Boost for Chic and Chic Cream as Linflower anticipates a weekly supply of 205,000 stems at the Dutch auctions

Left to right. Leendert van Tuijl and Leon Hofman of Royal Van Zanten witness the first  harvest of Chic. chrysanthemums.

NIEUWAAL, Netherlands: Dutch-based chrysanthemum grower Linflower started harvesting the first Chic and Chic Cream mums this week. Mild weather, plus new growing techniques used by crop manager Leendert van Tuijl – involving two varieties with qualities most chrysanthemum growers and buyers dream off and growing the mums under a hybrid lighting system – has allowed Linflowers to harvest flowers of the finest quality.

Linflower’s family roots run deep in horticulture. The Van Tuijls started a farm business in 1880 which over time switched to strawberry and chrysanthemum production. Today, the company spans more than 15 hectares of greenhouses with an annual output of 40 million stems.

The company’ fourth site is now in full production. Workers planted the cuttings in the first week of August with the first flowers rolling off the transportation belt this week.

The Van Tuijls use state of the art growing techniques, including a hybrid lighting system, Airmix units and insect screens on the air vents.

The Van Tuijl brothers are proud of their first Chic and Chic Cream crop as it features a market-compliant end weight, a high degree of uniformity in the box and optimum vase life. The grower expects to market around 160,000 Chic and 45,000 Chic Cream per week through Royal FloraHolland Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk and Rijnsburg.

The Chic cultivar stands out with its striking combination of pure white outer petals (ray florets) which beautifully contrast with the fresh green centre. Plus, Chic transports well, has an excellent vase life and is easy to dye.

The flower’s amazing ‘dyeability’ is truly a bonus as it allows growers to produce flowers in a rainbow of colours, and tap into the latest trends