Kwekerijen

Kwekerijen, meaning nurseries in Dutch, are horticultural facilities where young plants are propagated, grown, and prepared for sale. They may specialize in ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, fruit crops, or a combination, and can operate as independent businesses or as part of larger horticultural companies. The term covers both seed propagation and clonal propagation such as cuttings, layering, and grafted stock.

Production involves many methods: seeds, cuttings, grafting and budding, layering, and sometimes tissue culture. Plants are raised in greenhouses or in field operations, with controlled climate, light, heating, and irrigation to optimize growth. Substrates vary and may include peat-based mixes, peat-free mixes, coco coir, or other soilless media. Irrigation is often drip-based; nutrition is tailored to crop needs. Integrated pest management aims to minimize chemical use and maintain plant health.

Kwekerijen supply finished young plants and stock to garden centers, landscapers, other nurseries, and wholesalers, and increasingly to consumers through direct sales or online channels. Output can include potted ornamentals, seasonal plants, and young trees ready for field planting or further nursery development. Some nurseries also maintain breeding programs or select and distribute new cultivars.

Regulatory and quality considerations are important. Nurseries must comply with plant health regulations to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. In many regions, quality standards or certifications such as GLOBALG.A.P or equivalent are pursued. Sustainability practices—water and energy efficiency, substrate reuse, and waste management—are increasingly emphasized.

Kwekerijen have a long-standing role in horticulture, particularly in Dutch-speaking regions, where greenhouse production and plant breeding are highly developed. The plural form kwekerijen denotes multiple such facilities.