🌼 Tuberose Flower Farming – Full Guide to Cultivation, Uses, and Profit
🌱 Introduction: Why Tuberose is a Profitable Flower Crop?
Tuberose, locally known as Rajnigandha, is a fragrant and highly demanded flower cultivated for ornamental use, garland making, and most profitably for perfume extraction. Its waxy white blooms are rich in essential oil, making it a top choice for exporters and cosmetic brands.
In India and worldwide, tuberose is grown on a commercial scale in states like West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Its flowers are sold fresh, dried, and processed — giving it multiple income channels.
Let’s dive into how to grow tuberose professionally and tap into its high market demand.
🧪 Scientific Name and Varieties
Botanical Name: Polianthes tuberosa
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Common Names: Rajnigandha (Hindi), Sugandharaja (Kannada), Nishigandha (Marathi)
🌼 Top Cultivated Varieties
- Single Tuberose: High oil content, used in perfumery.
- Double Tuberose: Mostly for decorative and garland purposes.
- Variegated Varieties: Grown for ornamental landscaping.
🌿 Climate and Soil Requirements
☀️ Climate
Ideal temperature: 20°C to 30°C
Grows well in warm, sunny climates
Can tolerate moderate drought but not heavy frost
🌱 Soil
Well-drained, loamy or sandy loam soil
pH range: 6.5 to 7.5
Avoid heavy clay soils or waterlogged land
🚜 Land Preparation and Planting
🔄 Land Prep
Plough the field 2–3 times
Add well-decomposed FYM (10–15 tons/acre)
Prepare raised beds with proper drainage
🌱 Planting Bulbs
Use healthy bulbs of 2–2.5 cm diameter
Spacing: 30 cm × 20 cm (row × plant)
Depth: Plant bulbs at 5–7 cm depth
📅 Best Time to Plant
Rainy season (June–August) is ideal
In southern India, also planted in February–March
💧 Irrigation Schedule
First irrigation after planting
Then once every 7–10 days depending on weather
Use drip irrigation for water conservation and weed control
🍀 Fertilizer Management
Nutrient Dosage (Per Acre) Time
Urea 100 kg 50% at planting, rest in 3 doses
SSP 100 kg At the time of planting
MOP 40 kg In 2 splits
✅ Add micronutrients like Zinc and Boron if deficiency symptoms are observed.
✅ Use vermicompost or organic liquid manure if growing organically.
🐛 Pest and Disease Management
Common Pests:
Thrips
Mites
Bud Borer
Control: Neem oil spray (organic) or insecticides like Malathion (as per label).
Common Diseases:
Stem Rot
Leaf Blight
Fungal wilt
Control: Use Trichoderma in soil + copper oxychloride spray for fungus.
Organic Tip: Rotate with marigold or green gram every 2 years.
🌼 Flowering and Harvest
Flowering Time:
Starts 90–100 days after planting
Continues for 4–6 months
Harvesting:
Harvest early morning or evening
Pick flowers when 1–2 buds open (for maximum fragrance)
Yield: 8,000–12,000 flower spikes per acre annually
🏪 Post-Harvest and Packaging
Sort flowers by size and quality
Pack in ventilated plastic crates or bamboo baskets
Wrap in moist cotton or newspaper for long-distance transport
For oil extraction, flowers are immediately processed
🌍 Market Demand and Export
🌟 Where It Sells
Local flower markets
Worship and decoration services
Wedding and event planners
Perfume and essential oil industry
Export markets: UAE, USA, France, Germany
💰 Current Market Rates (2025 Estimates)
Fresh flowers: ₹70–₹100 per kg (bulk)
Dried tuberose petals: ₹250–₹400 per kg
Essential oil: ₹50,000+ per liter (high-grade)
🧴 What Is Made from Tuberose?
- Perfumes – Especially high-end floral perfumes.
- Aroma oils – Used in candles and room fresheners.
- Hair and body oils
- Skin creams and face packs
- Floral jewelry for weddings
- Decorative garlands (especially in South India)
💹 Profit Analysis Per Acre
Item Approx. Cost (INR)
Land Preparation + FYM ₹8,000
Bulbs (100 kg @ ₹100/kg) ₹10,000
Fertilizer + Pesticide ₹5,000
Labor ₹7,000
Irrigation (Drip setup) ₹10,000 (1-time)
Misc. ₹5,000
Total Cost ₹45,000
Returns Amount
Flowers sold (10,000 kg @ ₹80/kg) ₹8,00,000
Net Profit (yearly) ₹7,55,000+
🌟 ROI: Over 16× return per acre in just 1 growing season!
🌿 Organic Tuberose Farming Tips
Use Panchagavya or Jeevamrut for fertilizer
Neem cake + Trichoderma for soil enrichment
Cow urine spray for pest management
Avoid synthetic colors on harvested flowers
🏡 Small Space Farming or Terrace Idea
Tuberose can also be grown:
In large grow bags
On terraces or balconies
In permaculture setups
Start with 20–25 bulbs and expand after first bloom.
🛠️ Tips for Success
✅ Use certified disease-free bulbs
✅ Don’t over-irrigate
✅ Pinch flower buds early to get uniform blooming
✅ Harvest early for higher fragrance value
✅ Maintain clean soil — rotate crops
📈 Future Potential
With a growing demand for natural fragrance products, aromatherapy oils, and organic florals, Tuberose is a future-proof flower crop. India has export potential due to low-cost high-yield farming conditions.
If marketed right, a single farmer can build a full-time flower farming business from Rajnigandha.
✍️Real Neel
Founder -Farming Writers