"The growers who come here see a system that they also use themselves"
Source: HD.com
In its experience center, a wide range of tomato and cucumber varieties are grown under the same conditions, enabling growers to evaluate differences in growth, yield and plant behavior. To better organize and interpret this data, De Ruiter selected LetsGrow.com as its greenhouse data platform.
Because the system is also used by many growers, visiting customers recognize the way data is presented and can interpret it in a familiar context. André Schaap, Market Development Representative at De Ruiter Seeds, shares: "For us, it's particularly important that we can compare new varieties against the standard varieties we've had for years, so we know how to position them and support cultivation strategies with reliable figures." Using the LetsGrow.com app in the greenhouse, plant data is recorded directly during daily crop work.
This supports consistent data collection across multiple varieties and contributes to a more data-driven approach to variety trials and grower advisory. Footprint calculations take center stage at Dutch horticulture sustainability event Airmix concept now usable year-round, with introduction of active dehumidification Related Articles "The growers who come here see a system that they also use themselves" Unpacking greenhouse crop steering and RTR Chilies suit Belgian tomato growers group’s diversification plan Hungarian strawberry harvest at 7,000 to 7,500 tons “We’ve always been growers, with a deep commitment to our category partners” Related Articles U.S.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
