Florida’s freezing temperatures impact caladium bulb availability

Caladium bulb grower Terri Cantwell of Bates Sons & Daughters in Lake Placid, Fla., said the freezing temperatures that occurred across the state in January had an impact on the bulbs being harvested. She said there has been a slight increase in bulb rot and the yields of some varieties have been affected. She said availability of most pink and white varieties, with the exception of Rosebud, is very good. Yields of Gingerland and Freida Hemple and most reds were in short supply before the freezes.
Cantwell said that employees handling the bulbs harvested after the freeze have been diligent in their efforts to discard any bulbs that show symptoms of rot. The bulbs are inspected when they are washed, counted and before they are packed in shipping boxes.
Cantwell said prior to the freezing temperatures the yields of most varieties were looking very good.
“After the hurricanes hit in 2004, we have not had a bumper crop since then,” she said. “This year before the freezing temperatures came we had some varieties finally producing like they should. There’s nothing wrong with the quality of the bulbs we are shipping. It’s just that the yield per acre is going to be slightly below normal from what we were expecting.”