In the spotlights
Most pepper varieties are used in the kitchen. But this exclusive product is also becoming increasingly popular for florists. Not for consumption, but you can make the most beautiful arrangements with it. Rijk de Jong, from nursery Rich Luxury Flowers told us more about it.
Modern seasonal grower
Rijk grew up on the farm of his parents, who ran a dairy farm. His brothers stayed in this profession, but Rijk found his uncles' work much more interesting. They cultivated flowers. At his parents’ farm, he started on a piece of land with flowers outside. He was able to buy his current location nine years ago, allowing him to grow both indoors and outdoors. Rijk is a seasonal grower, specializing in special and exclusive products in the high segment.
In the spotlights
The most famous Capsicum annuum variety is the bell pepper. This is clearly reflected in the shape of the fruit. Cayenne pepper and chili pepper are also in this family. The Capsicum annuum Xmas is naturally very popular at Christmas. The large deep red fruits have an enormously high ornamental value. In an exclusive Christmas arrangement or luxury bouquet it is a valuable addition. A loose branch in a vase with some lights already gives a beautiful atmosphere. The Capsicum is a real eye catcher in large bouquets because the fruits are large and striking. Capsicum annuum Xmas is very strong, as a florist you can work with it for a long time. It really is a valuable addition to the Christmas assortment.
Edible or not
We naturally wondered if you could also use these attractive red peppers in a delicious Christmas dish. "Yes, you can eat them, but they are very spicy," was Rijk's answer. "They are also not sprayed, so it is possible". Yet he does not recommend eating these peppers. They are not grown for consumption, so there may be something in the crop that the grower does not know about. They have not been tested for this.
The cultivation
Rijk started the Capsicum cultivation three years ago. The breeder, Jan Noordam, knew a somewhat older grower who wanted to stop this cultivation and asked if Rijk was interested. Rijk liked growing beautiful exclusive products and decided to take over the cultivation.
Schedule
In terms of cultivation, the Capsicum fitted very well in his planning. Rijk works with a number of permanent staff, for which he is very grateful. In the spring there is plenty of work in the ranunculus, in the fall the attention is on the Chrysanthemums. Once this cultivation is finished, he can use all his staff for the Capsicum.
The plants go into the greenhouse by the end of May. It is important that the plants first develop a good length. Beautiful long branched stems are the basis for a beautiful product. Originally the crop comes from South America, so they grow especially well at a somewhat warmer temperature.
The plant makes the first blossom in mid-July. Each flower produces a fruit that ultimately becomes the decorative value of the product. The first branches can be cut in mid-October, although the fruit is still really green at that time.
The biggest challenge is providing the right amount of water. With too much water, the stems will become too long and you will not get a nice compact full branch. If the plant does not get enough water, the branches remain too short. He must continue to closely monitor the state of the crop and what it needs.
Lots of manual work
The branches grow in the greenhouse with a lot of leaves. The leaves diminish the decorative value of this fantastic product and must therefore be removed before the branches can be sold. This undoubtedly is most of the work in this cultivation. The Capsicum is hung on a hook per branch, after which all the leaves are removed manually.
Rich luxury flowers
When Rijk started his company 15 years ago, he wanted to specialize in special products. He wanted to distinguish himself from other seasonal growers by growing modern and exclusive products. According to him, this has been much more successful than he had dared to hope. He sets high standards for his cultivation process in order to guarantee high quality to wholesalers and florists. Surprising the consumer with the beauty of seasonal flowers is what he enjoys daily at his nursery.
But ... entrepreneurship is thinking ahead, creating opportunities and looking for opportunities. Rijk would like to specialize further and expand with new exclusive products. He also believes that optimizing existing products is very important. For example, he had a special packaging made of a kind of fleece fabric for the ranunculus. This is very beneficial for the transport of the ranunculus. This substance condenses much less and it is also biodegradable.
After fifteen years, Rijk thought it was time for a new logo! While working on the design with someone, it was immediately suggested to continue under a new name. Rich Luxury Flowers was created. Rijk continues with a new website, new logo and new look; luxury, exclusivity, niche products.
FloraPodium, 28 November 2019
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