Herbert Stolker Senior Consultant Africa

Africa and plastic

In some way or another, Africa and plastic formed a close relationship a long time ago. At the checkout, all your groceries are packed
Researchers are working on a nutritional regime in which the amount of feed and water given to the plants gradually decreases towards the end of cultivation

Finishing up leftovers – a model for zero-emission growing

Greenhouse horticulture will have to be virtually emission-free in ten years’ time. By 2027, European growers must ensure that their drainage water is completely
Blocked pipes can cause big problems. Using stabilised hydrogen peroxide keeps the system biofilm-free. The active substance stays active for a long time

Stabilised hydrogen peroxide cleans pipes efficiently and gently

Most growers in the Netherlands start increasing the dosage of irrigation water in April, which can cause serious problems in the watering system. That’s
Controlling the pH helps ensure better nutrient uptake which ultimately leads to consistent growth and production.

Well-balanced root environment ensures good nutrient uptake

When you’re growing green peppers, you have to be extra alert to changes in the growing conditions. Consistent EC levels and good pH control
with a smart watering strategy it is possible to reduce emissions to such an extent that there is no need to invest in costly cleaning equipment.

A smart watering strategy can reduce emissions to almost zero

The adage that every downside has an upside even applies to the regulations on discharges, which are becoming ever stricter. Full recirculation in sweet
With a newly developed measurement method, producers of blocking substrate can design new recipes with more predictable properties.

New measurement method makes soil block quality more predictable

Good soil blocks are not easy to make. Besides a good recipe, it’s the experience and skill of the people on the blocking line
Next step is to develop dynamic light recipes with the light colour adjusted to meet the needs of the plant at different times of the day or growth phase

First trial with dynamic light recipe in tomatoes ups production by 8%

There’s a lot of work going on into LED lighting at the moment. We already know from past research that light colour impacts on
Apart from investing heavily in automation, the German pot plant growers have also introduced three new sales concepts

New sales concepts give German pot plant growers strong market foothold

Wolfgang and André Ripkens have made a lot of progress in recent years. Apart from investing heavily in automation, the German pot plant growers
Spodoptera exigua caterpillar on a leaf

Tomato spurs caterpillars to cannibalism

A tomato that has optimised its defence mechanism against insects will not only suffer less damage from caterpillars, but will also incite caterpillars to
Scientists have been taking another close look at how to control this thrips with a range of species of predatory mites and bugs.

Controlling Echinothrips americanus with predatory mites and bugs

As every grower knows, thrips are a huge problem in ornamentals grown under glass. The usual suspect is the Californian thrips, a species with
Herbert Stolker Senior Consultant Africa

From open fields to tunnels

I am writing my second column having just returned to South Africa after two weeks in the Netherlands. It’s always good to keep in
The UK-based Flavourfresh Solfresh group has recently installed a 100% horticultural LED solution to achieve all-year-round production.

‘LED is greatest horticultural innovation since the invention of the tractor’

The Flavourfresh Solfresh group has the unwavering mission to be the most innovative and flavoursome tomato grower in the UK and beyond. The company
The pests Bemisia and tomato russet mite surfaced in large numbers in the tomato crop last year.

Growers alarmed by outbreaks of Bemisia and tomato russet mite

Several growing areas in the Netherlands and Belgium had to contend with them last year: Bemisia tabaci and tomato russet mite. These two pests
Influenced by the high cost of electricity, subsidies and the ageing of their previous systems, two Belgian nurseries installed hybrid top lighting.

Higher light level boosts yields, lost heat easy to make up for

Completely separately from one another, two Belgian rose growers with premises barely ten kilometres apart came to the conclusion that a combination of SON-T
The seaside resort of Chipiona in the south of Spain is a horticultural enclave with most small, extensive and non-mechanised nurseries

The Spanish government’s sustainability ambitions are a challenge for the future

The seaside resort of Chipiona in the south of Spain is a horticultural enclave with a character all of its own: cut flowers are
To meet the ever more stringent regulations and customer demands, it is becoming important for growers and breeders to optimise their use of raw materials.

Propagator makes optimal use of raw materials at new site

With the future regulations and the obligation to treat discharged water, making optimal use of raw materials is becoming an increasingly important issue for
The aim of the project was to optimise a vegetable crop by making use of the available scarce winter light.

Good cucumber yields in innovative Winterlight greenhouse

Last year the focus in the Dutch 2SaveEnergy greenhouse was on high-wire cucumbers. Over two production cycles, Wageningen University & Research investigated whether it
A range of new coated fertilisers is enabling growers of pot plants, bedding plants and soil-grown cut flowers to optimise fertilisation

Tailoring fertilisation for pot- and soil-grown crops gets easier

Some relatively new coated fertilisers are giving growers more options for optimising crop nutrition. Aspects taken on board in the development process included calcium
An innovative spray cabin has been developed which produces a fine, electrically charged spray mist. This provides highly homogeneous crop coverage and good pest control results with a very small quantity of spray solution.

New spraying technique improves hygiene and quality at Schreurs

Around two years ago, Dutch rose breeders Schreurs wanted to take their hygiene and quality control to a higher level. After setting up their
Big boost in tomato production with exact substrate measurements

Big boost in tomato production with exact substrate measurements

“Passion for perfection” – that’s Dutch tomato growers Schenkeveld’s slogan, and not without good reason. Production and quality are already at a very high