Nowadays, traditional agriculture is complemented by other increasingly technical approaches. Grafting, hydroponic cultivation, and organic farming are some of the paths that were set out years ago, and which have been taken by nurseries, which make a fundamental contribution to the process.
Mateo Ignacio, sales representative at Viveros La Sala, says that "up to 44 million grafted plants left their facilities last year bound to other parts of Spain, as well as Portugal and the south of France."
"We specialize in grafted watermelon, tomato, cucumber, melon, and zucchini plants. We put them on a pumpkin base to give the crop strength if the soil is exhausted. With tomatoes, for example, this works very well," says Ignacio.
"Viveros La Sala was founded about 38 years ago, and, after a lot of hard work, we have consolidated our position in the agricultural system. We have some large customers, but we work a lot with smaller growers in Murcia, who, above all, prefer our pepper plants, among other products. Not surprisingly, last year we sold 14 million horticultural plants in our area," he says.
"The plants are shipped to places with climates similar to ours, but at different times of the year. For example, we start with melons and watermelons in Almería, then move on to Murcia, Seville, Valencia, Tarragona, and Ciudad Real. We ship tomatoes to Portugal, Navarre, Almería and Murcia. There are products from Murcia everywhere, more than we realize," says the sales representative.
"We also have an organic nursery. The plants have to be treated with other products and are more sensitive because they undergo fewer treatments. In organic farming, tomatoes and peppers are the most in-demand products. Some are planted in Spain, but most are exported to Germany," says Ignacio.
Another specialty is hydroponic cultivation. The plant never touches any soil. It grows directly from a bag containing "rockwool or coco coir substrate," says the manager, who explains that "rockwool is like an inert block that drains water very well and helps the roots grow strong." Despite its striking name, rockwool is mineral insulation that protects against cold and heat and helps the plant grow robustly.
"The great advantage of hydroponics is that there are no issues with tired soil or soil that is unsuitable for the plant. You can make the most of the land without having to rely on the soil. It needs more watering, but less frequently. Tomatoes and cucumbers are the main crops grown using this technique," says Ignacio.
"Our region is lucky to have such a good climate. We get plenty of sunshine, which is a source of life and energy for the plants," says the manager.
For more information:
Mateo Ignacio
Viveros La Sala
Tel..:+34 636 75 68 58
[email protected]
www.viveroslasala.com