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Why buy your peony plant material from Molenaar Agriculture?

Updated: Jan 24


At Molenaar Agriculture, we stand 100% behind our product and quality. This is partly because we start long before the plant is planted in the field, to get the most out of the plant of our peonies. For example, before the plants are in the ground, we start sowing a green manure that ensures a balanced soil balance, that the soil structure is airy and has sufficient pores. This is for optimizing the growth of the peony.


 A good soil structure

When the peonies are planted, which with 30 cm. planting distance enjoys sufficient space to promote the growth of the plant, we spread Bokashi over the field. This is a mixture of goat and cattle manure, for natural fertilization of the field. We have also grown worms and spread them over the field to keep the soil alive and thus give the peony plant sufficient growth space. We ensure good drainage to keep the soil airy, we do this with our pulled tiller. As soon as the plant has overwintered and the first signs of visibility show, we regularly walk through the land and inspect the crop. As soon as too much weed grows, we connect our trailed hoeing machine behind the tractor, which minimizes the heavy man-work. We continue to hoe the weeds by hand between the crop to give the peony crop all the space it needs to grow. By hoeing weekly, we reduce the use of pesticides and we are working sustainably.



What to do for good growth?

We plant our growing blocks with healthy plant material. This is done in the south of the Netherlands, where the subsoil is sandy, which gives the plant a better sense of growth and where it comes out of the ground cleaner. Around flowering, we cut off all the buds so that sufficient photosynthesis is created to stimulate the growth of the plant. To promote this, we can irrigate the field with our irrigation reel, depending on the plant's demand and the climate. We keep a close eye on this at all times and manage everything ourselves. In the second year, the plant is much more mature and we lift it up again in August.



Production process

September is used to give the peony plant all the treatments it needs to deliver them ‘ready-to-plant’ to the customer. First, the plants are rinsed clean in our own rinsing line, which is equipped with UV lighting (to reduce bacteria and fungi). Then, these plants are all manually divided into -preferably- root material of 3-5 growth points, in practice often more. After that, it goes to our quality inspection, which counts them. After this, we let them go through the rinsing line again before inspection.


All roots that are delivered receive a standard warm water treatment from us to eliminate harmful microorganisms (nematodes). This cooking kettle is again equipped with UV lighting. After this treatment, it has to recover from it for a night in our cold store.

 


How do we store the peonies?

Our peonies are harvested in cubic boxes and counted in lily crates and end up in the cold rooms where we cool them down immediately with indirect cooling so that no dehydration can take place. The cold rooms are equipped with UV light so that mold and bacteria have minimal opportunity to develop, all equipment functions properly and the cooling machine has to work less hard.We work together with a software package, which we use to have insight into everything, from this we can not only work administratively but it also ensures that everything that comes into the shed is traced and scanned. This way we can see exactly where something is and when it was cut or processed.



Inspection and packaging

Before we can send the root material, it must be inspected by both the Dutch and American authorities. Here, the quality of the roots and whether it is clean are strictly controlled. For example, no weeds or grains of sand may be found.When the stamp is printed, we can pack! Packaging the roots is our high priority and is customer-oriented. All the material is disinfected before it is packed per variety in perforated micro bags, which are provided with a label with its name and certificate number. The bag is filled with peat moss. This prevents drying out and to stimulate the growth of the hair root. You can also store them easily in this bag. The bag with plant material goes in a matching sturdy box which also contains planting instructions with more tips. This goes to our trusted distributor, who sends them around in America.





Molenaar Agriculture innovates

At Molenaar Agriculture we continue to innovate, for example in 2023 our new adjoining shed was put into operation, more space and for the future the desire to place extra cold storage space in that place, which can also keep the shed space cool to keep it pleasant in the summer for both the peony and the work people.


We have also recently invested in a cutting line. This ensures that the supply of the tubers is gradual and that people can work in a natural position. This means that it is more pleasant to work for everyone. In this way we not only work efficiently but also neater and lighter.




Workpeople

Furthermore, we support a good work-rest ratio for our work people, a trusted team and short lines with employment agencies, always with the interests of the work people first. We can also accommodate 7 people indoors who have the 'SNF quality mark'. A space where work people feels at home so that they appear fresh and fit on the work floor every day. In addition, there is a schedule every day and we involve our working people sufficiently so that everyone knows where they stand. Of course, this requires, above all, sufficient appreciation.


In short, we stand behind our product, we manage everything in-house, which allows us to rely on our own expertise and be more independent. For this we ask a market-conform price and any problems are resolved quickly. Healthy root material, sustainable, first for work people and the environment. We comply with the 'GlobalGap certification' and are always open to questions and discussions.



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