Like most agricultural business, Westview Garden Seedlings, situated at Wyreema on Toowoomba’s outskirts, is a seven-day-a-week operation.
Managing director, Stacey Hamblin, is passionate about her business and the valuable services she provides to farmers.
Westview Garden Seedlings produces 15 million seedlings annually, servicing vegetable growers in south east Queensland.
“Our farmers order their varieties of vegetable seedlings, along with the number of seedlings they require, and an expected delivery date,” Stacey said.
Once the orders are placed, Westview Garden Seedlings sources the seed from seed companies from all over the world.
“We plant the seeds into 198 or 240 cell seedling trays using a Williams Automatic seeding line. The soil mix we use is a mixture of peat moss and vermiculite,” Stacey said.
Once the seeds are planted into seedling trays they are placed in germination room with controlled temperature to suit that particular variety.
It depends on what type of vegetable it to whether it stays there for two to seven days.
From there, the plants are rotated through the nurseries, starting under shade cloth, then moved under hail netting, and into the open space to be toughened-up for the next growing phase.
“We communicate with our farmers as to when they can take delivery,” Stacey said.
“It is ideal if the farmer can plant within 24 to 48 hours of delivery.”
Stacey is the first to admit that all vegetable seedlings have their own growing issues, but said the biggest challenge is the unknown weather conditions.
“One of the challenges is predicting the weather temperature which influences the growing time in the nursery to meet the farmers specifications,” she said
“When talking to my farmers I listen to their seedling requirements to understand their needs, and produce the best seedling for their growing environment.
“Every farmer has their own vision and expectation of what they require in a seedling.”
Westview Garden Seedlings is monitored seven days a week to ensure the growth of the seedlings.
The seedlings grow much faster in summer and are ready in about four to five weeks, while during the winter months it can take seven to eight weeks.
Each of the nurseries is equipped with a travelling irrigator which is also used to apply insecticide, fungicides, and nutrients.
Prior to delivery the seedlings are treated to meet the requirements of the individual grower.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
