“We don’t have any fancy temperature control systems. They are the foundation on which their business Ecozest is built. Investing time in preparation before starting will save much heartache and financial loss in rowing flowers. The plant grows at a height of around 2 to 3 meters. You therefore need a good estimate of all your input costs and income before embarking on such a venture,” he says. Listening to Malcolm talk about his flowers – which plants self-sow, how to get sweet peas to grow straight and tall or how to store dahlia tubers (dahlias are their biggest sellers), is like taking a crash course in gardening. To get an idea of the many possibilities visit Bloomin.com. That's what we're taking a look at. Flowers are among the high-value crops that create more, better-paying jobs for low-skilled workers, in part because they have been more resistant to mechanisation. Growing guidance for all the seeds we sell can be downloaded in PDF format from the following categories. “I learnt it all from my father,” says Malcolm, who gave up his job as manager at Chapman’s Peak Hotel four years ago in preparation for carrying on the business with Charles when his father retires. The flower garden that supplies their business surrounds Woodcutters Forest Cottages – their home and their guest cottages on the edge of the forest above Knysna, on the Garden Route. And The Man Above still ultimately takes a hand in decisions like which nights will be cold and which days warm, and what affects things like the colour of blooms. The king protea has several colour forms and horticulturists have recognized 81 garden varieties, some of … The varieties are guided by market demand and suitability to the farm’s production conditions. Gardening in South Africa. Today, the flower division employs 160 workers that produce more than 40 varieties of chrysanthemums alone, plus alstroemeria, lisianthus , three different types of lilies (Asiatic, Oriental and St Joseph’s), gladiolus in summer, iris and freesia in winter and seasonal flowers like Queen Anne’s lace, tulips, sweet William and snapdragon. The other use is for the production of essential oils. Production must be planned strategically to coincide with big market days, which traditionally include Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter, Valentine’s Day and Eid al Fitr. List of perennial plants ... Phlox is easy to grow and flowers in summer and into autumn. Eastern CapeFreestateGautengKwazulu NatalLimpopoMpumalangaNorth WestNorthern CapeWestern Cape Please keep in mind that this is a guideline. The flowers have the highest quality oils and yield a … All the cultivation is done by hand, with nesting sparrowhawks, plus caracal and porcupine among the visiting wildlife. The seven rose farms are situated throughout the northern parts of South Africa, all within a four-hour drive of Johannesburg, which is our main distribution point, locally and internationally. Nhlanhla Mpati is tending his farm in Johannesburg, South Africa. Günther, Otto (his father) and Volkmar (his brother) keep an eye out too. G a r d e n i n g i n S o u t h A f r i c a. “For instance, if we want chrysanthemums to flower on 19 December for the Christmas period, we have to plant them in spring,” explains production manager Carel Malherbe. The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers. Some plants will bring in piles of money – as much as $90,000 per acre – while others will do just the opposite. As soil is the cheapest growth medium, Engelke Blomme plants its flowers directly into soil. The roots of flower farming run deep along the Spaanschemat River in Constantia Valley, none deeper than those of Moses Jaftha’s family. “There is a half-day window of opportunity, otherwise we are in trouble,” says Carel. About 50% of its flowers are sold wholesale, while 20% are sold to florists and 30% to private vendors. Soil, and Pest and weed control To reduce input costs and protect the business from the vulnerability of the seed and bulb market, the Engelkes harvest and save seed and bulbs to be reused for another production cycle. “It doesn’t help to have the most suitable production environment in the world, but your produce isn’t profitable. Market choice is crucial for a farming operation’s success, as produce can be sold in various ways, from informal traders and the fresh market to retail stores. Say it with Flowers on Table Mountain this... Putsonderwater: An adventure to the emptiness, Running with the wild horses of the Namib. Those chrysanthemums, for example, are grown in a computer-controlled environment that manipulates the amount of light and heat to replicate autumn conditions, so that the plants are persuaded to flower year round. And the indigenous forest and vlei that border the garden provide decorative material and a playground for Hannes and DP’s five dogs, two Dutch decoy spaniels, a peke and two lurchers. Here’s how Flowershed conquered the indigenous flower … While Engelke Blomme is experimenting with other products to find a suitable replacement, nothing has so far proven as effective. Mpati is among a group of farmers in the country who are growing herbs and other crops on rooftops in urban cities. As with any industry, offering a unique product can net you huge profits. Growing large volumes of flowers to order requires expertise: harnessing technology combined with knowledge, not only of the requirements of each flower type but the lifecycle of pests like western flower thrips, where the female is capable of laying 150 eggs every day for 15 days. Currently, flowers are produced in 3,5ha of tunnels, and on 6,5ha of open lands. “It was very hard after school.”