Gerbera & Roses growing article May 2007
  

Weeds in growing media:

Over the years growers are struggling with weeds (e.g. Oxalis, ferns), in their greenhouses / growing media. Weed control in greenhouses is very important to give the plants enough growing space and water. Most of the greenhouse weeds grow very fast and can produce a large amount of seeds in a short period. Once a severe weeds infestation occurs, weed control can be labour intensive and lower flower production.

1-      Cover your greenhouse floor with weed mat to prevent that weeds germinate and grow on the ground

2-      When you replant makes sure that you clean the inside of the greenhouse, bench system and dripper. Especially the drippers could contain seeds which could be there from the old crop and strait away infect the new growing media.

3-      If you buy the growing media in bulk, cover it when it's outside because animals, birds and wind could infect the growing media with weeds / seeds.

4-      The first few months after planting it's very important to remove every weed, ones the plant covers the growing media the weeds have less chance to become a problem.

Note;  remove weeds before it becomes a problem, ones the weeds are over growing the plants it takes so much labour that some times the only option is to remove the whole crop!

Maintenance greenhouse equipment:

This time of the year growers should spend time to service / check their equipment and make sure that everything works well. You can only be sure about computer readings when you check / calibrate on a regular basis. E.g. temperature sensors of climate computer, EC & PH sensors and flow meter irrigation unit, heating pipe flow and boiler.

Flower quality by florist and supermarkets:

When I wrote this article I was in Holland and was impressed with the quality and price of the flowers by the florists and supermarkets. You always see fresh flowers at a reasonable price which are looked after very well by the florists or supermarkets workers. The tradition in Holland is to buy flowers for yourself or as a present, this make Holland one of the highest spending countries for buying flowers.

After I visited many florist and supermarkets I think that we could do better in Australia to increase the use of flowers;

1   Florists and supermarkets in Australia need to do more to display there flowers to attract buyers

2-   We need to create more sales outlets where you can buy a reasonable prices bouquet of flowers (like some fruits shops do at the moment, low price and a high turnover instead of a high price and a low turnover but high sales margin for the florist)

3- Quite often you see at supermarkets in Australia flowers reduced in price because they are old or damaged, this is the worst thing what could be done. When it's not up to standard trow it away because these flowers don't last and won't create returned sales because of disappointed buyers.

***Although we trust that this information could be of considerable help to the success of the crop, we cannot accept any liability for the results of your crop. All the information in this growing newsletter is without committing ourselves.

This article is written by Job Roskam of Roskam Young Plants Pty Ltd. and also published in the Australian flower industry magazine.