportional to stem length – market smaller heads on shorter stems. Length According to market demand, typically as Flower head follows in a straight line from the recommended in ‘Grading and bunching’ below. stem (and is not offset from the stem at >15°). Flower head not hidden by leaves. RECOMMENDED HANDLING AT HARVEST Flower mass (dome) firm: up to 30% (export) or Minimise drying out and exposure to heat – pick when it is cool, When to preferably straight into buckets of clean potable water containing harvest 50%–75% (domestic) of pins at the base open a registered biocide, or a reputable commercial postharvest and curved; remaining pins looped or loosening. solution, and hold in the shade. Do not harvest when flowers are wet. Move cut stems promptly to a cool, shaded packing area. Cool quickly to remove field heat and stop the blooms from continuing Damage No damaged, broken or missing pins. to open. No asymmetrical, deformed or damaged blooms. No secondary blooms – these must be removed GRADING AND BUNCHING early or there will be ugly scars where they have been cut off. Grading Handle carefully, aiming to keep flowers from interlocking, which damages them. Contamination Ensure the flowers are free of grit and soil, weeds Grade quickly to minimise the time that stems are or weed seeds, and signs of insects or spiders, out of water. such as webbing. Reject any contaminated stems. Sort stems according to length and thickness: No apparent pest, bird or disease damage. A flower head proportional to stem length (typically Pests and 20%–25% of the total stem length for larger diseases preharvest spray to chase out insects and spiders blooms). Market smaller heads on shorter stems. may assist. Discard any poor-quality product with insects or Bunching When bunching, aim to keep flowers from fungal infections. interlocking, as they will be damaged later when the Picking flowers at the correct stage, when few customer tries to separate them. pins are pointing out, reduces risk of insects, Stems are typically bunched in 5s, with the heads like bees, being trapped within the flower head. offset from one another, or depending on customer When flowers are picked more open, birds may requirements. Stems within a bunch should be have already damaged the pins. approximately the same diameter, with the ends aligned. LEAVES Tie bunches firmly near the base, and use a sleeve to give further support. Appearance Fresh, dark green, and uniform in colour. Stem length Large blooms on stems 60 cm or longer are sold as Not dull or wilted. single stems. Shorter lengths are generally marketed Minimum discoloration (<3% by area and affecting in bunches. <10% of leaves). Stem length (cm) At harvest Strip leaves from at least the lower 20 cm and 90 up to the lower half of the stem, depending on 80 customer requirements. Be careful not to damage the stem – cut with 70 sharp secateurs. 60 Damage No spotted, diseased, yellow or damaged leaves. 50 Minimum evidence of pests, diseases or other 40 (small-headed) blemishes such as mechanical damage. Leaves entire (no insect feeding damage). Sleeves Sleeves help to maintain quality by improving Free of visible chemical residues. product appearance, limiting flower interlocking, reducing drying out and making it easier to pack. Select the sleeve size to suit the bunch size. HOLDING AND STORAGE LABELLING AND DOCUMENTATION Cooling Effective cooling soon after harvest is important Label boxes and buckets as recommended in Postharvest Manual* to retaining quality and maximising vase life. or as required by customer. There are two options: Ensure box contents are exactly the same as specified in the Sydney ScienceScape Matthew Editing, by Stevens, • Edited Design Poppy Wild by JN: 9992 • Layout • Cool, process, cool – for example, remove field documentation and on the end of the box. 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 overnight in a cool room.
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