Belgian excellence in plants, nurseries and sustainable systems in one tour

The Flora Journal

April 27

Every year, VLAM, Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board, organizes a press tour for the foreign trade press, to discover the ornamental horticultural products in Belgium. Belgian horticulture, with Flanders as its main production region (approximately 90%), is known for its variety, tradition, professional skill, customised solutions and quality. The showpieces of Flemish horticulture remain the azalea, tree nursery products and chrysanthemums in pots. For over ten years already, the tree nursery has been the most important subsector with an international destinations. However, the market position of Flanders' indoor plants is also increased. This year the journalists were welcomed to the production area surrounding the city of Mechelen and companies as Vegobel specialized in herbs plants in Duffel, Van de Auwera tree nursery in Aartselaar , Houseplant nursery Dirk Mermans -Plantlovers in Wommelgem, cut roses production Wimceco in Boechout, ornamental grasses nursery Gerneé in Sint Katelijne Waver, wholesale for flowers and plants Agora Group in Kontich.

Vegobel, a herbs nursery based in Duffel, has specialised in growing a wide range of herbs and aromatic plants. It is a modern horticultural company founded by three brothers, Steven, Wim and Arthur Lauwers. Since 1995, they have dedicated themselves tirelessly to producing quality fresh potted herbs, employing the latest technologies and insights to ensure continuous optimisation of their growing process. The nursery is known for its focus on organic and sustainable growing practices and herbs without synthetic chemicals and using environmentally friendly methods. Instead of pesticides, they use environmentally and ecologically sound alternatives, such as ladybirds or wasps to control aphids. Vegobel supplies high-quality fresh herbs to retail customers and the hospitality and food industry. Its range includes popular herbs such as basil, parsley, mint, thyme, and rosemary in more than 100 varieties. Vegobel also wants to grow its herbs in a very environmentally friendly way. They harvest rainwater to water their plants in a closed water circuit system so no water is wasted. They also produce their own electricity and use the resulting heat and CO2 to grow even stronger herbs. The company has 15,000 m² of solar panels, which produce 100% green energy. Finally, Vegobel pioneered vertical farming in Europe. In vertical farms, the plants are grown under LED light in a 'closed' system. This growing method offers substantial sustainability benefits as it eliminates the need for 'fossil' energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions substantially.

Van der Auwera tree nursery is a fifth-generation family business with 152 years of experience that is still going strong and offers an extensive range of field-grown trees and potted ornamental shrubs. To offer a more tailored service to customers, however, the company was split into two companies in 1982, namely the Van der Auwera Trees and Van der Auwera landscaping and nowadays Van der Auwera garden center. Van der Auwera strives to inspire customers with a range of new plant varieties and superlative quality. Young trees are grown as planting material for other nurseries. The remaining trees are bound for the local market. Nowadays the nursery is run by the fifth generation, Dries and her sister, Lynn and she is the CEO of the company. Van der Auwera obtained the MPS label (a Dutch horticulture label), earning a high score across the board. Their weed control management is 100% mechanical. They completely overhauled their production five years ago to facilitate easy and cost-effective mechanical weed control. Due to the diverse range of species, especially Avenue tree as Liquidambar, Carpinus, Alnus, Cornus and sustainable approach to weed control, they have fewer disease outbreaks to contend with in their nursery. The plants grow more vigorously as a result and have a stronger root system, making them less prone to diseases due to leaf toughness.

Kwekerij Dirk Mermans, in Wommelgem, is one of the leading greenhouse growers in Europe, supplying a diverse and unrivalled range of superlative house plants, such as Monstera, Philodendron, Clusia, Schefflera, Spathiphyllum, Aspidistra, Strelitzia to its customers, in hydroculture and soil cultivation. The nursery specialises in tropical house plants, such as Monstera and Philodendron, growing 20+ varieties in various sizes for wholesale. Every year, they add at least one new variety to their range. For private sales, Mermans offers a range of more than 100 plants; the top seller remains the Monstera Variegata. Additionally, there is an extensive selection of exclusive Philodendrons available, originating from the entrepreneur's private collection. The private sales offering focuses on uncommon plants in smaller quantities and sizes. During the pandemic time Dirk decides to establish Plantlovers.eu: an online store for end customers across the EU. On social media, it has also succeeded in positioning itself as an expert on plant care, sharing tips & tricks with followers. The nursery also organises a Plantlovers Day twice a year, with guided tours of the nursery, fun workshops, and a pop-up shop with exclusive plants straight from the greenhouse, including 100 varieties of unique Philodendrons. The next Plantlovers Day will take place on 18 May 2024. The nursery recently partnered with ILVO for a cultivation project, and a new greenhouse with special coated glass is currently being built, ensuring exceptionally high energy efficiency. A new screen system was also recently developed. The combination of glass and screens has not yet been applied on such a grand scale.

