Effect of storage temperature on the quality of edible flowers

Five species of edible flowers were stored in polyethylene bags at -2.5 to 20 degreesC. Flowers were rated for visual quality each day for 2 weeks on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest quality). Viola tricolor L. 'Helen Mount' (viola), V x wittrockiana L. 'Accord Banner Clear Mixture' (pansy), and Tropaeolum majus L. 'Jewel Mix' (nasturtium) flowers showed similar losses in quality and were all rated a 5 when stored at 0 and 2.5 degreesC after 2 weeks. Borago officinalis L. (borage) stored at 0-5 degreesC were marketable, rated a 3 or higher, after 1 week, and those stored at -2.5 degreesC were still marketable after 2 weeks. Phaseolus coccineus L. 'Dwarf Bees' (scarlet runner bean) flowers when stored at 0-10 degreesC were still marketable after 1 week, but were unmarketable after 2 weeks, at any temperature. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.