Customers tell

Nursery Dirk Mermans in Belgium specialises in large houseplants, such as Philondendron and Strelitzia. It is even the market leader in Monstera Variegata. Some 400,000 plants are delivered in Europe on potting soil and hydroponics. So many large plants require a lot of greenhouse space, so area is being added again. When the new greenhouse is ready, some of the plants will move and work can be done in a different way.

"From brush to customer, we sometimes say"

Amigo Plant breeds, propagates and grows some 60 varieties of succulents, from Heerhugowaard and Portugal, 30 of which have Breeders’ Rights in Europe and North America. Annually around 20 million plants are sold. Remarkable in this respect is that Amigo Plant literally does everything itself, from growing to building internal conveyor systems.

"Choose resilient growing with a strawberry plant that has good roots and is less susceptible to disease."

Asked about the change to resilient growing, Jos Filippini (manager at Thwan van Gennip c.s) replies "that it is going in the right direction if you have good plants that you help become resilient with fertilisers or biostimulants."

“We should be more accepting of a little less growth”

Henry van Eldik starts mainly with himself. He is trying to grow trees more consciously and sustainably at Betuwe Group. By going back to closer to nature, you get a less disease-prone crop and it gives him a better feeling anyway to work with biostimulants and natural fertilisers.

“It shouldn’t be too easy to grow good seed potatoes, or everyone will be able to do it."

Arjan and Gerald Maters grew up on the arable farm founded by their grandfather in 1968. The brothers were certain that they wanted 'to be farmers later on'. Their father's illness in 2007 meant that everything moved very fast. Arjan was in the last year of his intermediate vocational course in arable farming, contract work and mechanics, while Gerald was yet to begin at the Van Hall Institute in Leeuwarden.

“The soil might contain substances we don't know about yet"

De Schutter's father and grandfather came to Vierhuizen in 1970. At that time they lived in the Biesbosch region, in an area that had been designated as a drinking water reservoir. Farms in Groningen were there for the taking... They sometimes spent as long as five years on the market before finding a buyer. The Lauwersmeer had already been reclaimed. 

"Timely efforts to increase plant resilience always pays off"

Henry Rodenburg met Alwin Scholten from PlantoSys five years ago throug a dealer in Russia. For Henry, working in Russia is pretty much business as usual. He spends four to six wees at a time working there, and then spends a week back in the Netherlands. In Russia, Henry works as a cultivation advisor for midi-cucumbers, in an 80-hectare garden.

"We will, of course, continue with PlantoSys"

De Wijnmakers in The Netherlands make wines to celebrate moments when together. At home or at one of their vineyards. De Wijnmakers pour ‘wines with a story" during a workshop, wine tasting event or culinary event. De Wijnmakers recently celebrated their own moment after having been awarded gold and silver with their first production from 2018. 

"The sober approach of PlantoSys takes us further"

It was not so obvious at all for the three sons of a pig farmer/asparagus grower to take over the company. “Too small, obsolete”: it did not really appeal. They converted it into a flower and plant nursery. A daring change because they did not have any experience. However, with some experimenting and after having paid the required tuition fees, the nursery has grown to become a prosperous business.

"I do not keep a beady eye on everything, but I know exactly what is going on"

Together with his sister-in-law, Hannie, Sebastiaan Hoogenraad is in charge of the day-to-day management of Hoogenraad Handelskwekerijen. This also means he is responsible for growing more than five million plants a year.

"Others also notice the good root formation"

Kwekerij Olsthoorn & Zn. specialises in growing kalanchoe and Calandiva®: a plant that needs little care and water. In other words, an ideal easy to keep plant. Even for everyday consumers who do not have green fingers. Thousands are potted every week to subsequently be given a place on a window sill or in a garden in the Netherlands or far away.