The cultivation of strawberries is increasingly transferred from open field to cultivation in the greenhouse on substrate. However, this method of cultivation is not feasible for every grower as not all of them are able to build a greenhouse. That is why many growers still grow strawberries in ridges, in the open field. A new extra large substrate planter box now offers those growers the option of still growing in substrate, without the need to build racks or to build a greenhouse. "The biggest advantage is that you can cultivate in clean substrate," according to Raymond van Mierlo from Bato Plastics, who is marketing the boxes.
The box is made of 100% recycled plastic material that meets the strictest quality requirements set by Bato Plastics.
The new substrate box, the Meterbak Wave Plus, was developed by Bato Plastics in collaboration with growers and with the German horticultural supplier Metasa. "The substrate box has been developed for cultivation in ridges," Raymond explains. “Metasa has a special machine for this, the so-called Dammformer. This is used to make artificial beds from soil. Those beds are covered with ground cloth. During that process the idea came about for a matching meter box."
Cultivation in ridges
The Meterbak Wave Plus can be placed in those ridges, but the same substrate box can also be used in racks cultivation and in the greenhouse. “The box also fits into a number of existing, specific steel gutter profiles. This new substrate box is wider because of a higher substrate volume (17 liters, 1 liter more than the regular Wave box), so that the box fits better in the profile and is therefore more stable."
The boxes can also be placed on existing steel gutter profiles
The wider box means that there is more room to place the plugs. “In this box the plants can easily be planted directly opposite each other instead of being staggered. An extra option," according to Raymond.
R&D
But certainly not an accidental extra option, because at Bato a lot of research is being done in their own R&D department to ensure that products match the needs of growers. “Our goal is to simplify the work of growers and to help them achieve the maximum result. We often cooperate in this. Growers have the cultivation knowledge, we have the knowledge of product possibilities. And our R&D department makes us flexible and able to respond quickly."
For more information:
Bato Plastics B.V.
Munterij 2
4762 AH Zevenbergen
www.bato.nl
bato@bato.nl
Raymond van Mierlo
raymond@bato.nl