At Heco Young Plants in Biezenmortel, modernisation is well underway. With the installation of a new ErfGoedVloer Premium in its 0.5-hectare hardening greenhouse, the company is taking the next step in optimising cultivation conditions. Owner and director Paul de Jong deliberately chose vertical drainage – an upgrade from the previous sloped system.

‘The old floor had served us well,’ De Jong explains, ‘but small level differences caused puddling over time. That’s not ideal in precision growing. I wanted to make a few quality improvements, so I decided on the ErfGoedVloer Premium. It’s perfectly level, has a high load capacity and drains vertically through a porous top layer beneath the fabric. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but I’m very happy with it – we can really see the difference.’

The benefits are visible in crop uniformity. ‘Because all plants receive the same amount of water and drain simultaneously, growth is more even,’ De Jong explains. ‘Roots make the plant – the smaller the differences in the root environment, the better the result. That’s reflected in the uniformity of our finished product.’

The new floor also makes the facility future-proof. Thanks to its higher load-bearing capacity, the greenhouse is now suitable for mobile equipment, mechanisation and automation. ‘We’re not there yet,’ says De Jong, ‘but it’s a logical next step – and the floor is ready for it.’

The investment reflects Heco Young Plants’ ongoing commitment to quality and innovation. Specialising in young plant production for domestic and international customers, the company continuously fine-tunes its operations. ‘Sometimes improvement comes from small details, and sometimes from big steps like this one,’ says De Jong. ‘Our goal is always to deliver uniform, reliable young plants – that’s our hallmark.’

De Jong is once again looking forward to GrootGroenPlus, where Heco Young Plants is a regular exhibitor. ‘It’s the one event where you meet nearly all your customers,’ he says. ‘Some relationships feel like family after so many years. But it’s also a professional highlight – full of good conversations and inspiration. This year, we’ll be there with an even more uniform and high-quality product.’