Outdoor Cultivation of Dianthus caryophyllus

For Dianthus caryophyllus in open ground, it is critical to select sites with fertile, neutral, and well-aerated soil, as the plant cannot tolerate waterlogging. The crop is often cultivated as an annual or a conditional perennial, requiring hilling and covering with spruce branches or straw mats when there is a risk of winter freezing.

Cultivation technology includes pinching the stem apex for better branching and the use of 4–5 levels of mesh supports, which are necessary to prevent lodging of flower stems for cut flower production. Depending on the cultivar group, either disbudding is used to obtain a large solitary flower, or the central bud is removed to stimulate the development of side shoots.

Vegetation in open ground is strictly tied to seasonal weather conditions, unlike in controlled greenhouse environments. To ensure product quality, preference is given to Spray-type carnations, as large-flowered standard varieties demonstrate high sensitivity to excessive atmospheric precipitation.