Where do roses grow best in the world

Rose is called the “Queen of Flowers” and is one of the famous flowers in the world. Roses are regarded as a symbol of romance, and countless roses are grown and sold every year. So do you know where the largest rose producing area is in the world?

Bulgaria location

Bulgaria is located in the southeast of the Balkan Peninsula in southern Europe. It borders Romania to the north, Turkey and Greece to the south, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia to the west, and the Black Sea to the east. The country’s coastline is 378 kilometers long, and 70% of Bulgaria’s territory is of the land is mountains and hills, and 30% is lowland. Its interior Musala Peak is 2925 meters above sea level and is the highest peak in the Balkan Peninsula: the main rivers are the Dori River and the Maritsa River.

Geography of Rose Valley

Bulgaria is the famous “Land of Roses”. There is a long and narrow valley 40 kilometers southeast of the capital Sofia, which is dozens of kilometers long. The climate here is mild, not cold in winter and not hot in summer, with sufficient moisture and fertile soil. This is the very famous Rose Valley in Bulgaria.

Scenery in the valley

Every year in May and June, roses bloom in the valley, and the fragrant wind floats to far away places. People can find this place by following the fragrance.
After more than 300 years of careful cultivation, it has become a famous rose garden, rich in more than 7,000 kinds of roses, the most famous of which are pink and white roses. Rose Valley is not only the world of roses, but also a world-famous tourist attraction, with tens of thousands of tourists visiting every year.

Kenya is located at the equator, with abundant sunshine and rain. The average annual temperature is between 18℃ and 24℃. Kenya is the fourth largest exporter of flowers in the world, especially around Lake Naivasha, which is 2,000 meters above sea level. Origin. Kenyan roses are popular around the world due to their large flower heads, long flowering period and bright colors. In recent years, China has become the fastest growing consumer market for Kenyan rose exports. With the opening of direct flights from Kenya to major cities in China, Kenyan flowers have shown strong competitiveness in the Chinese market.

How can this African country with unstable local security and insufficient production conditions become the world’s fourth largest flower exporter? Recently, the author interviewed Yang Qikun, the cut flower variety agent of the French Mayon Group in China, who recently visited Kenya. From the perspective of producers, the author looked at how Kenya’s rose planting industry developed.

Q: What is the overall situation of flower cultivation in Kenya? What are the greenhouse facilities like?

A: Most flower companies in Kenya are European flower companies, and their production is mainly used to supply the European market. Most of the production facilities and standards adopt the European system. There are planting bases from 1500 meters to 2400 meters above sea level. The 1500 meters above sea level is mainly around the capital Nairobi. This area can produce 6-7 crops of flowers a year, focusing on yield. The planting areas at 1900 meters above sea level are distributed on the shores of Lake Naivasha. It can produce 6 crops of flowers in a year, and it is also mainly high-yield; while high-quality, long production cycle is concentrated in high altitude areas above 2400, with only 3-4 flowers in a year, and the yield is low.
Twenty years ago, planting sheds in Kenya were low wooden sheds. Now they are all 5-meter-high steel frame greenhouses with windows on the top for ventilation and permanently open. All farm greenhouse films use functional films, mainly of two types, one is anti-ultraviolet film and the other is astigmatism film. The function of the functional film is to prevent red roses from scorching and turning black, and to show the best color of the variety. It also has the functions of heat preservation, ultraviolet shielding, and sulfur prevention. The internal facilities are relatively simple, basically similar to the greenhouses of some new farmers in China. Due to the better climate, intelligent automated greenhouse facilities are rarely used. The land in Kenya is fertile, and most companies use soil cultivation. Several companies have used soilless cultivation, but the results were not as effective as soil cultivation and they all returned to soil cultivation. Use a large amount of organic fertilizers and fertilize with scientific formulas, and pay attention to soil testing, which will be done almost every 3 to 6 months.

Kenya is located at the equator, with abundant sunshine and rain. The average annual temperature is between 18℃ and 24℃. Kenya is the fourth largest exporter of flowers in the world, especially around Lake Naivasha, which is 2,000 meters above sea level. Origin. Kenyan roses are popular around the world due to their large flower heads, long flowering period and bright colors. In recent years, China has become the fastest growing consumer market for Kenyan rose exports. With the opening of direct flights from Kenya to major cities in China, Kenyan flowers have shown strong competitiveness in the Chinese market.
How can this African country with unstable local security and insufficient production conditions become the world’s fourth largest flower exporter? Recently, the author interviewed Yang Qikun, the cut flower variety agent of the French Mayon Group in China, who recently visited Kenya. From the perspective of producers, the author looked at how Kenya’s rose planting industry developed.

Q: What is the overall situation of flower cultivation in Kenya? What are the greenhouse facilities like?