The modern, dynamic rose producer Wimceco, located in Boechout, has over 30 years of experience and expertise, currently managed by brothers Danny and Bart Van Nuffelen. The company specializes in cut roses, as Avalance, Sweet Avalance, Red Eagle, Clarence, Miss Piggy and strives to offer its customers the very best quality, utilizing state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure. The roses are harvested fresh daily and distributed throughout Europe. Wimceco supplies both wholesalers and florists through various auctions, including Flora Holland and Euroveiling Brussels. WIMCECO strives to produce roses sustainably with minimal impact on the environment. Assimilation lighting is used to produce roses year-round, ensuring consistent high quality even in winter. The electricity required for lighting is generated by the company's own combined heat and power (CHP) plant, which operates on eco-friendly electricity. Additionally, all heat generated by this generator is used to heat the greenhouse, contributing to energy-efficient production. The exhaust gases from the CHP plant are purified in a catalyst and used for CO₂ fertilization in the greenhouse, promoting plant growth. A climate computer regulates temperature, relative humidity, and light levels in the greenhouse precisely, minimizing energy consumption while creating an ideal climate. To efficiently use water and nutrients, roses are grown on substrate mats made of rock wool instead of soil. Excess drainage water is collected and reused after disinfection, creating a closed loop system and minimizing water wastage. Currently 50% LED lighting and 50% high-pressure sodium lamps, considerinf 100% LED in the future. Pest insects are controlled using natural enemies introduced into the rose crops.

Gernée Ornamental Grass Nursery and Perennials grows ten million plants a year, with more than 350 species of ornamental grasses and 350 species of perennials available in large quantities in P9 pots, in 14 hectares across 2 sites. The focus is on an extremely diverse range of ornamental grasses as Eragostris, Calamagostris, Carex and Miscanthus. Gernée closely monitors new market developments to expand its range further. The operation now covers 14 hectares, in addition to eight hectares of container space in the open field, Gernée manages five hectares of greenhouse space. The greenhouse is used to produce frost-sensitive and various heat-loving plants under optimal conditions. Thanks to the five-hectare greenhouse, an extensive range of attractive spring plants is available, especially in spring. These early plants serve as the locomotive for the entire assortment. In addition to ornamental grasses, approximately 350 perennial varieties enrich the portfolio. Mostly, these are widely spread varieties, often planted in combination with ornamental grasses. The ornamental grass producer consistently focuses on a range of healthy plants that grow naturally, without the use of artificial growth stimulants.

Agora Group is synonymous with quality in Belgium and abroad, offering daily fresh-cut flowers, green materials, a comprehensive selection of indoor and outdoor plants, basic supplies, and the latest trends in decoration. The Agora Group has 4 Cash & Carries in Belgium and 16 in France. Agora was founded by Marc and Gerd Van Turnhout-Nagel, nowadays is managed by the couple's four children: Ellen, Katrin, Jolien and Nick Van Turnhout. It also has purchasing organisations in the Netherlands, France, and Italy, facilitating fast and efficient supply, which is a prerequisite for offering quality ornamental plant products. Agora wants to do more than just sell products, which is why it organises several plant fairs, open days and special promotion days every year. Florists can also sign up for workshops on the latest trends and techniques offered through the Agora Academy. The vision of Agora has always been service-oriented, based on quality and proximity. Together with the expert, highly motivated team of employees, the product range is continuously expanded. Customers are in good hands at Agora and always up to date regarding trends and developments.