At Erik Boers ’ company in ’s - Gravenzande thrip are a unconstipated uninvited Edgar Albert Guest . Erik grows both amaryllis bulbs and flowers on 6.5 hectares . The electric-light bulb , which are grow in open ground , are sold for dry sales while the bloom , cultivated on mud pellet , are market during the winter time of year .
Erik is a fellow member of the Decorum agriculturalist cooperative , which sells a fully sustainable range of heyday and plant . With all extremity being Global- or MPS - Gap - certified at the minimal , biological crop tribute go well with the cooperative ’s visibility .
Closed leaf budFighting disease in Amaryllis is not dewy-eyed . After the flowers are harvested , the leaf appear . However , the foliage buds are initially so tightly closed that it is difficult to in effect spray them , allow alone comprehensively scout for pests and good insects .
“ These challenges are further compound by the fact the crop remains in the ground for three years , ” explicate Erik . “ After harvesting the filth is steamed , parcel by piece of ground , so we are never capable to pick the glasshouse completely – or utilise optimum hygiene measures . ”
Working with a Biobest competitor , three years ago Erik ’s first attempt to control thrips using Amblyseius swirskii and introduced cultivation sachet several times . The sachets were fill up with predatory mites , bran and factitious prey . “ What we had n’t calculate on were the mouse , ” says Erik . “ During the summer calendar month they were attracted by the olfactory modality of the bran - I even saw them fly the coop around with sachet in their mouths ! It was not a satisfactory resolution , to say the least . ”
Offering foodThis yr Eric decided to try out a dissimilar biological pest ascendancy scheme in a freshly replanted department of the greenhouse . He chose the Biobest strategy – feature a combination of Swirskii - Breeding - System and Nutrimite ™ – a system avoiding the need to continually reintroduce sachet . Crop Protection Specialist , Marvin Koot , advised Eric to premise Swirskii - Breeding - System just once in early spring to develop a population of predatory speck for the intact cultivation twelvemonth .
“ Immediately after the heyday harvest , there were insufficient thrips in the glasshouse to suffer the predatory mites , ” says Marvin . “ It was , therefore , necessary to provide the mite with sufficient food to sustain them . Our provender supplement Nutrimite ™ , free-base on selected pollens , has testify idealistic . ”
Since introduce the predatory pinch , every fourteen days the squad has manually go down on in the pollen . “ you’re able to barely see it , but it does work , ” says Erik . “ In fact , it worked exceptionally well . ”
by and by on during the originate period , just to be sure , he introduced some escaped predatory mites in one potpourri . While occasionally he still sees a few thrip , the pest is now well under control . “ When it issue forth to thrip mastery , this ‘ trial ’ has been a success , ” enjoin Erik . “ Although it would be helpful to automatise the distribution process to simplify program . ”
Cooling periodPrior to flowering , the crop is cooled and the farewell removed . At this stage , both the thrips and predatory jot disappear . In theory , the predatory mite could survive this full stop , as they can support temperatures as low as 13 ° 100 . However , before the start of flowering , growers traditionally spray against other pestilence which means raw predatory mites call for to be introduced in spring .
“ As things stand , you ca n’t rely entirely on biological crop protection , ” explains Erik . “ You have to from time to time take action mechanism against mealybug , narcissus mite , cicala and caterpillars – however , we are run more and more to go biological . ”
Unique combinationEric chose Biobest as its partner because of the unique combination of predatory mites and supplementation with pollen - a combination other supplier do not offer . Supplementation with factitious prey does not appeal to him , because the common carrier falls into the nub of the plant life and bulb and can rot .
Erik is also pleased with the advise he receives from Biobest with Marvin paying regular sojourn every fourteen Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to discuss and conform the strategy as necessary .
“ We are seeing growing stake in this strategy , ” say Marvin . “ This year we have added several novel customers growing Amaryllis . ”
