As most young plants are being grown in the Netherlands, German seed breeder Benary decided to establish a breeding facility in this country 10 years ago. After leasing a part of a greenhouse, Benary decided to buy a 1.5 ha greenhouse in the North of the Netherlands (Venhuizen) and rebuild half of it, 2 years ago. Last week, we paid a visit to their facility where they held their bi-annual pansy trials earlier this month. The plants were still on the benches and Fulco Spithoven, Area Sales Manager Benelux, showed us around.
Fulco Spithoven
Well thought through layout
Next to begonia, pansy belongs to one of the largest crops of Benary. In the fourth year now, twice a year, in spring and autumn, Benary is conducting their Pansy Trials in a well thought through layout; Benary’s and each competitor’s varieties get dedicated rows next to each other for presentation. “With this kind of layout the Benary sales force, our clients and the growers can easily evaluate how our varieties are performing in comparison to the competition. All varieties are sorted regarding similar colours in similar series."
The layout of the trials; in front of the Benary varieties; the competing varieties on the benches behind.
Growing in a stagnant market
When looking at the pansies on the benches, Fulco is pleased with Benary's results they've achieved over the last years. "With our breeders - Pim Kaagman and Erik Smit - we made big steps in regards to uniformity within each series, plant habit, stem length and flowering time.”
And when looking at the overall pansy market, Spithoven is pleased as well. "The global market for pansies is stable, maybe even a bit shrinking, and our volumes are increasing. This means we are doing something quite right, aren't we?"
Viola Cornuta F1 Admire® 'Orchid', a new color in the series.
New series: Cats®
As a breeder, besides improving the existing varieties and expanding the series with new colours, it is important to come up with completely new series as well. One of these new series Benary introduced lately - or actually reintroduced - is Cats® (Viola wittrockiana). "This popular series exists for a long time already but Benary breeding has improved a lot in the past years such as now it has shorter flower stems and more flowers." The whiskers on the flower face give Cats® pansies their name. "It is a new generation of pansies that combine the advantages of modern F1 pansies with an unprecedented vein pattern."
Up to date Benary offers four series; the small flowering Viola cornuta Admire®, spring and late autumn large flowering Viola wittrockiana Inspire® and autumn type Viola wittrockiana Inspire® DeluXXe.
Cats® series currently exists of 4 colours and soon a new colour will be added.
Breeding goals
As in most crops, also in pansies, the industry is always looking for something new. "Of course, the standard colors and varieties will remain the ones with the highest demand, but people are always eager to see something new", he says. Currently, in the breeding, we are looking for more bi-colored and orange colored varieties.
Pansy Trials also held at a grower’s greenhouse
Twice a year at Benary’s the pansy trials are being organized: one time at the Benary facility and one time at a grower’s facility; namely Dutch grower Aarninkhof. Benary is collaborating regarding pansy trials with this grower for 2 years now. Customer feedback is very positive. "It gives a fair impression. At our trials, we always grow all competing varieties in the same conditions as ours, this grower does it too, but as he is an independent party, it is well received."
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Benary
Fulco Spithoven
Email: Fulco.Spithoven@benary.de
www.benary.com