'Harvesting our Alstroemeria'

HISTORY

Our Nurseries have been growing flowers in Guernsey since 1970.  The original glasshouses were wooden structures with fairly narrow panes of glass in which we were growing Roses, Freesias, Iris, Gladioli, Chincherinchees and Crocosmia.  New metal-framed glasshouses with wider panes of glass were built in 1975 and the better light inside the structures, along with new equipment, helped to produce better plants and flowers.

We have been growing Guernsey Alstroemeria on our Nurseries since 1986, during which time we have built up considerable expertise in their culture and also in which varieties are the most suitable for our Guernsey conditions.

We choose to grow Alstroemeria in Guernsey because of the wide range of colours available and also the very good vase-life that Alstroemeria are noted for.

We have won many awards and prizes at various flower shows and competitions including winning the "Best Vase of Flowers" at the prestigious Guernsey Rendezvous flower show. We put a great deal of care and attention in the growing, harvesting, bunching, providing post-harvest treatment and finally sending the Guernsey Alstroemeria Flowers by Post to their destination, so we know you will be delighted with your purchase – be it for yourself or as a gift for someone.

For many years we have been proud to export our Guernsey Alstroemeria under the Quality Assured Scheme, with the flowers being checked at every stage of production to ensure our customers receive flowers they can rely on. At present we are a participating member of "First Choice" Quality flowers of Guernsey and continue with the Quality Assured theme so that you can buy with confidence.

We are also members of the Guernsey Postal Flower Association of Guernsey.

'Inspecting the new Alstroemeria plants'

ABOUT ALSTROEMERIA

"Growing and Supplying Fresh Guernsey Alstroemeria"

Alstroemeria flowers originate from South America, growing in areas of Peru. The wild Alstroemeria Flowers have been crossed with other types to produce the Hybrids that we now grow in our nurseries on the sunshine Island of Guernsey. The breeders supply the rhizomes to us and we grow them under ideal and controlled conditions to produce these colourful and long lasting Guernsey Alstroemeria Flowers, all year round.

The climate in Guernsey is ideal for producing Alstroemeria. We have plenty of sunshine to encourage the plants to produce their large and colourful flowers, while the sea breezes help to keep the temperatures from becoming too hot for the plants.

We are currently growing about 40 different varieties, each with their own colours, characteristics and growing habits.  The Plant breeders develop new varieties every year, of which we select a few to add to our collection or to replace older varieties.

Understanding Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria has an underground rhizome, which develops vertical shoots.  The main rhizome can generate new lateral rhizomes that can also produce flowering shoots – consequently the plant has an underground spreading habit.  All the development of the plant is underground so the soil temperature is very important.  After prolonged periods of high soil temperatures some varieties will produce many shoots on new rhizomes but many will be non-flowering.  These varieties benefit from the soil being cooled, usually by passing cold water through tubes placed in the soil near the rhizomes.

There are three basic types of Alstroemeria – Orchid, Butterfly and Aurantica – but most modern varieties are hybrids, taking the best and desired characteristics from each of the parent plants.  One desired characteristic is to produce flowers all year round, however there will still be times, like in the Spring, when there will be more flowers produced and with other varieties the Autumn can give a good flush of blooms.

Most Alstroemeria are cultivated under heated glasshouses but it is possible to grow them unheated, although if the temperature falls too low they will not flower in the winter.  They will start to flower about 3 months after planting and continue for 4 or 5 years producing good flowers.  After this time they start to produce more and more blind shoots (non-flowering) and thin, poor quality shoots.  This gives the commercial grower more work to pull out all these extra shoots that are not wanted and it soon becomes more economical to re-plant the area maybe taking advantage of this time to put in a new variety.

The crop will produce, on average, about 250 stems per square metre every year depending on variety, production method, light and temperature with about half to two thirds marketable as top quality flowers with strong stems and at least four flowers at the head.  Some kind of netting is needed to keep the flower stems straight and upright as they can reach heights of 2 metres.  A regular and sufficient watering with liquid feed is necessary to keep the plant growing well and producing flowers all year.  It is also possible to increase the yield by enriching the air with extra CO2, increasing the light levels and extending the day length artificially

We have specialised in Guernsey Alstroemeria Flowers since 1986 gaining considerable expertise over the years. We now know which varieties are most suited to our growing conditions and which will travel well to give our customers most satisfaction from the beautiful colours and long vase-life for which our Guernsey Alstroemeria Flowers are well known. Having chosen our Guernsey Alstroemeria Flowers you will not be disappointed.

'The growing crop of Alstroemeria'

Customers' Comments

"Just wanted to let you know that my aunt is delighted with the flowers - I haven't seen them but she tells me they are beautiful.  Delivered less than 48 hours after placing order. Many thanks - will certainly recommend you and use again." CB Warwickshire

"Hi, Just a quick note to thank you for the flowers that you sent to my aunt. She says that they were beautiful!" MG Hampshire

 "Thank you for sending flowers they arrived before Christmas and the birthday on Boxing Day.  Very pleased thanks."  PS Devon