At Aldo BV in Dongen, they are currently busy with preparations for the upcoming growing season. "For the greenhouse vegetable crops, we drive around 150 tons of compost per hectare into our greenhouses each year. For this task, we developed a machine in 2018 that can drive over the pipe rail, preventing us from compacting the planting bed. In this way, we can drive in about 80 tons of compost per day with two people. We distribute the compost heap nicely over the planting bed with a 'rake' that we have mounted on the planting hole machine. What was a gigantic task in the first year has now become a hobby. Convenience serves man," says Alfons van den Hoek.
They have been growing organic greenhouse vegetables on the 3-hectare farm since 2016. "The first year, we grew tomatoes and cucumbers. Pepper cultivation was added in 2017. Due to energy developments, we decided to leave 15,000 square meters 'empty' this year. On that part, we have sown a green manure mixture," says Alfons.
On those 15,000 square meters (where the green manure has stood), they will grow vine tomatoes on 5,000 square meters, red and yellow block peppers on 5,000 square meters, and cucumbers will be grown on the remaining 5,000 square meters next year. "One part is rented out to LocalTea for the cultivation of organic tea. And one hectare will remain empty next season."
Check out the images of the compost and mulch driving in here.
For more information:
Alfons van den Hoek
Aldo BV
Klein Dongenseweg 81
5106 AB Dongen
Tel.: 06 22991698
[email protected]
www.aldobv.nl