A Look into the World of Crocosmia Breeding at TM Leenen
We traveled to the sandy soils of Voorhout to visit the nursery and breeding company TM Leenen. Father Theodoor and son Martijn have joined forces and are dedicated to expanding, among other things, their existing Crocosmia assortment. How does this process work, and what do they see for the future? We took a tour and had a conversation to find out!
When we arrive, we are informed by Theodoor that Martijn, who just became a father, is still having lunch at home but will join us later. Theodoor starts the tour around the company with us. It’s exciting, as there’s plenty to see! We begin in the greenhouse, where countless crates and pots are lined up on the ground, filled with various plants. "The company belongs to both of us; we run it together," says Theodoor. "I originally came from the bulb sector, but due to physical issues, I left the family business about twenty years ago. Later, I started on my own, focusing on the breeding of crocosmia, as well as Amaryllis and Daffodils. Martijn also became interested in the field and joined the company after school. We work very well together, and it’s a pleasure to collaborate."
Breeding Takes Years of Dedication
We move further into the greenhouse. Theodoor stops by a row of crates. "I focus more on breeding, while Martijn handles production," he says. We asked him how Crocosmia breeding works. "We sometimes do the breeding outside, but mostly indoors," Theodoor explains. "We have a trial garden outside and this greenhouse where we experiment. We now have a few strong lines that we can crossbreed. We are very selective; the plants must be strong, disease-resistant, and weatherproof. Only the very best varieties move forward. It’s a long process. Growing seeds into bulbs alone takes three years. After that, we outsource the cultivation of plug plants. When we have enough, we can start larger-scale production and bring it to the market. It's always a gamble whether a product will be successful in both production and trade. But we are confident that some of the varieties we are working on now will be a success."
“We’re confident that some of the varieties we’re working on now will be successful.” – Theodoor Leenen, co-owner of TM Leenen
Theodoor leads us into the cold storage. "We’ve been working on the breeding process for several years now, and we’re reaching the point where we can produce our new varieties on a larger scale. Crocosmia ‘Peach Melba,’ for example, is a variety we developed and have now introduced to the market. Look, this cart of ‘Peach Melba’ is headed to you," Theo says, pointing to a cart. "Holex shows interest in our development process and new varieties, and we really appreciate that. It’s helpful to get feedback from the trade, which helps us move forward. Within two to three years, you can expect even more new varieties from us. Let’s head to the trial garden outside to see what else we’re working on." We’re excited to see it!
The Test Garden: A Feast for the Eyes
Once outside, we are greeted by a vibrant palette of Crocosmia colors in the trial garden. From yellow to almost fluorescent pink, to warm orange and deep red, with stunning bicolor flowers—it’s a feast for the eyes. Our colleague Mandy immediately starts taking pictures enthusiastically. "Look, this variety comes from tissue culture," Theodoor begins excitedly. "They were multiplied in the lab two years ago, and now we have a whole batch of them. We’re focusing on 'dry sales,' or bulb exports, rather than offering these as cut flowers. We handle this during the winter and spring months." He walks over to another row of stunning magenta-blooming Crocosmias. "This variety, on the other hand, is specifically for the garden. Nice color, right? In the evening, it becomes even more intense—very special." It’s clear that Theodoor loves his products and is very knowledgeable about the breeding process. A true expert!
We continue walking through the trial garden with Theodoor as he shows us one variety after another. Then Martijn arrives. We introduce ourselves and see the entrepreneurial team complete. Time for a photo among the beautiful flowers!
A Look at the Production Field
Then it’s time to hop in the car. Martijn leads the way; we’re also going to take a look at the field where Crocosmia ‘Peach Melba’ is currently being produced in larger quantities. After about ten minutes, we arrive at the field in Lisse. We look out over a vast expanse where the tall, grass-like leaves of crocosmia gently sway in the wind. We see several people scattered across the field. "We currently have six employees," Martijn says. "They cut the Crocosmia, and I transport the carts to our processing hall. There, my father prepares the flowers for auction. Right now, we’re working hard during these weeks. We’re in full production of ‘Peach Melba,’ so we hire temporary workers to help us out." Someone walks towards us with a large bundle of stems. It’s clear that work is being done here with care and respect for the product, evident in how gently everything is handled.
WWe ask Martijn about the soil where the Crocosmia grows, as we see a lot of sand. "Yes, these are old dune soils," he says. "This used to be all dunes. Crocosmia thrives here. We rotate fields every year to maintain soil quality. As you can see, various crops are grown around us. By rotating, we keep the soil healthy, which benefits our product."
“Every year, we rotate fields to maintain soil quality.” – Martijn Leenen, Co-owner of TM Leenen
Almost 100% Organic Cultivation
And how about sustainability, we ask him. "Well, for example, we don’t dip the bulbs," Martijn says. "Generally, bulbs are dipped in fungicide to protect against mold and bacterial infections. We don’t do that because only the naturally resistant varieties pass through our breeding process. We’re very selective in choosing varieties that grow easily, so we don’t need to spray. We’re currently in the middle of our Global-GAP application, and once that’s approved, we’ll also be FSI-certified. If we owned the land, we could even apply for SKAL certification because we’re almost 100% organic."
Crocosmia at Holex
We thank Martijn for his time and begin our journey back to Holex. It’s clear to us: in the coming years, we can expect a lot from this company! The available Crocosmia assortment will gradually be enriched with trendy, warm colors and bicolor varieties. "Yes, TM Leenen is a grower I enjoy keeping up with. They’re constantly developing, and even though it takes time from the first crossbreeding to a commercial product, it’s fascinating to follow!" says Marc Eveleens, Crocosmia Buyer at Holex, enthusiastically.
Would you like to see the current Crocosmia assortment at Holex? Visit our webshop and go to the Crocosmia category. Do you have a specific question or request? Please contact your wholesaler (florist and event planner) or your Holex Account Manager (wholesalers).
- New varieties are brought to bloom and tested in the test garden
- Crocosmia is grown on sandy soil
- After blooming, decorative berries appear on the stems
- Crocosmia Peach Melba is now being produced on a large scale by TM Leenen
