The Christmas Cactus season at Van Hoekelen Greenhouses in Kline Township ( PA ) has do to an end , and Alexander van Hoekelen is proud of with this class ’s answer . " Due to the combination of the upgrades we did , the quality of the crop , and the good US economic system , this twelvemonth was better compared to last year . "
Alex van Hoekelen , Nick Sprengers and Larry Huft of Van Hoekelen Greenhouses at the PMA Fresh Summit in Orlando ( FL ) , USA .
Biggest crop during November - DecemberDuring this time of the year , the Christmas Cactus is the biggest crop for Van Hoekelen Greenhouses . " About half of our 16 acre greenhouse is filled with this crop , and the remaining distance with several other detail , including poinsettias , ivy topiary , frosty fern and a small component of potted and cut tulips . " On 8 acres , they produce 4 , 6 , 8 , and 10 inch in pot and 8 inch dangling plants . 4 inch takes up the most space and is , according to Alexander , probably the most popular size in the US . " They want this little one to put in the windowpane or on their desk . "
Better yearVan Hoekelen Greenhouses supplies to supermarkets all over the US , and as the season is coming to an end , Alexander can say that it has been a better yr equate to last year . " First of all , the quality of our crop was better and this was also noticed by the retailer ; quickly after their first order , we have another . Secondly , we did some different programs and added some unlike item , some rise so to talk . Finally , the sound US thriftiness belike contributed as well . We see that consumer are buying a pile . "
TulipsWhereas Christmas Cactus is their chief crop during this time of the year , their big crop throughout the year is the cut tulip and other electric light flowers . They are one of the largest cut tulip growers in the Northeastern part of the land , and when all Christmas Cacti have leave the greenhouse , they will start getting into the bulb season again . This time of year runs from January until Mother ’s Day .
Early tulipsHowever , Van Hoekelen started to grow a small part of tulip in advance of the season . " On asking of a customer , we started to develop pot and cut tulips a bit earlier , we started around half October with cut tulip . It was just a test to see if he could increase the sales of this mathematical product a turn earlier and so far , it is doing OK . Of of course it is not as crazy as the normal tulip season . "
Van Hoekelen GreenhousesVan Hoekelen Greenhouses distributes many eccentric of seasonal plants and flowers such as tulip , hyacinth , mums , poinsettias , cactus , etc . and has been in the business for about 30 year now . They have their root in the Netherlands , and that is where it all started . Alexander ’s founding father , Cok van Hoekelen , has a lifelong employment experience in the nursery theater and began his career working with his father on a bulb farm in Holland and pull in his level in Horticulture . He relocate to the US in 1969 and brought his cognition and experience to the commonwealth . To this day , they are working with Dutch method acting , like growing their tulip in a grime and guts mix , and several times a year they visit the country to pick up about the newest development .
For more informationVan Hoekelen Greenhouses , Inc. ( VHG)Alexander van HoekelenEmail:[email protected]www.vhgreenhouses.comFacebook : Lwww.facebook.com / chgreenhouses
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
