Last year we visited "CoasTulip", a joint venture of five growers who grow tulips under the motto "you are stronger together". This year we visited the town of Heemskerk, where these five growers are located, again. They have different types of heavy, exclusive tulips that we would like to bring to your attention.

CoasTulip

The 5 CoasTulip companies, Gebr. de Groot & Sons, C.P Zoontjes, Jac. de Winter & Sons, Dolf de Wit & Sons and Fa. A&L Duin, each grow a unique assortment, so the assortments of the five members is complementary instead of competitive. This way they can also offer a versatile range for the customer. They all grow in the open ground and know one thing for sure: together you are stronger. That is why they have joined forces and are promoting themselves as CoasTulip (pronounced: Coast Tulip). They are all professionals with small to medium-sized companies where many operations are still performed manually. By using their own paper packaging with a contemporary logo, they have created recognisability in the market.

In the spotlights

At the start of the new year we introduced you to the Foxtrot tulip. This week two other but equally special varieties are on the agenda. Later in the season we share two more varieties. We feel these heavy exclusive Tulips deserve all the attention they can get; true Dutch pride!

Tulipa “Lorenzo”

Bring the spring into your home during the dark days in January and February with the beautiful tulip Lorenzo. This exclusive tulip is grown outdoors and has a heavy double head. Due to its bright, energetic orange color, it is a true eye-catcher and a really cheerful appearance on the vase. Lorenzo originated from a cross between the soft pink Lydia and double red Largo.
Lorenzo is available from mid-January to mid-February (week 3/4 to week 8)

Tulipa “Cambridge”

The "Cambridge" tulip belongs to the group of fringed tulips. The finely fringed edges of the petals are truly striking in these special tulips. Most fringed tulips bloom late, but Cambridge is an exception. This variety can be grown early and therefore flowers in the greenhouse in January. Because of its beautiful white color, it provides a wonderful added value to the florist's winter assortment. Cambridge is a beautiful, long and heavy tulip, its fringed white petals make this tulip truly unique. It is wonderful to have a vase of "Cambridge" tulips on the table, but it is also a very suitable flower to use in mourning and wedding work due to the pure white color.
Available from mid-January to week 9

The cultivation methods of the five growers have one thing in common: they all grow in the open ground and in sandy soil. By planting fewer tulips on a square meter and because of the unique combination of soils, heavy quality tulips can be supplied.

Growing in the open ground

We also spoke with Erwin from the company Dolf de Wit & Sons, and asked him to tell us more about the outdoor cultivation. Erwin tells us: “By growing in the open ground you mimic the real natural process. The tulips have time to grow slowly, giving you a more intense color and a heavier quality”. All five companies heat up to a temperature of 14 degrees. They all use heavier and thicker bulbs for planting, so the starting material is also of better quality.

We were of course very curious what that sandy soil has to do with the quality of the bulbs. Apparently a lot! The roots can go really deep, up to 50 cm, and as a result, the plant can take its course and the tulip can gain enough strength. "When we take our tulips out of the ground, they crack with freshness," says Erwin.

Steaming

The growers use a greenhouse to make the tulips bloom for the final phase. They steam the soil before planting, heating the soil to 90 degrees so that all diseases and fungi are removed. This is the ideal basis for a good growth process. The tulips are planted outdoors in the open ground from October to early December, allowing the tulips to root optimally. The flowers are then harvested with the greatest care and attention from January to May.

CoasTulip Experience

Carla Winter organizes guided tours for CoasTulip from Monday to Friday. During these 120-minute tours, the enthusiastic guide shows the CoasTulip nurseries! You can visit the sandy soils where the tulips grow and the visit to the greenhouses completes the tour. Are you interested in this tour? Then take a look at the website www.coastulipexperience.nl  or send an email to carla@coastulipexperience.nl.

FloraPodium, 30 January 2020