Get planning for spring bedding now!

As growers start looking ahead to spring bedding production, minds turn to sourcing plants and packs and securing the necessary growing media. While in the past everything was generally to hand – with some surplus – times have changed and we all need to plan ahead, says experienced bedding plant grower and ICL Technical Area Sales Manager – Carl Mason.    

Growing media remains a product that performs better when fresh. Careful planning can play a key role in optimising plant rooting – ultimately impacting final plant quality. Whether using a Levington Advance peat-reduced or Levington Advance Sustain peat-free bagged product, or a bespoke mix, now is a good time to review it – to ensure the best performance for your growing style.

Peat-reduced M2 range

Our Levington Advance Pot and Bedding M2 (75-litre bags) is now 40% peat-reduced with Fibagro Advance (standard). While helping keep the media warm, Fibagro provides great air filled porosity, improving rooting of both seedlings and cuttings.

M2 also benefits from the inclusion of Osmoform High N.  This granular slow-release fertiliser helps compensate for any Nitrogen-drawdown while minimising leaching if over watered.

Bespoke bedding mixes

While many bedding growers rely on M2, others have bespoke mixes – devised with the help of our Technical Area Sales Manager team.  Now is a good time to revisit these mixes, to optimise them for your operations.

Simplifying nutrition – have you considered adding Osmocote controlled-release fertiliser to your mix?  Greatly simplifying production of quality plants, by reducing/eliminating water soluble feeds, Osmocote helps optimise retail shelf life and final plant performance. From my own experiences as a grower, this is something I would recommend.

Root disease protection – the biofungicide Prestop can be growing media incorporated or drenched over the top of plants. Protecting against root diseases – including Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Botrytis – Prestop gives plants the best start and protects them through the transplanting stage, where damage can happen.

Peat-free bedding

Levington Advance Sustain is our peat-free growing media available as a Pot and Bedding mix in 75-litre bags, or as a tailor-made mix. With both, I’m seeing some great results in bedding plant quality and how plants grow.

Recommended additions – I advise including Osmoform High N plus H2Gro – our wetting and water conservation agent. With peat-free mixes, the key is to water ‘little and often’. Before watering, pick up a few packs/pots to feel the weight, to gauge how much water is needed.

Nutrition packages – designed specifically for peat-reduced and peat-free mixes, Osmocote 5 cleverly matches nutrient release with the crop’s specific demands. Alternatively, you can employ good quality water soluble fertilisers.  More time consuming, these should be matched to the nursery water quality – both our Peters and Universol ranges offer soft and hard water options.

Create health biome – our proven biostimulant, Vitalnova TriBoost, promotes healthy microbiomes in sustainable mixes, improving plant quality traits. Available in 25kg, and new 5kg packs, it can be added during mixing or applied as a drench – greatly amplifying the microbial content and delivering a raft of benefits.

Help is at hand

So, now is the time to consider not only placing your growing media order but also what improvements you could make to the mix to optimise plant quality and make growing easier for the 2025 season.

Our team of highly skilled Technical Area Sales Managers are on hand to help guide you.