A: Most flower companies in Kenya are European flower companies, and their production is mainly used to supply the European market. Most of the production facilities and standards adopt the European system. There are planting bases from 1500 meters to 2400 meters above sea level. The 1500 meters above sea level is mainly around the capital Nairobi. This area can produce 6-7 crops of flowers a year, focusing on yield. The planting areas at 1900 meters above sea level are distributed on the shores of Lake Naivasha. It can produce 6 crops of flowers in a year, and it is also mainly high-yield; while high-quality, long production cycle is concentrated in high altitude areas above 2400, with only 3-4 flowers in a year, and the yield is low.
Twenty years ago, planting sheds in Kenya were low wooden sheds. Now they are all 5-meter-high steel frame greenhouses with windows on the top for ventilation and permanently open. All farm greenhouse films use functional films, mainly of two types, one is anti-ultraviolet film and the other is astigmatism film. The function of the functional film is to prevent red roses from scorching and turning black, and to show the best color of the variety. It also has the functions of heat preservation, ultraviolet shielding, and sulfur prevention. The internal facilities are relatively simple, basically similar to the greenhouses of some new farmers in China. Due to the better climate, intelligent automated greenhouse facilities are rarely used. The land in Kenya is fertile, and most companies use soil cultivation. Several companies have used soilless cultivation, but the results were not as effective as soil cultivation and they all returned to soil cultivation. Use a large amount of organic fertilizers and fertilize with scientific formulas, and pay attention to soil testing, which will be done almost every 3 to 6 months.

Q: How is field production management? What points are worth learning?

A: In Kenya, the production area of a flower company is at least about 150 acres, and for large companies, it is thousands of acres. Since labor is relatively cheap and far lower than China’s minimum wage level, there will be many workers on the production farm, with dedicated people doing specialized tasks, a clear division of labor, and a standardized and process-based production management model.
Most farms use grafted seedlings. The root system of grafted seedlings will be more developed and the variety characteristics will be better maintained. Usually, a company plants about 15 acres of one variety. Each company has a shed to test the characteristics of new varieties, and adjust production and management methods based on the growth characteristics of the varieties.
The root system of grafted seedlings is more developed, and the plants will be healthier.
In terms of production, Kenya has advantages over us in terms of labor force, soil, climate conditions, etc. However, we have a stable public security environment, an emerging flower consumption market, and a self-sufficient entire industry chain supporting technology, talents, facilities, agricultural supplies, etc. . Yunnan has a vertical three-dimensional climate, with different climate conditions at different altitudes, making Yunnan the flower production area with the most production methods in the world. We have mastered the technology of soil-grown cut flowers more than ten years ago, but we do not have a professional soil testing agency, and the testing service fee is very high. In Europe, the cost of soil testing does not exceed 600 yuan. In addition, the attitude of growers in my country towards soil is also different. Most soil growers do not nourish the soil. Salinization problems will occur after a few years of planting on a piece of land, and then they will directly change the land for cultivation. The quality of the soil is directly related to Determine the amount of output.
It is worth mentioning that the fields of every farm in Kenya are very clean and cleaned every day, and there are no dead branches or leaves among the soil. When I visited the base, I was very impressed by the broom on the ground. This sense of detailed management is relatively lacking in our country.

Q: Does Kenya strictly follow European standards for post-harvest processing?

A: Post-harvest treatment is the most critical part of high-quality roses. In China, only corporatized rose production companies do a good job in post-harvest treatment, but in Kenya it is something every flower company must do. Within 10 minutes after picking the flowers, put them into a flower bucket with a preservative at least 60 cm deep for pre-cooling and water absorption. The function of the deep water is to use water pressure to allow the flowers to absorb enough water.
Then the flowers will be sent to the cold storage for pre-cooling to remove the field heat. Packing will begin 6-8 hours later. Finally, the flowers will be packed in the cold storage and sent to the airport for full cold chain transportation. Some companies will also do “pressure difference pre-conditioning” at the airport. “Cold”, this technology can further reduce the temperature inside the box, making the temperature inside the flower consistent with the temperature of the cold chain environment outside, and doing its best to extend the vase period of the flowers.
They also use pools to store flowers, but the pools are cleaned and disinfected every day, and the flower packaging workshops also need to be cleaned and disinfected every day. The equipment is not as advanced as in Europe, and the post-harvest workshops of some farms are not as good as those of some large domestic cut flower companies. , but basic post-harvest procedures and standards are strictly followed.

Q: What do you think is the difference between our flowers and Kenya’s?

A: As the largest exporter of flowers in Africa, Kenya’s flower industry is second only to tourism and tea, and is an important pillar of Kenya’s export economy. In 2017, the Kenyan flower market hit a record of US$820 million, an increase of 20% from the previous year. The Kenya Flower Council has also stated that an important reason for trade growth is the demand for flowers in China and Asian markets. It can be seen that the market is around us, we do not lack the market, we lack good products, the gap between us still lies in the issue of production awareness, and we have not completely treated flowers as a commodity. Our rose production technology is very mature, and there are many flower-growing experts in Yunnan. Why is it that the proportion of A and B-grade flowers in a production base is still smaller than the proportion of C and D-grade flowers? Our scientific planting technology and detailed management awareness are still insufficient, and standardized production and logistics are not yet in place.
In the past two years, there has been a boom in new varieties, and Yunnan, China, no longer has a shortage of varieties, and even has a surplus of varieties. The sudden increase in new varieties has caused production bases to follow the trend and replace another new variety before they have figured out the production characteristics of one variety. From another level, it is impossible to guarantee the proportion of high-quality products.
In addition, there are many problems in rose cultivation in Kenya. For example, the use of grafted seedlings will increase the incidence of root nodule. Root nodule is currently a serious problem in Kenyan rose production. Root nodule is highly contagious and difficult to solve.

