In the spotlights
The Sonneveld brothers have been busy with their production for a few months now, but the Hydrangea (classic) season is just getting off to a good start for the market! Hydrangeas come in many different colors, sizes, types and shapes. These flowers are extremely popular worldwide and can therefore be used in many ways at weddings, events or as decoration at home.
Sonneveld Hydrangea
Piet, Henk and Steve Sonneveld are three brothers from a horticultural family. Their grandfather, father and uncles grew vegetables. In the late 1990s, a small corner of hydrangea was introduced. Ten years later, when vegetables became more and more mass-produced, many growers decided to switch to floriculture. It wasn’t a difficult choice for the Sonneveld brothers; in 2007, they said goodbye to the peppers and the specialism in growing hydrangeas was continued.
Today, the brothers grow a wide range of hydrangeas on 6.5 hectares from March to January. Five years ago, Helleborus cultivation was added, which with a production from December to March fits in very nicely with the resting period of the hydrangea.
Test beds
Henk took us for a tour of the greenhouse. We took a look at the test beds where Henk enthusiastically explained how selecting a future variety works. The most important thing is not to hesitate to get rid of lesser varieties. Only varieties that really offer added value in all areas, i.e. growth, cultivation, color, vase life, etc., are scaled up and continue to the next selection. It takes at least five to six years before a variety can be put on the market.
Light my Fire
One of the new varieties that Sonneveld Hydrangea has this year is 'Light my Fire'; a special colored hydrangea that caught our eye right away during the tour. Light my Fire has a multicolored sphere, which is really indescribable. White/green petals with a fiery red edge, which becomes even fierier in the classic variety. Truly a variety with added value!
The brothers have a few beds of this variety and the first cut has already been cut. Nevertheless, the plant is already well on its way to getting ready for the next cut, which Henk expects to take place in a month or two.
Cultivation
Stubborn plants
Today, growers can control the climate in the greenhouse very accurately. However, the hydrangea is a bit stubborn, making it impossible to supply year-round production. Hydrangeas go dormant in winter. They stop growing and drop their leaves. The shoots that are created in the autumn lignify in the winter and as soon as the greenhouse is heated up again in January, the branch continues to grow. If these early varieties are harvested in time, they can be cut a second time later in the year. Some varieties are suitable for early cutting, others are not.
Wow factor
Piet, Henk and Steve find it important to be able to provide the market with a wide range. Of the early varieties, which are cut from March to July, the brothers have several compartments with many different colors. Their aim is to be able to offer the broadest possible package over a broad period of time. “Flowers arouse emotion, if someone sees a bunch it must have a 'wow factor', otherwise people will leave it”, says Henk. “We want this wow factor to be reflected in our flowers and that has been happening since getting started. Harvesting, processing, sorting, cart filling; the whole picture just has to be right”!
FloraPodium, 30 June 2022
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