11
C
YCLAMENREVIEW
•
THECOMMERCIALGREENHOUSEGROWER • FEBRUARY 2017
output per sqmper week
brings time into the equation,
and time ismoney.
Mini-cyclamen have an
inbuilt cost problem for
growers. The seed and the
youngplants cost the same
as for larger-flowered
varieties, and yet the price per
plant that can be expected is
inevitably lower. Seedprices
are high, and likely to
become higher still because
of the fall in the value of the
pound. The youngplant
market is highly competitive,
but for the companies
concerned cyclamen are
among themore demanding
and slower products.
It can only be helpful to
have a higher price per plant,
and for growerswith the
freedom to choose,
production in 10.5cmpots
rather than 9.0cm can be a
goodmove. At Bryants
Nurseries production has
been in both pot sizes, but in
2016 a higher proportionwas
Green-leavedVerandaSelections from theVerano series, seen in earlyNovember.
grown in the larger pot size
than in previous years.
Marketingmanager Caroline
Shove commented that, quite
apart fromprice, the growing
is easier than in the smaller
pot and there ismore
flexibility if needed in the
timing of sale.
Added value presentation is
another obviousway to get a
higher price per plant. For
exampleGeorge Lisher of
CobbinsNurseries inWest
Sussex sends containers of
three and five plants of Metis
varieties to his garden centre
customers. Demand from
them ismainly for single
colour products.
Given the right selection of
varieties, mixed colourswork
well, too. TheDutch pot plant
companyGevers Planten is
located near theGerman
border. Much of their
production in their Sun-Patio
range is sold toGerman
retailers. Using theMidori
series, they produce in
excess of quarter of amillion
five-plant bowls, most of
themwith five distinct
colours. The fives theme
continues, with aminimum
specification of five open
flowers per plant at the time
of dispatch.
u
