Scotts Is Top Of The Crops

Specialist growing media producer, Scotts, has achieved a 20 per cent increase in the sales of its Levington B2 blocking compost over the past three years, primarily to vegetable and salad growers. This means that Levington B2 is the best selling blocking compost in the UK.

Scotts business development manager Shaun Cavanagh said: “Growing vegetables and salads is big business. The volume of Levington B2 used to grow salad crops equates to in excess of 500 million plants per year – all grown for UK consumption. That means that around 70 per cent of all salad in the UK is grown in Scotts blocking compost.

“The growth we have seen in this sector proves that Levington B2 provides plants with the best start in life. It also reflects the increasing demand for organic products; we produce an organic version of Levington B2.” 

Blocking compost is a special growing media which, when water is added and it’s compressed, forms a self-contained ‘block’ for a seed to grow in. So no pots or trays are needed.

Premier Plant Producers, just outside Hull, is a plant propagator that is seeing great results with Scotts growing media. The company produces an extensive range of young plants such as lettuce, brassicas and fennel, as well as strawberry crops, in 26 acres of glasshouses, supplying to growers and customers all over the UK and Ireland.

“I’ve used Scotts growing media most of my life, and the main reason for this is consistent quality,” says owner Peter Overvoorde. “The Levington B2 is just the right texture, not too dense, to allow for healthy root growth. We get through two or three loads a day – around 11,000m3 per year – and we always receive the same high quality product – every time. Scotts’ delivery is very reliable, too.”

	Hillgate Nurseries uses Scotts Levington B2 blocking compost to raise young plants.

Another of Scotts’ biggest customers is Hillgate Nurseries, in Terrington St Clement, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. The site boasts 15 acres of glasshouses in which it propagates lettuce, endive, Chinese cabbage, celery and all types of brassicas for commercial growers.

Owner David Barton said: “I have used only Scotts growing media throughout my career. As far as we’re concerned, their blocking is the best available on the market. I have tried a few others, but always found they produce a block which is too hard. With Scotts we can grow a perfect plant – the consistency of the product is just right, with the correct nutrition to give young plants the best start in life.”

As with most other plant raisers of this scale, David’s operation is highly mechanised, which means he relies on a regular, reliable service. “Production is pretty intensive, and we have to keep things moving to meet our orders. With Scotts we have complete confidence that the blocking will arrive regularly and on time – we get two to three deliveries of 60m3 every day. If one of these deliveries is missed we can really fall behind, so reliability is paramount.”