NL: Gladiolus also suffering from hot summer

"It's just too hot, and that's why the prices are disappointing. The season started off nicely, but the last two weeks it's less. This morning the auction clock price was 11 cents, which is the lowest of this season," says Johan Denissen from Denissen Gladiolenkwekerij Odiliapeel. Now the Four Day Marches Nijmegen event is in full swing, where finishers are traditionally showered with gladioli, it's a good time to check in on how the gladiolus is doing.

Not great, judging by the prices which normally would be 20-25 cents, and the sun and drought also left their mark. "They come in much faster and left and right the stems are too short. I estimate that they are on average about two weeks ahead of schedule. This doesn't have to be a huge problem if you are able to spread it out, but for those smaller occasional growers it's bad."

Gladioli get much-needed water. Photo Twitter @irma5891

They are now about 3 cents below the cost price, but perhaps the late planting will do a lot to compensate. It normally arrives at the end of September, but it is now expected that it will be the beginning of that month. Fortunately he has little to fear from foreign supplies by then, and they would need 25 cents or more to come here anyway. "And so they don't come", Johan says.

In terms of watering the situation is still good, there is sufficient buffer available to be able to continue for a while. Not everyone can say that, however. Growers who are not on the big rivers and on higher ground are beginning to feel the drought. Or those who grow on the Zeeland islands, where the nearest water is often salty and water has to be supplied from elsewhere. For example, nursery Dooges Flowers from Oosterland is dependent on a water supply from the Zoommeer, a lake about 40 kilometers away. The nursery doesn't want to reveal how much it is costing them, but when it doesn't rain, there really is no other option.

The Four Day Marches Nijmegen started with thousands of participants (47,431, according to the website) running or walking 30, 40 or 50 kilometers. And as is tradition, when they cross the finish line they are handed a bouquet of gladioli. This is why this moment normally is the peak of the Dutch gladiolus season.

The gladioli area decreased slightly this year compared to last year. More statistics broken down by varieties can be found here (source BKD).

For more information:
Denissen Gladiolen Odiliapeel
Vogelstraat 3a
5409 SH Odiliapeel
M: +31 (0)6-42252622
E: [email protected]
www.denissengladiolen.nl