John Boender at Beekenkamp Trials;
"Cyclamen becoming more frivolous"
In the previous weeks Beekenkamp Plants organised cyclamen trials. Beekenkamp is a global leader in this sector. "The production in the Netherlands is shifting towards a smaller pot size: 10.5," says seller John Boender. "In the mass production a smaller pot size is convenient for export: to get more in a box, more on a trolley." The production in Germany and France, for example, just goes to the local markets. A lot of specialities go there, larger pots, size 17 and 23 filled with multiple cuttings. Then you talk about smaller parties. A few thousand a week in comparison to hundreds of thousands per week.
On open days of Beekenkamp new varieties are introduced, combined with various knowledge sessions and cultivation trials. Since last year, the company has had the ability to test durability and garden performance of the plants at their own location. The cyclamen cultivation grows slowly but gradually Boender sees. That also has to do with developments in the varieties assortment. Beekenkamp has Morell and Clean Field as main suppliers and provides to a lesser extent Syngenta and Varinova. "There is more diversification in the assortment of cyclamen in shape and color. They are frivolous." So the fantasy-colors are on the rise and there are strikingly shaped varieties available.
left:The Bellissima, top right: The Blush, bottom left: Petticoat and bottom right: The Decora, with white leaves.
Diversification.
"You see the overflow in color," Boender indicates referring to The Blush. "That gives another plant to when the flower is fully fuchsia. More and more variations are coming in." There is The Pipoca in modern colors. New in form is, amongst others, The Petticoat with pendulous, bell-shaped flowers, and Bellissima, with bizarrely shaped, fringed flowers and leaves. Also, for several years now you see cyclamen on the market with high-contrast, white leaves: Decora's. The advantage is that through the thicker petal it is less susceptible to Botrytis and other fungi. They are fit for outside which is new for the cyclamen."
For further information:
Beekenkamp Plants B.V.
John Boender
Korte Kruisweg 141
2676 BS Maasdijk
www.beekenkamp.nl
[email protected]
