"A garden cut rose that acts like a standard cut rose"

The garden cut rose is known for its lower production and shorter shelf life and therefore growers often stick to the cultivation of the regular cut rose. Rose breeder Continental Breeding decided to improve the habits of the increasingly more demanded garden cut rose and came up with a new genetic line, named the Mayra's Rose. This rose is already being cultivated in South America and during the IFTEX, earlier this month, they promoted the first Kenyan grown Mayra's to the international buyers.

Juan Demian Requena, Pedro Requena and Avinash Mokate at the IFTEX 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Higher production and longer shelf life
According to Avinash Mokate of Continental Breeding, this cut rose opens like a garden rose and the production and shelf life is similar to any other cut rose. "Usually, the production and the shelf life of a garden rose is low. Now, one can enjoy this flower like any other cut rose as it no longer has a shelf life of 6 to 7 days", he says.

Six colors
Currently, the Mayra's roses are available in six colors; pink, green, white, peach, red and a brighter red. "The pink and white color seems to be very popular for weddings", he says.

Grown at Uhuru and Black Tulip
The Mayra's Rose has a niche market and currently, two growers in Kenya are cultivating this variety: Uhuru Flowers and Black Tulip Group. "At Uhuru 0.5 ha is planted with this variety and at Black Tulip 1 ha", says Mokate. During the IFTEX, their flowers were on display at the booth of Continental Breeding and attracted a lot of attention. "Many buyers brought their growers to our booth to show them the Mayra's Rose varieties", he adds.

Keeping it exclusive
"We want to keep this variety exclusive and in order to do this, we ask high royalties. But if the growers join our exclusive cluster, we can give them more trials", says Mokate.

For more information:
Continental Breeding
Avanish Mokate
Email: avinash@plantascontinental.com
www.plantascontinental.com