Varietal Evaluation of Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) under Mid-Hill Conditions of Thunag Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is one of the most important cut flower crops worldwide, valued for its colour diversity, long vase life, and suitability for commercial floriculture. Its successful cultivation, however, depends on varietal adaptability to specific agro-climatic conditions. Selection of appropriate carnation cultivars for mid-hill conditions is critical for maximizing cut-flower yield and marketability. The present investigation was conducted during 2021–22 in a farmer’s polyhouse at Thunag, Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh to evaluate the performance of eight standard carnation cultivars, namely Happy Golem, Liberty, Kleos, Dover, Gaudina, Baltico, Bizet and Dona. Observations were recorded on vegetative growth, floral traits, and keeping quality. The performance of eight commercial carnation varieties was evaluated under mid-hill conditions to identify superior cultivars for cut flower production. Significant variability was observed among cultivars. ‘Bizet’ exhibited superior vegetative vigour with maximum Plant height (97.36 cm), longest stems (81.47 cm), and highest number of leaves per plant (154.18). Conversely, ‘Kleos’ and ‘Liberty’ produced comparatively shorter plants and stems. In terms of flowering, ‘Bizet’ was the earliest to bloom (148.73 days), while ‘Gaudina’ was the latest (177 days). Flowering duration was longest in ‘Kleos’ (16.17 days) and shortest in ‘Dona’ (12.47 days). For yield attributes, ‘Liberty’ recorded the highest number of flowers per plant (6.72), followed by ‘Happy Golem’ (6.21), while ‘Dover’ produced the least (4.34) number of flowers. Flower diameter was maximum in ‘Dona’ (7.01 cm), followed by ‘Baltico’ (6.53 cm) and minimum (5.93) in Dover. Post-harvest quality, assessed through vase life, varied significantly: ‘Liberty’ exhibited the longest vase life (12.6 days), whereas ‘Bizet’ recorded the shortest (8.18 days). Overall, ‘Bizet’ performed best in terms of vegetative growth and early flowering, ‘Liberty’ was superior in yield and vase life, and ‘Dona’ excelled in flower size. These results suggest that ‘Liberty’ and ‘Dona’ are most suitable for commercial cultivation under mid-hill conditions of Thunag valley, while ‘Bizet’ may be preferred for earliness and vegetative vigour.