LILIES - A NEW OPPORTUNITY
David Kerr, Greenmount Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
New opportunities to grow high value cut flower Lilies were highlighted recently to growers and students at the Horticultural Development Centre, Greenmount Campus.
The spectacular crop of new cut flower lilies presented a blaze of colour. Nine varieties specially selected to suit our climate were grown to a high standard. Enthusiastic expressions of "lovely", "exciting autumnal colours" were heard from the students who are florists themselves.
Cut flower lilies are a high value crop and have the potential to be profitable for Northern Ireland growers. They are one of the most popular cut flowers in the UK and have exotic, spectacular trumpet shaped flowers in a wide range of bright colours.
David Davidson, Horticulture Technologist at Greenmount Campus, has investigated Lily production in Great Britain and Holland, and is currently demonstrating growing seasonal lilies under natural conditions in low cost polythene tunnels. These tunnels, referred to as Spanish tunnels, protect flowers from the wind, rain and allow work to take place in all weather.
The 15 growers who attended the Open Day heard David describe how the flowers are produced. Lily bulbs sourced in Holland were planted in July into well-prepared soil and the flowers were harvested 10 -12 weeks later. The Lilies had grown and performed successfully producing very high quality flowering stems.
Summer flowers
Cut flower development work at Greenmount Campus has concentrated on identifying flowers, which grow well in our climate and have potential in the market place. Summer flowers such as Aster, Stock, Snapdragon and Larkspur have been grown to an acceptable market quality in Spanish tunnels. The work has confirmed that Northern Ireland has a very suitable climate for growing these flowers.
'Vase-life tests' carried out on flower crops have shown excellent results. Local growers can supply flowers to the Northern Ireland market place quicker and gain a vase-life advantage over imported flowers.
Opportunities for Local Businesses
The overall cut flower market is steadily expanding every year. The total United Kingdom market for flowers and indoor pot plants is worth £1.45 billion per year. Currently a very small percentage of the flowers sold in Northern Ireland are grown locally.
Any grower or businesses interested in discussing the potential opportunity to grow flowers should contact:
David Davidson
Tel: 028 9442 6678
e mail
or
David Kerr
Tel: 028 3751 5645
e mail
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