Innovation in salad propagation by Crystal Heart improves resilience in horticulture

Good establishment is fundamental to crop performance, so for many salad and vegetable crops, working with a specialist propagator such as Crystal Heart Salad Company is an essential aspect of the crop production process. Innovations by the company include collaboration on a project to design an innovative greenhouse that would enable a protected environment for cooler-climate crops.

James Bean is Managing Director of Crystal Heart Salad Company, a specialist propagator of salad and vegetable plants.

Supporting high quality production

James explains: “Our customers are farmers and growers in the UK. We propagate young plants for them to plant out. Nearly all of these are produced from seed, so we sow the seed into blocks (plugs), germinate them, establish them in a greenhouse and harden off outdoors before delivery. Our principal product is lettuce, but we also provide celery, pak choi, leeks and herbs.

“Most of our customers grow outdoors, however we do have a number of customers who also grow in greenhouses and a couple who grow in hydroponic systems in vertical farms.”

Automation of planting out

“There are many challenges in our industry at present – labour availability and cost, erratic climate, increasing costs and low sales prices, and pressure to improve sustainability, including discontinuing peat use.

“Salad growers are exploring several different approaches to addressing these and we are seeing a greater diversity in the way that crops are grown or established in the field, including a move towards greater automation.

“A major requirement in this case is to provide plants and blocks which are suited to the semi-automatic planting systems used by customers.”

To support its customers, Crystal Heart has a number of ongoing R&D projects involving automation of planting, developing non-peat media and developing novel greenhouse climate systems.

Novel greenhouse for temperate crops

Most greenhouses are designed for warm climate crops such as tomatoes and the increased humidity and temperature are an issue for temperate crops such as lettuces. These crops are therefore more usually field-grown and vulnerable to extreme weather and pests.

To address this challenge, Crystal Heart is leading a project funded through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme. The aim is to create a closed greenhouse that can optimise natural light while incorporating a novel heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. This would enable year-round cultivation of lettuce cost-effectively in the UK.

James continues: “For growers, this solution will ultimately mean less risk and uncertainty, coupled with the ability for greater control over inputs across extending cropping seasons.

“We have a close working relationship with our customers, which includes development of new processes and ideas as much as day-to-day management of production and logistics. Together we are supporting the growth of a high-value industry.”