One of the most important greenhouse production centers in Turkey, the city of Antalya also takes the lead in cut flower production. Yasin Baskurt, who grows 7 different kinds of cut flowers in an area of 20 hectares in Antalya's Kundu district, said that 9 million stems of the 10 million stems they produce annually are exported.
Stating that the production of ranunculus is difficult and risky, Yasin Baskurt stated that it is produced only in Antalya in Turkey and added:
"Ranunculus is the most difficult variety to grow. Because it does not like the heat, and the cold comes late. It is not resistant to transport either. It is not known in the domestic market very well. It is produced only in Antalya in, Turkey. Nobody wants to produce it because it is risky.
We have been growing flowers for 20 years on an area of 20 hectares. We produce 7 varieties of flowers. Ornithogalum, ranunculus, dianthus green trick, anemone, carnation, and dianthus barbatus. We have ranunculus in our greenhouse right now. It is a winter flower. In September, we shock it for a month in cold weather. It sprouts there. We plant it in the field at the beginning of October. After 60 days, the harvest begins, and the harvest ends in this period. At the end of April, the harvest is completed."
Noting that ranunculus is not very well-known in the domestic market, Baskurt said, "We harvested 100,000 stems per 1,000 square meters from the ranunculus we planted on an area of 1.5 hectares. 90% of the sales are abroad. The Netherlands and Germany are among the leading countries that we are exporting to. The sale price is around 0.18 USD per stem. Domestically, it is sold to Istanbul and Izmir. It is not widely known in the country and is not known because it is a very special flower. Carnation and daisy are preferred more in the country."
Stating that the season has been completed in ranunculus, Baskurt said, "Right now, the ornithogalum flower is harvested. It is a bulbous flower. It can live in a vase for a month without water. It looks like a hyacinth. It is exported for about 0.45 USD per stem. It is an expensive flower. This is also not well-known in our country."
Source: Memleket