Lily Growers plan to go green

Local cut flower lily growers attended a workshop recently at Greenmount Campus to gain a better understanding of key requirements of sustainable lily production. Presentations from Teresa Maguire (Horticulture Technologist, CAFRE) focused on reducing costs associated with lily production and the re-use of peat for growing locally produced lilies.

The Greenmount compost trials demonstrated at the workshop showed that peat can be re-used more than once for the production of cut flower lilies and that peat alternatives can be used to reduce peat usage.  This has the benefits of both cost savings for growers and allowing more environmentally sustainable production of locally produced lilies.

Ko Klaver, from the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, expert in cut flower bulb production and marketing, outlined the production and marketing of cut flowers as practiced in the United States of America. His presentation concentrated on new cut flower opportunities for Northern Ireland cut flower growers. These included many key learning points in relation to growing and business management.

Ko said “My experience from my trip to Greenmount Campus and to local cut flower growers has shown me that the market situation in Northern Ireland has a lot of similarities to that of the United States of America.  We could learn from one another to develop the trend towards more local production of a wide range of cut flowers”.

The demand for locally produced flowers is continuing to increase due to their improved freshness and vase life compared to imported cut flowers.  There are currently around 700,000 cut flower lilies being produced in Northern Ireland by 10 growers who supply to Northern Ireland, RoI and GB markets including retail florists, wholesalers and supermarket retailers.  The cut flower and foliage industry is currently worth around £1 million and is expected to continue to grow as more local flowers are produced to meet the demand for locally produced flowers.

For further information on short training courses and technology demonstration events to develop and support new and existing growers within the cut flower and foliage sector, please contact David Davidson, Horticulture Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus on 028 37 515605/ 077761 52524 or by emailing david.davidson@dardni.gov.uk

Admiring lilies grown in reduced peat at the workshop at Greenmount Campus are; Modestas Valantinas, Newry, Ko Klaver, Zabo Plant, USA, Eric Morrow, Newry, Teresa Maguire, Horticultural Technologist, CAFRE and David Davidson, Horticulture Development Adviser, CAFRE

Damien and Deirdre Loughran, Castledawson viewing cut flower lilies grown at Greenmount Campus with Ko Klaver, Zabo Plant, USA, David Davidson, Horticulture Development Adviser, CAFRE