UK: Gosberton Clough grower diversified – and has second job
That’s the experience of Darien Long who grows cut flowers under 4,000 square metres of glass on a site at Gosberton Clough.
However, to help make the business sustainable Darien also keeps pigs – and does some lorry driving.
Darien specialises in column stocks in the spring and is just planting his second crop, ornamental cabbages.
The ornamental cabbages were grown for the first time last year, and this year Darien expects to have around 110,000 stems to supply to supermarkets to go in bouquets around Christmas time.
The main crop though is the stocks, and about 350,000 stems went to the supermarkets this year.
The cabbages are fairly easy to grow, whereas the stocks are prone to disease.
The government ban of methyl bromide in 2010, which Darien previously used to sterilise the greenhouses, has added to the problems – and cost the business a lot financially.
Darien has to bring someone in to steam sterilise the glasshouses, at a cost of £20,000 – in a process that uses £15,000 of oil.
He said: “They banned it because it’s not good for the environment, but they didn’t realise how much oil you are using instead. It’s crazy and very expensive for people like myself.”
The good news is that, though the stocks need heat in the spring, the ornamental cabbages prefer cooler temperatures, and in fact need them to flower and colour.
The stems, which grow to about a metre high with a single head on the top, come in reds and pinks but Darien is focusing on whites this year. It wasn’t by choice but because of limited seed supply, but it’s proved fortunate because white is easier to grow.
Source: spaldingtoday.co.uk