UK: Overwintered perennials create new market opportunities
Familiar herbaceous perennials have shown potential to be overwintered to encourage flowering earlier in the season, without the use of any special equipment or techniques other than the application of heat, which could provide growers with a new marketing window.
Scabious, campanula and silene all have potential to be market-ready for early March, if grown under glass with some heat.
Photo: Jill England, ADAS: Early Perennials
The trials have been conducted at the Bedding and Pot Plant Centre, which is funded by AHDB and aims to create new product opportunities and develop practical solutions to problems encountered on nurseries.
Commenting on the trials, Mike Smith, member of the management group for the Bedding and Pot Plant Centre from W D Smith & Son nurseries said, “As soon as the temperatures begin to warm up many people are itching to get into the gardens, yet most traditional summer bedding lines are still relatively tender. We often sell lines with the warnings of protecting from frost. The modern gardener doesn’t want to be worrying about fleecing plants, they want instant colour and want to plant it straight away.
“Garden centres are increasingly becoming days out with coffee shops and play areas, so we see customers all year round, they may not necessarily be filling their pots and containers, but if something is looking great, they can become impulse sales”.
Jill England, Horticulture Consultant at ADAS said, “The aim of the trials was to increase the range of products available for marketing in early spring as impulse purchases, using herbaceous perennials that don’t naturally flower at this time of year.
We’re now working with the industry to see how we can further develop this work with other crops or through exploring new temperature regimes and different potting dates.”
Growers are invited to attend the Bedding and Pot Plant Centre summer open day on 20 June 2017 to catch up with this trial and many others that are taking place at the centre. The event will be an opportunity to comment on and contribute to current and future projects, and there will be a BBQ in the evening where growers can network. To book your place, visit horticulture.ahdb.org.uk/events