Paul Vergeer of the eponymous tree nursery deliberately opts for labour-intensive cultivation and an extensive assortment. During GrootGroenPlus, he will showcase as much as possible, including Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’ on stem. Nearly the entire assortment consists of ornamental shrubs on stem.

Source: Heidi Peters

Boomkwekerij Paul Vergeer grows a wide range of ornamental shrubs on stem, along with a selection of shrubs such as Hibiscus, Cornus, Syringa and Viburnum in pot sizes C5 and C7.5. Most stems are 90 or 120 cm high. The stems are primarily supplied in pot sizes C7.5 and C10. Vergeer is involved in grafting plants. The main crops are Hibiscus, Magnolia, Hydrangea paniculata, Prunus and Larix in various cultivars. The assortment list also includes Laburnum, Ligustrum, Ginkgo, Lagerstroemia, Cotinus, Quercus, Albizia, Salix, Syringa, Fagus, Hamamelis, Ilex, Liquidambar, Callicarpa, Parrotia, Photinia and Cotoneaster. The plants are supplied to garden centers and traders. The products from Paul Vergeer are distributed across Europe through intermediaries. The company itself exports a relatively small portion, mainly within the EU, including to Poland, Denmark, Belgium, and Germany. The tree nursery covers 3 hectares, with 6000 square meters consisting of greenhouses and polytunnels. Additionally, plants are planted in the open soil at fellow growers and are later returned to the tree nursery for repotting. Some of the plant material is purchased from colleagues.

Labour-intensive cultivation

"We do a large part of the propagation ourselves. Due to the shape of the plants, it is a labour-intensive cultivation," Vergeer explains. "Since almost everything is on stem, the work cannot be easily automated. In addition to the stems, stakes are set; it’s a meticulous process. Not every grower chooses this approach; we believe that this is where our strength lies."

Grafting of Viburnum ‘Eskimo’

Vergeer: "The wide assortment is our strong suit. When a garden centre comes to buy, there is always something visually attractive, something worth coming for. We always have something interesting for a garden centre. Yes, this is more labour-intensive than growing just a few varieties. New employees need some training before they can work independently. Fortunately, we have a good team of permanent staff."In addition to the wide assortment, Vergeer wants to distinguish himself with good quality at an affordable price. The grower states: "With increasing production costs, the challenge is growing. So it’s good that we also have some major customers; their orders are prepared faster. We also supply to webshops. The plants go out individually, but that’s all manageable for us." Vergeer still loves working at the tree nursery: "The wide assortment and varied work keep it enjoyable after all these years."

Paul Vergeer at GrootGroenPlus

"My stand is always well-stocked," laughs Vergeer. "Customers buy what they see, and at GrootGroenPlus, quite a few orders are placed. I have a wide assortment and am happy to showcase it during the trade fair days. Most of the varieties I have are on display there. Boomkwekerij Paul Vergeer doesn’t grow in hectares, but in numbers, so there is room for new customers." One of the products Vergeer will showcase is Hydrangea ‘Skyfall’. "I find this H. paniculata variety very suitable for growing on stem; it has sturdy branches and branches well. The branches do not droop despite the large flowers. There are customers who order only this cultivar from me."

Tagging Mats

Although Vergeer, now 57 years old, does not have a successor, he recently made significant investments in the tree nursery. A new shed was installed, with a new climate computer. The greenhouse has been updated, and the container fields have been expanded. The tree nursery is equipped with PV panels. "Some of these measures were taken to make the working environment for employees and myself as pleasant as possible," Vergeer explains. Vergeer aims to use as few chemicals as possible. Useful in this regard are the tagging or coconut mats placed on the pots to prevent weed growth. Additionally, biological control is used for pest and disease management. To make the plants more resilient, the grower uses biological plant boosters. Waste streams are separated as much as possible to enable recycling.