Together with the Italian trading company Ceraco Bulbi, Stars-Plant has organized a lisianthus flowering test in Naples, southern Italy. The aim of the trial was to familiarize local growers with the existing and new assortment, and also to see how the different varieties are doing under the Mediterranean sun.
A few breeders arranged the seeds and Stars-Plant took care of the propagation and delivery. Ceraco Bulbi is a major importer and exporter of bulbs and cut flowers in the region and knows the growers there. "They know the area and have a large network," says Gert-Jan Valstar. “There are many growers with lisianthus in the assortment. That makes it interesting for us and our breeders to show what we can offer.”
All this was organized in two stages. The first trials took place in week 28 with the lisianthus groups 1 and 2 (that is, the faster varieties). The second trials are now ongoing and contain the slower product groups 3 and 4.
It is the first time that Star Plants has set up such a collaboration, but, if it is up to Gert-Jan, certainly not the last. "The start-up was good, many growers were attending and as far as I am concerned, we will be organizing the trials again next year."
For more information:
Stars-Plant
Maarten van Rossumweg 37
5307 HC Poederoijen
The Netherlands
Gert-Jan Valstar
M: +31 (0)6 47 32 32 39
www.stars-plant.nl