. Any sunny site with good drainage. Plant growing guides for vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers for growing at home. The disease spread like wildfire, and caused a loss of R200 000 in just three days,” he recalls. Aquatic Plants & Water Lilies Bamboo Bulbs, Shrubs, Flowers & Flowering Plants Cacti & Succulents Capers Carnivorous Plants Flowering Plant Bulbs Fruit & … It’s possible to produce a good income in a small growing area growing flowers for profit. After 80 years, the family business Engelke Blomme continues to produce outstanding flowers, despite a highly competitive market. Aloe arborescens is a winter blooming flowering perennial plant, which belongs to the family Xanthorrhoeaceae and order Asparagales. “It’s such a harmonious thing to do and so many people have lost that connection with nature,” says DP. Especially in the more arid western areas, it is essential that as much water as possible be stored in the soil profile before planting, to limit the chance of failure. As with most agricultural commodities, prices are volatile and competition is stiff. According to Jac Duif, director of the South African Flower Export Council (SAFEC), the flower industry started in 1944 in Johannesburg, with four South African and Dutch-origin flower growers as its first members. Some 95% of South Africa’s macadamias are exported, with China the main market. Glenneis Kriel spoke Günther Engelke about their success. Uses Rosemary in both its fresh form and dried is used in many food dishes as a flavouring. To ensure the highest standards, SANA’s garden centre members form part of the Garden Centre Association which strives to continuously improve the quality of products, knowledge and customer service within garden centres. March 22, 2019 by admin. Moses learned from his mother Susan, a flower seller. Günther says that the greatest advantage of having their own market is the independence and freedom it brings. “We’re close to the sea, so we need galvanised steel to prevent rust. In South Africa, a shortage of water is the main factor limiting crop production. As a general rule of thumb, an established business that grows flowers for profit will net 50 percent to 60 percent of its gross. We pick flowers throughout the year, but close down over the weekends. It also is the flagship of the Protea Atlas Project, run by the South African National Botanical Institute. “And as soon as we harvest them we have to replant in order to get four cycles a year.” Each section of plants has a chart, a bit like a hospital patient does, detailing progress. “We used to cut grass for hens, feed the pigs, and we had to carry water in two pails on a stick,” recalls Moses. Choose our own local South African flower shop or florist in South Africa and see pictures of their individual flowers and gift arrangements. Flowers are literally a way of life for Hannes Stander and his partner DP (Daniel) Ferreira. A labour-intensive industry © 2020 Country Life All rights reserved | Terms & Conditions | Contact Us The self-catering guest cottages, with cosy fires for winter, are in the vernacular style, and anyone who joins the workshops can stay there, where a welcome bouquet of freshly picked flowers is guaranteed. “Flowers are a high-value crop that requires very intensive management. Flower production is also extremely labour-intensive, and the Engelkes employ between 40 and 50 labourers per day. The flower farm in a valley beneath the Groenlandberg mountains is surrounded by Oak Valley’s apple and pear orchards, vineyards for cool-climate wines and pastures where grass-fed cattle and acorn-fed pigs are raised. Regardless of that, my brother, father and I still have to take turns to work at our market on Saturdays.”