Earlier this month saw the first nationwide bedding plant day by DLV GreenQ place at the Improvement Centre of DLV GreenQ in Bleiswijk. A well-attended afternoon with over 50 participants. Growers and suppliers were updated on the latest developments in bedding plant cultivation. Companies Chrysal, SurfaPlus and Quick Plug were present to keep growers in the loop.
The first presentation was hosted by Chrysal. Chrysal is working hard on improving the shelf life of bedding plants and reducing failure rate in the chain. Chrysal took the opportunity to introduce some new products. Evaporation inhibitor Vapor Seal; Ethylene Buster to prevent the formation of ethylene in the chain, and a wood-fiber mat to moisturize plants.
The presentation was followed by a workshop by SurfaPlus. Citing several examples in various bedding plants, SurfaPlus, a company that develops, tests and sells adjuvants for agrochemicals, demonstrated how adjuvants work and the savings that can be achieved with applying them.
After the break there was a tour of various trials in the Improvement Centre, such as recirculation by Amaryllis, 100% LED with tomato, creating the Perfect Rose, a new cultivation system with Lisianthus and winter strawberry production under LED lighting.
Then Ep Heuvelink, researcher at Wageningen University, spoke on all aspects of light. The relationships between light and compactness and growth were discussed in detail.
The last workshop was held by DLV GreenQ crop advisors Martijn Gevers and Peter Keijzer. They presented all the interesting research in the area of hormones, decontamination, rooting and mildew.