Every three weeks Jaco Evers from Double Check Lily nursery drops in to deliver a bunch of lilies to the FloraPodium. Double Check Lily believes it is important to collaborate with their customers and is eager to get a response to their offer and range. Jaco told us that a special variety is on its way, small-scale still and very exclusive. Of course we wanted to know more about that. We visited the nursery, where Jaco and colleague André told us all about the Lilium oriental "Hilux".

Active for over 100 years!

Double Check Lily is known for its unique range; as they describe it themselves, a mix of well-known classics (must-haves) and potential newcomers (innovations).
The history of Double Check Lily goes back more than 100 years and since then horticultural knowledge has been passed on from generation to generation. The first lilies entered the company in 1972. This Queen of Flowers, as the lily is also called, was then still quite unknown in the Netherlands.
Now, more than 45 years later, Double Check Lily is one of the largest lily growers in the Netherlands. With a lot of experience, expertise and by using the latest technologies, they strive for optimal variety in the range, high quality lilies and of course satisfied customers.

In the spotlights

The Lilium oriental "Hilux" can be ranked under the new Lily generation, says Jaco. This new generation consists of sturdy upright lilies. The bud structure is much more compact and there is much more color at the top of the stem. This makes these lilies much more suitable for use in bouquets.
The "Hilux" has a very nice smooth pink chalice. As soon as the flower opens, it turns from dark pink to light pink. This romantic color in combination with the compact bud construction makes this variety very suitable for use in bridal work.
The vase life of the lily is very impressive which makes it also suitable for use in large and luxurious arrangements, company decorations and flower arrangements at large events.

Hilux is a strain that is still under construction at Double Check Lily. Large numbers are not yet available, so the species is still exclusive. The intention is to grow this variety all year round. Continuity is very important to Double Check Lily. They therefore have regular contact with the breeder.

The "Hilux" is not the easiest variety to grow, but according to André this does not outweigh the quality that this lily offers. "Rather difficult cultivation and a good product than the other way around," he says  laughingly.

Southern hemisphere

The lily bulbs are grown at a bulb propagator. Large strong bulbs give nice thick lily stems. These bulbs grow outdoors and are cleared in two months. After that the bulbs should be able to provide a Lily production all year round. In most cases however this does not work. The bulbs are frozen, but have a shelf life of only 8 months. To be able to produce all year round, a second batch of bulbs is grown in the Southern Hemisphere (Chile and New Zealand). There, the seasons are opposite to the Netherlands. This is where the 'Hilux' bulbs come from.

Growing in boxes

The LA (Longiflorum Asian) varieties at Double Check Lily are grown in open soil. The LA is easier to grow than the oriental varieties. The oriental varieties are therefore grown in boxes, because this improves the quality of the lilies; there is a significant difference in quality if they are grown in open soil. This is mainly due to the acidity of the soil; which can easily be controlled in boxes. After each harvest the soil and boxes are steamed to prepare them for a new batch of bulbs.
After filling them with the bulbs, the boxes first go into cold storage for 14 days, at roughly 10 degrees Celsius.
There the bulbs can create their roots in peace. Lily bulbs are supplied with roots at the bottom of the bulb. A lily that produces stem and leaves first roots at the top of the bulb. It is therefore very important, in addition to allowing them to grow slowly, that the bulbs are planted deep enough in the soil. The better the bulb can root, the better the quality of the stem and flower.


Fat Berta

On the other side of the nursery we notice a very large machine, which makes a lot of noise. "This is Fat Berta," Jaco says with a laugh. Fat Berta is a machine that empties the empty boxes and eventually fills them again.
The soil that is removed from the boxes is first transported to a large steam cabin. Here it is steamed at 100 degrees C. When the soil leaves the machine it is still about 80 degrees C; too hot yet for planting new bulbs. It therefore first goes through large cooling mills, in which the fresh earth is cooled to 20 degrees C.
Then Fat Berta is put back to work; she fills the boxes, and employees simultaneously plant new bulbs in the boxes. The boxes are supplied with water and food, so that they are ready to enter cold storage for two weeks.
The boxes are filled with coconut soil. The moisture balance of the coconut substrate provides the ideal living environment for the lily. Because the lily goes into cold storage for 10 days, there must be enough water in the soil to survive these ten days. However, too much water is not good either; mold could then form in the coconut substrate.

Sustainability

Lily cultivation is an environmentally friendly cultivation. There are almost no pesticides required and if there is a bug in the crop, it will be controlled biologically as much as possible.
The solar panels on the roof provide the company with the necessary electricity and water comes from a closed water system.
Double Check Lily strives to grow as sustainably as possible. "We believe that we have the earth on loan, we have to deal with it in a sustainable and responsible way. Together we must ensure a sustainable world: today and tomorrow! "

FloraPodium,  19 March 2020