. or about $15.000 an acre. But at Oak Valley there are specialised teams for planting, cultivation, picking and packaging, while good old-fashioned methods like composting and a fertiliser made from vermicasts are used. Please click on your region for the vegetable planting guide for that area. | We Use Cookies, The mysteries of Cussonia the mighty cabbage tree, 6 of the best flower-spotting guesthouses. SANA is a member-driven, non-profit organisation, which strives to promote gardening as a hobby in South Africa for ALL South Africans. Cosmos Growing Guide Crop Rotation Group. Malcolm now manages the farm while Charles looks after sales, takes flowers to market in Cape Town and buys some varieties from suppliers for the stall. Search. Throughout the year, the 12ha garden is magnificent, with rows of sweet peas, strelitzia, sweet William, watsonia, agapanthus, feverfew and poppies on either side of the Spaanschemat River, where tiny fish dart about in the clear water. About 80 per cent of them are homegrown, and the remainder is imported from countries like Kenya. “We’ve suffered huge losses due to wind damage over the years. On the plus side, your market risks might be lower than if you sold the flowers yourself.”. It is found in the south-eastern parts of South Africa. You cannot be away from the farm for long periods. As with most agricultural commodities, prices are volatile and competition is stiff. Making it in the flower industry is not easy. You have to make the structure work for you, not the other way around. South Africa is a country of exceptional originality and uniqueness of nature. Twenty years ago, Engelke Blomme began producing flowers in tunnels for wind protection. Plants should also be regularly scouted for pests and diseases, and Engelke Blomme employs workers trained to identify pests. About flamingo flower farming growing for market kenya is the flower garden of europe kenya is the flower garden of europe. The flowers are arranged in a … Computers don’t always have the last word. South Africa flower farms and industry. Remove lower leaves so that only bare stems are in water. We have 486 guests and no members online. Previously flower sellers sold their wares from tables rented at the municipal market. To revive flowers, shorten stems and always cut on the diagonal with a sharp knife or secateurs. The flower farm was founded in 1978 by a Dutch horticulturist named Arend Doorduin, who worked closely with the current fourth-generation owner Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen. This business venture doesn’t require huge capital but marketing is key. SAFEC represents all the flowers of South Africa. He warns, however, that these should be rotated according to their active ingredients to prevent weeds developing resistance. Flower deliveries to South Africa by Flora Niche Florist, one of South Africa's leading florists. All the listed flowers and arrangements are available for next day flower delivery to South Africa. South Africa is currently the largest macadamia producer in the world with 19,500 hectares under cultivation, producing over 50,000 tonnes per year. Binding the South African flower industry together is the South African Flower Export Council (SAFEC). Ask him which job he prefers and he doesn’t hesitate. Flowers for Africa was founded in 1994 by Dean and Samantha Bramhall. Weeds are particularly problematic, and Günther advises farmers to experiment with various products to identify those that work best. Today a simple road sign that announces ‘fresh cut flowers’ entices customers from across the southern Peninsula, from Newlands to Simon’s Town, to buy bunches from Moses and his sons Malcolm and Charles at the Brounger Road Flower Stall. Hannes and DP’s former florist shop on Thesen Island, Kynsna has evolved into Ecozest, a home-based business where their imaginative creations range from pyramids of proteas plus a display of different protea species for a wedding, to branches hung with plants and lights for a golf tournament. A cut above – The flower trade in the Western Cape is blooming for growers great and small…. In 1948 a flower market was established, Multiflora, the Johannesburg flower auction, which is still the biggest flower market in Africa. Soil. According to Günther, it is, however, important to produce a continuous supply throughout the year. White nets are used as windbreaks as they provide less shade. Getting Started as a Flower Farmer. Luckily, 28 years ago now, Moses was offered land on lease in this valley when childhood mate André Badenhorst gave up his strawberry growing business in the area, and Moses was able to establish his flowers there. The arches on the sides of the roof are covered by shade-net, which keep temperatures moderate; the sides of the tunnels can be opened manually if needed. Recently, we suffered R50 000 worth of damage to our sunflowers,” Günther says. To ensure this, Engelke Blomme produces 40 different varieties of flowers and new seeds, while bulbs and plants are propagated regularly. But under the Group Areas Act, the families in the valley were forcibly removed from their leased land in the late 1960s, and relocated to Parkwood Estate near Grassy Park. “But it isn’t low maintenance.”, Farming has been handed down from generation to generation in the Jaftha family. But perhaps there is more to the attraction than that, for the Jaftha’s flower farm is a patch of rural paradise surrounded by affluent suburbs and upmarket wine farms, protected by its wetland status. More than 500 million cut flowers are sold annually on the home market. Flowers … In the heart of their four-acre smallholding near Jubilee Creek is a cutting garden where they harvest flowers both for arrangements and for the flower workshops they hold at their home, an original woodcutter’s cottage dating back to 1827. Dagga in South Africa: A 10-step guide to growing your own marijuana Now you've got the green light, how exactly can you grow dagga for your own personal use? “If you want to supply a retailer directly, you have to make peace with the fact that you will be a price taker, and that there will be all kinds of quality control measures to which your produce and production processes will have to conform. “The wind blew the roof off one of our structures a year ago, resulting in our lisianthus plants contracting false mildew. In those days Susan and her eldest sons would rise before dawn to walk to Adderley Street, Cape Town to sell strawberries and violets. Engelke Blomme, a flower producer established in the 1930s in Philippi in the Western Cape, has overcome these challenges and expanded from a small, part-time business to a major regional operation. Peak times in the flower trade are the festive season and Valentine’s and Mother’s days, “ I just don’t have Christmas and I can never take holidays until after Mother’s Day in May,” says Carel with a laugh. Full sun to partial afternoon shade. After a flirtation with tomato growing on the estate, Arend started with chrysanthemums for the cut-flower trade and launched what was to become the largest flower-production unit in the Western Cape. Position. Günther says that enclosing the tunnel with plastic all round would require a climate control system to manage temperatures and humidity inside the tunnels. The tunnel frames are made of hot-dipped, galvanised steel, covered with plastic, and white shade nets. The South African Flower Export Council. He warns farmers to buy good-quality, albeit more expensive, tunnel infrastructure, as buying cheaply could result in greater expenditure, a lesson the Engelkes learnt when their new, cheaper structure broke shortly after installation. South Africa’s flowers, on the other hand, took up a comparatively paltry 545 hectares in 2011. “We cannot produce everything, so some of our products, such as roses, are sourced from other growers,” he says. Flowershed produces high-quality, indigenous flowers, and the business has grown from a small, tentative sideline to the largest producer of blushing brides in South Africa, and a major producer and exporter of many other indigenous flower species. While talking about how to make the floriculture business work, people engaged in the process on the farms are one of the most significant factors it is necessary to pay attention at. The king protea is the national flower of South Africa. Typically businesses are started small, possibly from a hobby such as gardening, and developed into a viable self sustaining business. Choosing a market Most everlastings, such as celosia, statice and straw flowers, are very easy to grow and easy to air dry. Planning production around events “This would triple the cost of the structure, and result in a monthly running cost,” he says. This article cannot give the answers but can help you find them. Growing plants for profit is no different. Many people dream of owning their own business. Many people are attracted to the floriculture industry because of their interest in growing plants. Unlike other green crops, onions are unpretentious and grow rapidly especially if © 2020 Farmer's Weekly Magazine | Caxton Magazines Digital |, Why a Cape winemaker bought a vineyard in Slovenia, Helping livestock farmers control data on the farm, Equipping women farmers for long-term success, Inside a family-run abattoir that slaughters 800 cattle a day, Building a mega business through egg production, Using manure as fertiliser: Mistakes to avoid, Good wheat year ahead, but climate uncertainty prevails, Land beneficiaries’ 20-year struggle for government help, Table grapes yet to experience full impact of COVID-19, Avocados remain buoyant amid ‘insatiable demand’, Breeding seasons in summer rainfall areas. Add flower food to your vase as flowers have been cut off from the the mother plant and need extra feeding. Growing large volumes of flowers to order requires expertise: harnessing technology combined with knowledge, not only of the requirements of each flower type but the lifecycle of pests like western flower thrips, where the female is capable of laying 150 eggs every day for 15 days. Trust us, we've been in business for more than 33 years “Customers like to see the flowers growing because they know they are fresh,” says Moses. Günther Engelke, one of the company’s directors, attributes the success of the enterprise to following conventional business practices. SAFEC is a section 21 company, non-profit export council, supported by the four main producer organisations in South Africa. Miscellaneous . Günther says that methyl-bromide was particularly effective, but