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Interview with Leo van Holstein, grower

How long have you been growing Gerbera?
My three brothers and I have been growing Gerbera for thirty five years. We have been involved in our father’s firm since 1974. Before then he grew vegetables.

What varieties do you grow?
We cultivate almost 32 acres, divided over four sites, where we grow more than seventy different cultivars of mini, large flowered and pompom Gerberas.

What are your strengths?
For many years we have spent crossbreeding and have consolidated our reputation for exclusivity and a wide assortment – especially when it comes to mini Gerberas. We launch ten to fifteen new Gerbera varieties every year; for example, we launched the dahlia-like Pomponii two years ago.

What part does Gerbera play in a bouquet?
Gerberas are the eyes of a bouquet. They give a bouquet a face and there is a Gerbera to suit every possible bouquet color. Gerbera also looks fabulous solo in a vase. Last year a Gerbera with foliage was introduced for just this purpose.

How can you recognize a good Gerbera?
A good Gerbera has a clear-cut, contemporary look, i.e. a well filled, bright flower and a sturdy stem. There is no need to wire the stem. If its previous history is good, the flower will stand up in the vase. However, a good start is an essential precondition and that is what we provide.   

Cinema (27847) – A few bright red minis with a touch of yellow and a black center.Sponge Bob (100675) – A convincing pompom shape for this popular cartoon character.

 

Tango - Zantedeschia Black Star (21797) surrounds mini-Gerberas: ‘Kadoka’ (23002), ‘Bison’ (25560), ‘Harley’ (19972), Whisper (22198) and ‘Kinsey’ (17018). The mini-bouquets are wrapped in and tied together with colored paper covered wire.Belfi (27848) – the ray florets color from pale to deep pink from the outside in.

 

Terra Saturnus (27469) – the dahlia-like Gerrondo type in shades of deep red, white and mid red.Siesta – Elongated bouquet with four varieties of large flowered Gerbera: ‘Optima’ (11140), ‘Ruby Red’ (11131), ‘Bellezza’ (10153) and ‘Serena’ (4709), edged with fern (343), Lunaria annua (13327), Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ (1283) and Rubus fruticosus ‘Thornless Evergreen’ (13774).

 

Picture Perfect (100533) – Fuchsia pink and semi-double mini-Gerbera.‘Candela’ (26887) – Large flowered and semi-double in a deep shade of orange.

 

 
Terra Milkyway (100525) – Deep red double mini-Gerbera.

TIP -Preventing bacteria and fungi
Gerbera is extremely sensitive to bacteria. This is why it is essential to disinfect buckets and vases before use and to add a chlorine tablet to the water. If you are using Gerberas in a mixed bouquet you should use cut flower food. This prevents the Gerberas from shutting down water absorption in response to substances made by the other flowers in the bouquet. Fungal attack from Botrytis is best prevented by keeping the flowers cool and exposing them to a minimum of temperature fluctuation.

 



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