Yield and Postharvest Drying of Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, and Cosmos sulphureus for the Production of Natural Yellow and Orange Dyes

Returning to naturally dyed fiber is a recent trend in fashion and textile industries. In this study, three species ( Tagetes erecta , Tagetes patula , and Cosmos sulphureus ) were assessed for both fresh and dried natural dye material production as a potential crop diversification. Eleven cultivars across species were planted in three different sites and harvested over the course of 8 weeks to determine promising species and cultivars for commercial production. Additionally, the efficiency of four postharvest drying methods was assessed. Results demonstrated that T. erecta INCA II ‘Primrose’ and ‘Deep Orange’ produced the highest volume of dried material per plant, and the optimal drying methods were convection oven or shadecloth in a greenhouse environment.