We have also started planting our flower bulbs in our fields. Because more than 150 hectares have to be planted, this is done entirely mechanically. Our show garden will also be planted soon so that you can enjoy all those colors again next spring.

Planting is now done mechanically. The planting material (bulbs up to size 10) is supplied in cubic boxes and is thrown into a kind of collection container on top of the tractor. The bulbs go through the machine to the lower part of the machine. That part of the machine pushes the soil aside after which the bulbs are spread over the ground. The rear part of the machine covers the bulbs again, creating beautiful straight beds. 

Planting in earlier times

In the past, the bulbs were planted by hand. That was a lot of work, but the plots were much smaller at the time and the bulb growers had much less land. With the truffle, a kind of scoop (not to be confused with the tasty mushroom) the correct planting depth was then dug into the prints of the plant roll. With the plant roll, the correct planting distance was measured and indicated in the sand. By rolling the plant roll over the sand, the prints of the wood remained in the sand. Then, sitting on the knees, the bulbs were planted by hand and again covered with sand. A very labor-intensive job. After planting, the bulbs were covered with reeds. In the past there was no straw, so reed was used that was taken from Groningen and Friesland. You could even use reed 2 times! With the reed fork, the bulbs were covered with reeds to protect them from the cold. The foam shovel was used to shovel sand onto the reeds so that they would hold firm in strong winds. This was called 'foaming'.

De eerste plantmachine

This 1953 Nobels planting machine is one of the very first planting machines ever produced. Nobels is a family business in Noordwijkerhout and is known as a pioneer in the field of modern cultivation techniques.