“Thanks to the heated greenhouse, we can breed and react to the market much faster”
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Plant Breeding
De Bolster specializes in breeding varieties for organic cultivation. Every day, our creative breeders are busy developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful. Many varieties originate from our own organic breeding program. Organic seeds are strong seeds. They provide a healthy start for organic farming.
Selected and developed based on resistance
In organic agriculture, no chemical substances are used. This means that organic seeds are selected and further developed based on their resistance to diseases, pests, and environmental stressors. This is fundamentally different from conventional agriculture, where varieties and seeds have a built-in dependence on chemical pesticides and excessive fertilizers, with all the associated consequences for people and the environment. We build on natural resistance and resilience.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection. Observation helps us recognize plants with desired traits (such as taste, shape, color, and resistance to diseases and pests). Subsequently, crosses are made between different selected plants, and from these, we harvest the seeds. By repeating this over successive plant generations, we move one step closer each time to varieties with the best characteristics.
Strong roots
Our tomato, for example, is bred for varieties with a strong root system, where the plants provide high yields even without a rootstock. And for pumpkins, the varieties are bred for good yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of growing closed quickly over the field, which suppresses weeds.
Crosses that could have occurred in nature
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is an important difference from breeding where the DNA is artificially manipulated. We are an opponent of this genetic modification. We exclusively use the natural traits of the plant. Even the latest ‘CRISPR-Cas9’ technology does not fit within the organic vision, in our view.
“We believe in the power of nature. We therefore only use classical breeding techniques.”
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Every day, our creative breeders work on developing crosses that make existing crops even more resilient, productive, and flavorful.
Classical breeding means: these are crosses that could also have occurred in nature. This is a major difference from breeding where DNA is artificially manipulated.
Our breeding process consists of observation, crossing, and selection.
De Bolster’s pumpkins are developed for organic arable farming. The varieties are bred for high yields at low nitrogen levels. Our pumpkin also has the characteristic of covering the ground quickly, thus suppressing weeds.
Assortment
Our assortment includes more than 330 varieties.
Many varieties originate from our own organic breeding program, including our specialties like pumpkin, tomato, and bell pepper. In addition, we offer other proven varieties in close cooperation with fellow breeders in the sector.
Because growing conditions are much more challenging than in conventional cultivation, it is crucial that more high-quality varieties become available. Varieties that can ‘take a hit’ and are suitable for soil cultivation, where the climate, water, and nutrients are less manageable.
We are up for that challenge. All varieties in our assortment have been carefully tested and have proven to perform well under organic growing conditions.
5 reasons why De Bolster is unique
All our seeds are purely organic
Our seeds are 100% organically multiplied according to regulation (EC) number 834/2007.
We are registered with SKAL under number 019678.
Variety selection for organic cultivation
We cross and select under organic cultivation conditions, in the soil, with a minimum of nutrients and water. This is how we bring the quality of the varieties to the highest level and ensure that our varieties are suitable for organic farming.
De Bolster chooses 100% GMO-free
We believe in the power of nature. We therefore only use classical breeding techniques that have already proven their safety and production value for the long term.
We keep crops free of patents
If natural plant traits are patented, we all lose. Therefore, De Bolster actively advocates for crops free from patents. This keeps nature available to everyone.
International production for a strong supply
At our main location in Epe, we breed, select, and produce our organic seeds. We also have a 150-hectare location in Moldova. International production is good for risk diversification and means our seeds provide successful harvests in various climates.
Deep dive? Read about our vision:
Regenerative and organic agriculture
Ready to order seeds?
De Bolster produces seeds for over 330 organic varieties, ranging from vegetables and herbs to flowers and green manures. For gardeners, smallholdings, agriculture, and horticulture. Our shop has been rated by nearly 20,000 customers with an average of 9.4.
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