association comment Planting the seed: Seed and bulb


producers prepare for 2018 GIMA members’ innovative new product launches, partnerships and expansions are set to capitalise on consumers heading to their garden centres looking for inspiration to create fresh Spring colour


With recent changes to the supply chain, the seed potato category is top of many retailers’ agendas.


Taylors grow thousands of tonnes of ware potatoes on their Lincolnshire farm and invested in packing and storing facilities in 2015 for seed potatoes with a brand new bespoke production line and 1400 tonne cold store. “That investment appears to have been recognised by the market with the reliability and quality of the product we have been supplying and we have ample capacity in the facilities,” says Adam Taylor, director of the fourth-generation family business. “We have had lots of enquiries from potential new customers for seed potatoes who have been let down by their supplier previously or left without a supplier at all now that Unwins and Thompson & Morgan have withdrawn from the seed potato marketplace.”


Taylors Bulbs Seed Potato range for Spring 2018 comprises over 80 varieties, as well as their bestselling Taster Pack range with seed in smaller quantities. 54 different varieties will be offered in a 2kg CarriPack and 25kg nets for loose sale.


2018 marks Mr Fothergill’s 40th business year and to celebrate, the company has brought about several exciting partnerships and launches for the year.


An RHS Award of Garden Merit seed range will be available in 2018 - made up of modern and traditional, vegetable and flower seeds. For the newer gardener, a partnership with David Domoney to launch a ‘Get Growing’ range with packets offers simple, jargon-free instructions and a QR code linking to further ‘on the spot’ advice from David, ideal for beginners. In a first for home gardeners, the Suffolk- based seed specialist is bringing revolutionary Swedish seed priming technology to 20 of its most popular garden vegetable varieties for 2018. Optigrow uses just water and air to get the seed biologically ready for germination and consistently produces more uniform crops, better harvests and quality vegetables. At this year’s Glee, Johnsons Lawn Seed (DLF) launched its Lawn Thickener, demonstrating the quality of the product in living displays for the first time, whilst also announcing a newly expanded national salesforce.


The company’s latest innovation features Seedbooster® - a


combination of slow and


fast release fertiliser coatings that guarantee 30% more grass than uncoated grass seed, as well as faster germination and establishment. Following the success of BEES™ Seeds and Gifts over the last couple of years, G Plants have developed a collection of new wooden display units with vintage branding, which will be available for delivery from December. Available when ordering a selection of BEES™ Seeds and Growing Gift lines, the displays can be stocked up easier with follow up orders throughout the year thanks to newer smaller case quantities that have been introduced for all lines. New products from this range include Bonsai seed starter kits, grow your own tea gift sets and allotment seed starter sets, which G Plants say have proven to be very popular since the launch at Glee in September. • For further information please contact the GIMA Press Office on (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk


DCF invests £8,500 in students of horticulture


TheHorticultural Trades Association (HTA) lauds the positive work of The David Colegrave Foundation, with scholarships open for application


With this year’s scholarship season once again open until January 31 2018, the HTA looks back at how The David Colegrave Foundation has already helped out horticulturists of the future.


Last year a lucky eight students that were looking for a career in Horticulture were selected to receive £8,500 worth of scholarships by the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF).


Below we talk about what happened after they received their funds:


George Laws who received the South West Growers Show Sponsored Scholarship has been able to secure a job immediately after graduation in the research and development department of a sustainable production systems business. George hopes other prospective students manage to gain this Scholarship as, “it has greatly improved my independence and career prospects for the future.”


Emma McFarline, who received a Student Scholarship, said: “This scholarship has been an invaluable help to me as it hasn’t just


14 | www.gardencentreupdate.com


supported me financially, it has also given me confidence that changing my career to horticulture was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Thank you.”


Caroline Power, who also received a Student Scholarship, has now successfully completed her first year in Horticulture at CAFRE Greenmount College, and hopes to continue on the same successful path. As part of her ongoing studies she hopes to develop her knowledge in hydroponics and research into alternative hydroponic growing media which sparked her interest in modern growing techniques and crop quality management. Gabor Lukoviczki received the British Protected Ornamentals Association (BPOA) - Peter Seabrook Bursary. Gabor has now worked with over 600 varieties and developed a knowledge of their needs and treatments. The bursary gave him the opportunity to continue his study in horticultural production. Since receiving his bursary, Gabor has had the opportunity to travel, and further his studies with a QA Award, First Aid at Work and


purchasing his own text books. Gabor hopes to develop more in horticultural diseases and the treatment of them and then to learn about the different types of pests and biological controls there are too.


DCF chairman Jeff Colegrave said: “This year’s Scholarship Season drew in applications from students studying at 19 colleges across the UK. Those awarded are all a great investment with interests that include pests and diseases, organic growing methods, sustainability, hydroponics, plant pathology and crop management.” Over £57,000 worth of scholarships has been awarded in the past five years to students studying at 14 UK colleges. The current Scholarship Season is open for students to apply for funding, and it closes on January 31. • For more information on the winners and scholarships visit


www.davidcolegravefoundation.org.uk GCU November/December 2017


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