In the spotlights
Fashion and trends are constantly changing. So do the flowers! What used to be hip is now completely out of fashion. But it could also be that the trend of the past is now completely hot again. We see this in the current dried flower segment. Vintage weddings, dried flower bouquets with Mother's Day, everything is possible again. As a grower you face the challenge of responding to each trend in time! We visited Gert-Jan van Delft, a real seasonal grower. He told us all about his cultivation and in particular the Limonium Suworowii!
Family history
Gert-Jan has been spoon-fed with growing flowers. His grandfather started as a breeder in 1915. With a small piece of land and with his bare hands he grew a few summer flowers. When his sons (Gert-Jan's father and uncle) joined the company in the 60’s, they moved to their current location. After Gert-Jan's uncle passed away, his cousin (who had also joined over the years) left the company. Gert-Jan then continued with his father until his father died in 1995. Today Gert-Jan runs the company together with his wife Thea and they still grow several different summer flowers.
In the spotlights
Gert-Jan and Thea showed us a huge assortment during our visit, during which they singled out the Limonium Suworowii, also called loosestrife. Because this flower is only supplied during a few weeks every year, the cultivation is usually over before the market has become aware of it’s existence. That is actually a real pity; because of her elegant plume, she is really a very nice addition to the florists’ range. And t he flower fits very well in the current trend of field bouquets.
Dried bouquets are back in fashion. Not only in the Biedermeier form as it used to be, but especially in a modern look. Big, bold and extravagant. And for those who can't go crazy enough, all the drying material can be painted in the happiest colors. The nice thing about Limonium Suworowii is that this flower is also easy to dry. You can enjoy it not only as a fresh cut flower, but even longer as a dried flower.
For Gert-Jan, the choice of a particular crop is made based on several factors. The flower must not only be nice or beautiful, the cultivation of the flower must also match the rest of his crop and must fit into the system. This is because Gert-Jan and Thea have no staff and they have to do everything around the nursery together!
The cultivation
Not that easy
Growing from seed seems very easy, but there it still involves a lot. Often they are very small fine seeds. It is very difficult to get the correct dose with a seeder. Gert-Jan and Thea do the sowing in the old-fashioned way. The seed is weighed and then mixed with sand. They draw small trenches from one side to the other side of the greenhouse where the seeds mixed with sand are then scattered. Every process is a matter of trial and error. Some varieties need to be germinated. That is, you first germinate in pure sand until it becomes a very small germ. This is a very tricky process; planting one day late can be too late. There are also varieties that need some soil to be added after sowing, and there are varieties that would not grow if you do that; light-bred germs.
“Our way of growing is great fun and very varied, but there is also a lot of pioneering involved. The seed houses only supply the seed, they don’t offer a user manual. Every single time it’s learning by trial and error. Sowing earlier, sowing later… So in the end, I may not be doing everything right, but by growing different crops on a small scale, I’m able to spread the risk.”
Seasonal grower
Because Gert-Jan is a true seasonal grower, he does not have a year round production. He starts sowing in January and February. The first flowers can then be cut in April. His season then runs until October / November. Then the light gets less and the temperatures go down. "By that time it just takes too much effort to continue, so it’s better to stop. Demand will also lessen, so this is a good time to take a break."
Gert-Jan talks enthusiastically about every single crop. For example, he has a greenhouse with Helichrysum with four colors; a very old-fashioned herb with a sweet little flower that has also become very popular again recently. Very hip and ideal for the dried flower sector. Gert-Jan explains that the flowers of this herb used to be broken off and put on a stick. Now the flowers are delivered fresh and just like the Suworowii it is nice to dry them after a vase life.
We really enjoyed getting to know Gert-Jan and Thea and their passion for summer flowers. We hope to be able to show much more of Gert-Jan’s nursery in the future. We know he has a few very interesting crops planned in the autumn. We will definitely keep an eye out!
FloraPodium, 28 May 2020
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