Growing Calla Lilly bulbs in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

Calla Lilies are ornamental plants grown for their coloured flowers. The Calla Lilies are monocots and belong to the family Aracea and the genus Zantedeschia. The leaves of most of the varieties are rather big and have the form of a heart. These plants grow best in humid environments and in soils rich in organic matter. Calla lilies are indeed a high value crop in the floriculture industry if well cultured. At the Research and Development Centre, Għammieri various trials were and are being made using seeds and bulbs of different sizes. Bulbs were sown in different areas i.e in fields, in the greenhouse and in pots. The trials on these cut flowers were suggested by Mr. Aad Prins, an expert bulb grower from Holland. He grows these bulbs in his country but in our country he thinks that the product will be 4 months ahead therefore it will fetch higher prices. According to Aad Prins the Zantedeschia have the same needs as potatoes and when he came to know that in Malta potatoes are grown without any difficulties, he thought that callas could also perform well in Malta. He sent a proposal to the Director of Agriculture who accepted the offer. The bulbs and seeds used during the experimentation were donated free of charge. The trials done at the Government Farm are listed hereunder, and a detailed explanation can be seen in the chapters to follow:- 1. Trials with Bulbs in large Field 2. Trial with Bulbs in small Field 3. Trials with flowering Bulbs in Greenhouse 4. Trials with Large Flowering Bulbs in Greenhouse 5. Trials with Seeds in trays in Greenhouse. 6. Trials with plantlets in field 7. Replanting of bulbs

The aim of growing Calla Lilies in the Maltese Islands is to grow bulbs large enough ready to produce flowers. In Holland seeds will take up to four years for the first bulbs to begin flowering