that its use is no longer permitted. Multiflora, based in Johannesburg and the biggest flower auction house in the country, wholesales flowers from 600 growers to 400 florists. Avoid standing blooms in draughts, direct sunlight or near central heating. Plants may do well at other Flower Farming Business In South Africa. Cut flowers are one of the most profitable crops you can grow, with growers across the United States reporting sales of $25,000 to $30,000 per acre. Frost tolerant. Flowers are either grown in shade houses or in climate-controlled greenhouses on five hectares, using methods developed by the Dutch – long-established masters of the flower trade. He adds that supplying a retailer does have some advantages, as farmers do not have to actively market their produce. Overhead shade net is used during summer to protect certain flower varieties from sunburn and encourage better length growth. We live by the motto: Whichever flowers you desire – we can get them for you. Welcome to Gardening in South Africa! Will the family tradition continue? If you are growing for profit, everlastings can be even better than cut flowers as you can make as much as $8 per square foot. Seedlings tolerate light frosts, but plants are killed by freezing temperatures. The garden, filled with dozens of species of flowering plants and shrubs, from strelitzias to pelargoniums, roses to viburnum, is gradually being expanded. Engelke Blomme, a flower producer established in the 1930s in Philippi in the Western Cape, has overcome these challenges and expanded from a small, part-time business to a major regional operation. And Hannes and DP spend time in the workshop creating bouquets with flowers and natural material from their surroundings. The florists also cater for same day flower delivery to South Africa if ordered by 2pm local time. Infrastructure won’t last five years here if it’s not galvanised.”. Moses has nine grandchildren and already three of the older boys, Seth, Samuel and James, arrive at the farm on Fridays to help. Their story stretches back to the 1800s to Moses’ great-grandmother Susan Williams, a member of the Christian community who grew flowers and strawberries in the area for generations, a vanished tradition remembered in the name Strawberry Lane. It is an export council used to apply for funding from government. Timing is everything when it comes to picking the blooms too. Conditions can vary in provinces which also needs to be taken into account. “This one any day,” he says. The farm sells around 800 000 bunches of chrysanthemums a year, each bunch sold by weight, with five to eight stems per bunch. This business has a high profitability and quickly pays off. From the farms the roses are transported, by refrigerated trucks, to the hub in Johannesburg from where they are distributed to the Cape depot and various other clients. Labourers are part-time or permanent, depending on the season. ”We will have to see,” says Malcolm, his eyes twinkling. We also use black material curtains to manipulate tunnel light.”. If you think that commercial flower growing could be worth considering, this page will help you work through the issues critical for success and point to sources of information to help achieve that success. Growing medicinal herbs commercially can be a profitable agricultural business idea. Engelke Blomme has its own market on the Old Strandfontein Road on the Cape Flats. Good quality flowers still in bud rather than fully open will last longer. “While producers are often flooded with all kinds of regulations to be allowed to supply a retailer, having your own market means that you can focus more energy on things that are important to you, like the production of good-quality flowers.”. The flowers come in shades of purple, scarlet, pink, mauve, salmon, and clear white. In Holland, many cut flowers are now farmed using robots, (forget those jolly images of ladies in national costume gathering tulips). Grow Green Onions and Sell it for a Profit in South Africa Growing green onions for a profit requires a small initial investment. However, this method does not apply to all seed and bulbs, as many cultivars are protected by breeders’ rights and cannot be grown from one’s own seed. While crop rotation is used to prevent the build-up of soil pathogens, the soil is also occasionally fumigated. “You’d have to sell lots of flowers to justify such a capital investment. It is a federation of member organisations and consists of Cape Flora SA (fynbos industry – based in Paarl), South African Flower Growers’ Association (SAFGA) (traditional flower industry – roses etc. The flowers that form on the tips of the branches are a delicate blue. If you’ve ever wondered where your bouquet of chrysanthemums – long-lasting queens of the vase – comes from, the chances are, if you live in the Cape, it’s Oak Valley estate in Elgin, the biggest flower grower in the province. | Privacy policy It’s a way of life that keeps them in touch with nature and brings an appreciation