Q: How is field production management? What points are worth learning?

A: In Kenya, the production area of a flower company is at least about 150 acres, and for large companies, it is thousands of acres. Since labor is relatively cheap and far lower than China’s minimum wage level, there will be many workers on the production farm, with dedicated people doing specialized tasks, a clear division of labor, and a standardized and process-based production management model.
Most farms use grafted seedlings. The root system of grafted seedlings will be more developed and the variety characteristics will be better maintained. Usually, a company plants about 15 acres of one variety. Each company has a shed to test the characteristics of new varieties, and adjust production and management methods based on the growth characteristics of the varieties.
The root system of grafted seedlings is more developed, and the plants will be healthier.
In terms of production, Kenya has advantages over us in terms of labor force, soil, climate conditions, etc. However, we have a stable public security environment, an emerging flower consumption market, and a self-sufficient entire industry chain supporting technology, talents, facilities, agricultural supplies, etc. . Yunnan has a vertical three-dimensional climate, with different climate conditions at different altitudes, making Yunnan the flower production area with the most production methods in the world. We have mastered the technology of soil-grown cut flowers more than ten years ago, but we do not have a professional soil testing agency, and the testing service fee is very high. In Europe, the cost of soil testing does not exceed 600 yuan. In addition, the attitude of growers in my country towards soil is also different. Most soil growers do not nourish the soil. Salinization problems will occur after a few years of planting on a piece of land, and then they will directly change the land for cultivation. The quality of the soil is directly related to Determine the amount of output.

It is worth mentioning that the fields of every farm in Kenya are very clean and cleaned every day, and there are no dead branches or leaves among the soil. When I visited the base, I was very impressed by the broom on the ground. This sense of detailed management is relatively lacking in our country.

Q: Does Kenya strictly follow European standards for post-harvest processing?

A: Post-harvest treatment is the most critical part of high-quality roses. In China, only corporatized rose production companies do a good job in post-harvest treatment, but in Kenya it is something every flower company must do. Within 10 minutes after picking the flowers, put them into a flower bucket with a preservative at least 60 cm deep for pre-cooling and water absorption. The function of the deep water is to use water pressure to allow the flowers to absorb enough water.
Then the flowers will be sent to the cold storage for pre-cooling to remove the field heat. Packing will begin 6-8 hours later. Finally, the flowers will be packed in the cold storage and sent to the airport for full cold chain transportation. Some companies will also do “pressure difference pre-conditioning” at the airport. “Cold”, this technology can further reduce the temperature inside the box, making the temperature inside the flower consistent with the temperature of the cold chain environment outside, and doing its best to extend the vase period of the flowers.

They also use pools to store flowers, but the pools are cleaned and disinfected every day, and the flower packaging workshops also need to be cleaned and disinfected every day. The equipment is not as advanced as in Europe, and the post-harvest workshops of some farms are not as good as those of some large domestic cut flower companies. , but basic post-harvest procedures and standards are strictly followed.

Q: What do you think is the difference between our flowers and Kenya’s?

A: As the largest exporter of flowers in Africa, Kenya’s flower industry is second only to tourism and tea, and is an important pillar of Kenya’s export economy. In 2017, the Kenyan flower market hit a record of US$820 million, an increase of 20% from the previous year. The Kenya Flower Council has also stated that an important reason for trade growth is the demand for flowers in China and Asian markets. It can be seen that the market is around us, we do not lack the market, we lack good products, the gap between us still lies in the issue of production awareness, and we have not completely treated flowers as a commodity. Our rose production technology is very mature, and there are many flower-growing experts in Yunnan. Why is it that the proportion of A and B-grade flowers in a production base is still smaller than the proportion of C and D-grade flowers? Our scientific planting technology and detailed management awareness are still insufficient, and standardized production and logistics are not yet in place.
In the past two years, there has been a boom in new varieties, and Yunnan, China, no longer has a shortage of varieties, and even has a surplus of varieties. The sudden increase in new varieties has caused production bases to follow the trend and replace another new variety before they have figured out the production characteristics of one variety. From another level, it is impossible to guarantee the proportion of high-quality products.
In addition, there are many problems in rose cultivation in Kenya. For example, the use of grafted seedlings will increase the incidence of root nodule. Root nodule is currently a serious problem in Kenyan rose production. Root nodule is highly contagious and difficult to solve.