"With the HS Evolution Pot system, the grower will notice the improvements right away. It's cleaner and therefore more productive. All this benefits the plants, and they can produce bigger and tastier strawberries," says Antonio García, export manager at Hydroponic Systems.
In May 2022, Hydroponic Systems announced the launch of its newest system, the HS Evolution Pot. The system consists of a metal gutter through which excess solution circulates, Spacer Pot that contains the substrate and plants, and an outflow to complete the drainage process. The HS Evolution Pot system was designed with greenhouse strawberry production in mind as its design was optimized for drainage, thus keeping free water out of the root zone and reducing the risk of pathogen proliferation.
"By combining our gutters and spacers, growers can further isolate the roots from the drainage area and any harmful components therein, so the plants will always be healthier. Also, the extra space provided by our system allows for greater aeration and oxygenation," explains Antonio.
The HS Evolution Pot system can be adapted to any type of greenhouse and be installed with posts in the ground (i.e., the supported model) or hung from the greenhouse frame (i.e., the hanging model). As Antonio explains, both models are functionally identical, and the only difference lies in the grower's preference.
The HS Evolution Pot system is reportedly very durable and easy to maintain. At the end of the growing cycle, the grower only needs to clean and disinfect the Spacer Pots before refilling and replanting for the next cycle. By not using bagged substrates, the greenhouse can reduce its carbon footprint and avoid the costs of removing these plastics. Also, the HS Evolution Pot system allows the grower to use whichever substrate formulation they prefer rather than limiting their options to the few bagged substrates available.
"Growers are trying to be more sustainable by consuming fewer resources. That's why we saw that a growing system that didn't use bags of substrate was a good idea and would be very well accepted," explains Antonio. "This way, less plastic is consumed, and also the grower can save the cost of removing and throwing them away, as there is nothing to remove and throw away."
Independent trials show a 3-5% increase in production
An earlier press release cited results from the Centro Universitario Ceickor in Mexico, which reported a 3-5% increase in crop productivity with systems that combine the metal gutter with a Spacer, such as the new HS Evolution Pot. As Antonio explains, these results are not unique to the university, as some customers have conducted independent studies and found that Hydroponic Systems' products allow them to achieve yields of 1.4 kg of strawberries (Murano variety) per plant.
So far, the HS Evolution Pot system has been well received around the world. As Antonio explains, there is a strong interest from both major and developing strawberry markets such as Huelva (Spain), the UK, France, Japan, and other European countries.
Hydroponic Systems will be present at GreenTech Amsterdam, Fruit Focus in the UK, and the International Berry Fruit Congress in Spain. There, attendees can get a closer look at the HS Evolution Pot System and meet with the Hydroponic Systems team.
For more information:
Hydroponic Systems
info@hydroponicsystems.es
www.hydroponicsystems.eu