Dutch plant nursery Montis to anticipate a 30% production increase

Author: Ron van der Ploeg

MOERKAPELLE, Netherlands: Dutch plant grower Montis Zuidplas BV expands its commitment to meeting the increasing demand for high-quality seasonal and green foliage plants. It is currently gearing up to place their first Campanula plants in a 2.4-hectare facility in Moerkapelle, Netherlands. Managing director, Niels van den Berg says the facility, a refurbished rose farm, will increase current production by approximately 30%.

Set to be inaugurated in April 2020,  Montis Zuidplas B.V.’s  third production facility provides a modern greenhouse operation. It will incorpora technologies for the high-quality production of seasonal plants such as potted Ranuncules, Campanula Addenda, Aster Showmaker and a range of Helleborus), green foliage plants and  Calathea Crocata in different pot sizes.

Allowing full use of space and ease of plant handling is an Erfgoed cultivation floor (a flood floor without concrete), while the company sources its heat from the neighbour’s co-generation plant.  The site’s new grading buffer will allow for consistent sorting of uniform plants.  Reconstruction work has entered now its final stage with the first plants expected to arrive in the greenhouse by next week. The first Campanulas grown here will be ready for sales by mid-April 2020.

Founded in 1987 by husband and wife team Nico and Elly van den Berg and situated over two sites (Montis Moerkapelle BV and Montis Zuidplas BV) the company’s combined greenhouses span an area of 7.5ha. The owners ensure that the nursery minimises its environmental footprint with measures including an IPM programme.  In 2011,  Nico and Elly’s son, Niels joined the company enabling the family business to thrive for generations to come.

Montis is MPS, Planet Proof and MPS SQ certified and is a member of grower group Decorum and  Addenda.