He doesn't really want to share the details of his approach, but it’s clear that it’s working. Bert van Exsel of BvE Plantgoed took over a successful tree nursery two years ago and has significantly expanded the range in a short period of time. The results are impressive, and they can be seen at GrootGroenPlus.

source: Heidi Peeters

The letters BvE in the name of the nursery, BvE Plantgoed, stand for the name of its owner, Bert van Exsel. Van Exsel took over the company, which had been around for decades, in 2022 and has since left his mark on it. BvE Plantgoed cultivates various types of Ilex, Prunus, Osmanthus, Phillyria and Photinia and has now also started growing deciduous shrub species.

Bushy plant

“While many others choose to let their plants grow freely, we frequently cut them back to deliver the bushiest plants possible,” says Van Exsel. “This way, plenty of buds form, and the customer doesn’t need to do anything with the plant when potting.” Their customers include growers from Ireland, England, Germany, Belgium, and even Canada.

Own cuttings and assortment

BvE Plantgoed takes unrooted cuttings from its own mother plants and beds to cutting companies. When they return in June, the one-and-a-half-year growing process begins in open soil. Mowing is done mechanically and by GPS. The side and top mowers prune the plants multiple times per season by topping and trimming the sides. For optimal rooting and quick growth, the plants are pegged down on both sides. All plants leaving the tree nursery are between 20 and 30 centimetres tall. Van Exsel, who has extensive knowledge of plants, believes this approach is also suitable for many other species. That’s why he decided to expand the assortment over the coming years with several deciduous shrub species. He explains: “I mainly look for plants that other growers do not or rarely offer. Combined with our approach, this makes us a unique tree nursery.”

Drainage

The nursery covers 11 hectares, of which 1 hectare is designated for mother plants. Each year, 5 hectares are planted, fitting a one-and-a-half-year growing cycle. “We will never plant more than 5 hectares per year,” Van Exsel states. “This scale is manageable, so we’re never playing catch-up and can focus on the quality of the plants.” The nursery is situated on well-drained sandy soil. Van Exsel adds: “As we saw last year, it’s better to add more water when needed than having to deal with excess water. When we get 20 millimetres of rain here, there’s no water visible the next day. Partly because we’ve taken measures for this, and partly due to the nature of the soil in Rucphen.”

GrootGroenPlus

Van Exsel notes that his customers are pleased with his approach and its results: bushy plants with a strong root system. His thoughtful cultivation techniques are being talked about, but the grower keeps the details to himself. At GrootGroenPlus, visitors can see the quality of the roots and the density of the plants of all seventy species, displayed in glass pots with water—a literally transparent approach! The newest species that BvE Plantgoed didn’t have last year will also be showcased.