At Cox Aardbeien in Baarlo, eight growing gutters hang per bay, spaced exactly 1 metre centre-to-centre. Over the past few years, strawberry grower Guus Cox converted several existing greenhouses for strawberry cultivation and chose a gutter system designed from the outset with mechanisation in mind. Sales manager Sebastiaan Smeur developed this custom growing system together with Guus Cox.
For the greenhouse in Baarlo, Meteor Systems supplied a complete, tailor-made growing system: suspension, drain water collection, irrigation and pipe rail supports. The gutter profile was specifically adapted from Meteor Systems' existing range, using our roll forming machines that allow custom gutter specifications and dimensions for every project.
Two gutters, one system
What makes this system stand out is that it consists of two gutters per row. The upper gutter holds the substrate with the strawberry plants, twelve per square metre. Through drain holes in the bottom of this gutter, drain water falls into a second, narrower gutter that acts as a drain channel. In total, 11.5 litres of substrate goes into the gutter. Less than usual, but a deliberate choice. "It allows us to grow a bit more generatively. It also helps with hardening off properly in winter," says Guus.
Uniformity as the foundation for mechanisation
The exact 1-metre centre-to-centre spacing between the eight gutters per bay is the foundation of the entire concept. "That way, we can use machines across multiple locations," Guus explains. "Uniformity is very important. Mechanisation is organisation."
In many cases, strawberry growers using standard gutter sizes end up just a few centimetres short of placing every gutter at exactly the same distance. Cox Aardbeien gains those centimetres back with a narrower gutter, without compromise.
More harvest days, more return
Since working with the new growing system, Cox Aardbeien switched from a continuous cultivation cycle to two fresh plantings. In the Baarlo greenhouse, the company grows the Inspire variety. Normally, choosing to plant twice would mean a significant increase in labour, but with proper mechanisation Cox Aardbeien can manage that.
Several machines have been introduced, all operating on the same base trolley: a filling machine for the substrate, a machine that mows and mills in a single pass, and a machine for mechanised crop clearing.
An added benefit: Guus saves substrate for the second crop and gains crucial weeks of growing time. "Last year we kept picking until 15 December, and before Christmas we had the new crop planted again. With this system, you extend and advance at the same time." Between the two crops, the Baarlo operation ultimately had just nine weeks without product.
Moving forward together
At first glance, mechanising the labour around crop changeover seems like a modest saving on an annual basis. But Guus sees the bigger picture. "The concept directly increases return because it creates more harvest days."
Guus is looking ahead to mechanising more crop operations and is keen to take those steps together with fellow growers who see the potential of a gutter system designed for mechanisation. "Up to this point I moved much faster on my own, but now it is time to move forward together and work out the details."
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