Why buy your peony flowers at Molenaar Agriculture?
At Molenaar Agriculture, we stand 100% behind our product and quality.
This is partly because we start to get everything out of the planting of our peonies well before the plant goes into the field. For example, before the plants are in the ground we start sowing a green manure which ensures a balanced soil balance, that the soil structure is airy and has sufficient pores. This for optimization of the growth of peony.

A good soil structure
When the peonies are planted, which with 30 cm. planting distance enjoys enough space to promote the growth of the plant, we spread Bokashi on the land. This is a mixture of goat, - and cattle manure, for a natural fertilization of land. We have also grown worms and sprinkled them on the land to keep the soil lively and thus give the peony plant sufficient growing space.

Once the plant has overwintered and shows the first signs of visibility, we regularly walk through the land and inspect the crop. As soon as there are too many weeds growing we link our pulled hoe behind the tractor minimizing the heavy man work. In between the crop, we continue to hand hoe the weeds in order to keep the peony's crop all space to grow. Through weekly hoeing, we reduce the use of pesticides and are sustainable busy.

What to do for a good bloom?
We plant our cutting blocks with coarse plants with 3-5 eyes (growing points). The first year we head off all the buds so that there is sufficient photosynthesis is created to promote the plant to growth. To promote this, we can according to demand of the plant and depending on climate, land sprinkling with our sprinkler reel. The second year the plant is a lot more mature and we cut the first peonies. Then every year the plant gets bigger and produces more flowers, provided you have sufficient sheet ceases. When we notice that after x-number of years the plant gives less quality, we dig up the plant and cut it by a healthy cycle maintain. This is where we stay short at all times and everything in-house.

As soon as the first signs of the plant come into view, we place net support for some sensitive varieties. As the peonies grow taller, net support is in place to prevent the flower from falling over. When the peonies show their buds, we fluff away the side buds. We do this because that way all the power of the plant goes to the main bud, resulting in 1 big beautiful flower.

A peony has no sense of what day it is. That is, during the cutting period, Miller Agriculture walks through their crop several times a day to check their batch of uniform keeping. We stand behind a bloom guarantee in the consumer's home on the table, and that goes hand in hand with the fact that the grower is on the proper maturity have to cut, so even on Sunday(!)
     

How do you store peonies?
Our peonies are cut in the field in open cabbage crates for sufficient ventilation and, upon arrival at the farm, end up in the cold store where we immediately chill them back with indirect cooling so that there is no dehydration can take place. The cold rooms are equipped with UV light so that mold and bacteria have minimal opportunity to develop, all equipment operate fine, and the chiller need to work less hard.

We work with a software package, which we use to have insight into everything, from this we can not only create bills of sale and bills of lading but it also ensures that everything that comes into the barn is tracked and scanned. So we can see exactly where what is and when it was cut or processed.

Molenaar Agriculture innovates
At Molenaar Agriculture we continue to innovate, for example in 2023 our new attached barn was put into operation, more space and for the future the desire to put additional cold storage in that location, which can also keep the barn space cool to keep it pleasant in the summer for both peony and staff.

Also, recently in a forest machine invested. This ensures that we can bundle more steals in a short time, by fewer personnel. As a result, only 1 person remove the flowers from the casket making the lighter work is for everyone. This way we work not only efficiently but also neater and lighter. Here we also have access to a cold water system, should the peonies be put away on water, the cold water ensures that it does not burst open, after all that should only happen at the consumer.

Packaging and personnel
The packing of the flowers is our top priority and are customer. Preferably, we deliver our peonies dry in boxes to keep the maturity keep uniform. This can be done in the auction box (code 519) designed by us medium box, this will fit between 80 and 150 stems or our designed 'Large' box, this will hold between 150 and 300 stems. Numbers depend on each species.

Furthermore, we support a good labor-rest ratio for our staff, a familiar team and short lines of communication with employment agencies, always with the best interests of the staff in mind. We can also accommodate 7 people indoors which has the 'SNF quality mark'. A space where the staff feels at home so that they appear fresh and fit on the shop floor every day. There is also a daily schedule and we involve our staff sufficiently so that everyone knows where they stand. This of course includes, above all, sufficient appreciation.

In short, we stand behind our product, we have everything in-house which allows us to assume our own expertise and be more independent. For this we ask a fair price and any problems are quickly resolved. Proper maturity stage, sustainable, first for staff and environment. We comply with the 'GlobalGap-certification‖ and are always open to question and discussion.