Tuberose Flower Farming: How to Grow Rajnigandha, Its Uses, Benefits & Profit

🌼 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

1. Single Tuberose: High oil content, used in perfumery.
2. Double Tuberose: Mostly for decorative and garland purposes.
3. 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?

1. Perfumes – Especially high-end floral perfumes.
2. Aroma oils – Used in candles and room fresheners.
3. Hair and body oils
4. Skin creams and face packs
5. Floral jewelry for weddings
6. 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