Hydrangea grower Wim Ammerlaan:
“They need to feel those rays on their heads”
Not hidden any more
As an experienced grower of various types of flowers, Wim Ammerlaan sr. knows which way the wind is blowing. “In the past growing hydrangeas was a lot more secretive. Now there is an awareness amongst other growers as well that we need to keep the business going together.” Ammerlaan is also looking for good partners in the trade. “In the past, we kept the details of what we were doing hidden. Now we’re getting increasingly good at matching our products to what the customer needs.”
He has found a good partner in FleuraMetz. “I really like the transparency of being a Preferred Supplier. I never feel that when John calls it will be to have a moan or to try and get a bit off the price. He knows the value of the product, and knows very well who needs what.”
Cut flower or plant?
FleuraMetz buyer John Diemeer knows what he can depend on. “Ammerlaan is justifiably a Preferred Supplier. The quality is good. The varieties are cultivated in the right way to produce a strong, high quality cut hydrangea.” Wim Ammerlaan sr. stresses the distinction between the plant and the flower. “The cut hydrangea is definitely different from the plant that you find in gardens or pots. These cut hydrangeas are perfect for use in bouquets, arrangements or even as a mono bunch.”
Sun
The colours and the range change over the year. At the start of May we see the clear fresh colours, whilst the beautiful classic colours follow deep in the autumn. Wim: “You can start harvesting earlier, but we think that May is early enough. The strength of these flowers comes from the sun. They need to have felt those rays on their heads. That has a clear positive effect on the vase life.” He wants to maintain the consistency of the coming years. “We have a strong and popular range. We will tweak the details: what varieties are wanted in what period? We can get a clear picture of that together.”
For more information:
FleuraMetz
www.fleurametz.com