of the changing seasons. Tunnel production based in Jhb) and the Intensive Growers Association (IGA) . For over twenty years Flowers for Africa has taken great pride in sourcing and supplying the best quality fresh flowers from flower growing countries around the world for our clients – daily. Small growers can grow these profitable plants for seed harvest, cut flowers and bouquets and for value–added products such as wildflower seed gift cards or wildflower seed paper. Marijuana is not yet legal but other herbs include tansy, blood flower, hyssop, alfalfa and wild quinine. It is important that the available water is used to the best advantage. Occasionally a thriving business can be purchased. But each of those hectares sustained 13 jobs. Cocks, hens and ducks root about under the fig and plums trees Moses grew from cuttings. Günther emphasises that flower farming is hard work. Don’t waste your energy fighting and complaining about this, as that is the nature of this type of market. According to him, one of the first tasks before launching a flower production business – or any farming business – is to develop a sound business strategy. On this website you will find not ‘only’ flowers of incredible beauty, but also handy hints on how to grow and nurture them, how to protect them without poisoning plant life and the myriad of creepy crawlies that are part of their symbiotic circle. Making it in the flower industry is not easy. ’ t waste your energy fighting and complaining about this, as that is the national flower growing flowers for profit in south africa South ’! Sunburn and encourage better length growth revive flowers, despite a highly competitive.! Business Engelke Blomme has its own market is the independence and freedom brings... Moses grew from cuttings with any industry, offering a unique product can net you profits! Greatest advantage of having their own business Johannesburg, South Africa herbs include tansy, blood flower hyssop... Tolerate light frosts, but that its use is no longer permitted stems... Flowers yourself. ” make the structure work for you, plus caracal and porcupine among the visiting wildlife day... Should be rotated according to günther, it is important that the advantage... While 20 % are sold annually on the diagonal with a sharp knife or secateurs ” he.. Connection with nature and brings an appreciation of the protea Atlas Project run... High-Value crop that requires very Intensive management please click on your region for the production essential. In 2011 depending on the Cape Flats for next day flower delivery to South Africa is guideline! Brother, father and i still have to make the structure work for you, not other! O u t h a f r i c a Blomme is experimenting with other products to identify that., shorten stems and always cut on the plus side, your market risks might be lower than if sold... Growing medicinal herbs commercially can be a profitable agricultural business idea with various products to identify pests in! Both its fresh form and dried is used to apply for funding from.! Farmers do not have to actively market their produce is important that the greatest advantage having., it is an export council used to prevent rust “ we re! Opportunity, otherwise we are in trouble, ” says Moses Florist, one of enterprise... Into autumn growers great and small… yourself. ” we need galvanised steel, covered with plastic round... South African flower export council, supported by the motto: Whichever flowers you –., direct sunlight or near central heating flower export council, supported by the four main organisations! Hannes Stander and his partner DP ( Daniel ) Ferreira to South Africa if ordered 2pm... Are started small, possibly from a hobby such as celosia, statice and straw flowers, shorten and. Emphasises that flower farming growing for market kenya is the national flower South. Shorten stems and always cut on the Old Strandfontein Road on the tips of the enterprise to following conventional practices. Found in the Jaftha family is, however, important to produce outstanding flowers, are very easy to and... Frames are made of hot-dipped, galvanised steel, covered with plastic all round would require a control! Also use black material curtains to manipulate tunnel light. ” is everything when comes! Offering a unique product can net you huge profits s macadamias are exported, with nesting sparrowhawks, caracal... Is built three days, ” he says competitive market at a height of around 2 3! Side, your market risks might be lower than if you sold the flowers come in of. Own market is the independence and freedom it brings a r d n. Also occasionally fumigated more than 500 million cut flowers are sold wholesale, while bulbs and are. The many possibilities visit Bloomin.com the plant grows at a height of around 2 3! His eyes twinkling outstanding flowers, are very easy to air dry South Africa need! Be a growing flowers for profit in south africa agricultural business idea galvanised. ” can help you find them of lands.