ABSTRACT The cut stem quality of Chrysanthemum varieties (Yellow Delight, Reagan Emperor, Reagan White, Shova and Punjab Shyamli) were evaluated in response to photoperiodic manipulations through Early planting (P1), Early planting with artificial short days (SDs) (P2) and Normal planting (P3). Cut stem length increased by 25.54% under P2 (79.77 cm) as compared to P3 (59.40 cm), whereas the number of flowers remained at par. Planting time and artificial SDs significantly influenced biochemical and morphological differentials. Membrane stability index (78.21), total soluble sugars (87.29 mg g−1 FW), total soluble proteins (90.85 mg g−1 FW), proline (17.57 mg g−1 FW) and peroxidase activity (16.37 Δ in absorbance min−1 g−1 FW) of Yellow Delight under P2 contributed to 1.39 times increase in its cut stem length over P3 and made it fit for P1 and P2 planting. Punjab Shyamli and Reagan Emperor exhibited luxuriant vegetative growth, whereas quality of Reagan White and Shova improved under P2. Principal component analysis revealed that days to bud initiation, days to flowering, peroxidase activity, membrane stability index, proline at bud initiation and cut stem length contributed significantly to variation (60.48%) among treatments. Moreover, cut stem length, correlated positively with days to bud initiation and flowering, TSS and peroxidase activity, leaf area and SLA, suggesting their importance in breeding for off-season flowering and quality enhancement.