Beekist Tomato Production
Nursery: Beekists tomato seedlings are grown at a specialised seedling nursery. The seed is carefully sown into Rockwool blocks and then nurtured for approximately 4 weeks until ready for planting
Planting: Beekists plants are then carefully transported to the glasshouses and planted onto Rockwool slabs to begin their growing and producing life. Rockwool is a 100% natural organic medium made out of volcanic rock.
Feeding: The plants have their own computer controlled feeding system, which takes effect immediately the plant is placed onto the slab. Feeding continues throughout the plants life cycle.
Growing Process: As Beekists plants grow, they are lateraled (side shoots taken out), de-leafed as appropriate and twisted up a string to the overhead wires and then managed appropriately throughout the rest of its life cycle.
Bumblebees, Hives and Flowering: Beekist uses Bumblebees to pollinate their tomato flowers. Boxed hive stacks are placed into the glasshouses (as shown in left hand picture ) at the end of strategic rows just prior to the first flowers coming out. The hives stay in the glasshouse throughout the flowering life cycle of the plant. The hives are replaced every six to eight weeks.
Biological Pest Control: Beekist uses the method of good bugs fighting bad bugs. This is called Integrated Pest Management. Some of the good bugs used are Encarcia Formosa (tiny wasp) which controls the white fly a common bad bug for tomato plants. The Encarcia eggs are attached to a card which is strategically placed throughout the crops. The eggs hatch out over a period of a few weeks. New Encarcia egg cards are introduced consistently throughout the plants lifecycle.
Environmental Management: Advanced state-of-the-art technology allows Beekist to manage the environment under which the crops are grown. This can be as simple as opening and shutting the vents as the system monitors the weather conditions (wind, rain, heat, humidity, cold) to the more complex issues of feeding and raising the crops to produce an abundance of healthy, superior quality produce.
Picking: Approximately eight to ten weeks from the time the plant is planted out into the glasshouses, the first of the fruit is ready to be picked, packed and sent to market
Skilled Team: The fully integrated process, from seed through to fruiting, picking and packing, could not happen without the deeply committed and skilled grower managers and their dedicated team of experienced assistants
