Bio-Gärtnerei Watzkendorf
Salad-Mix
At a Glance
Details:
Product:
Salad-Mix
Producer:
Origin:
Scope:
Cradle to gate
Date of documentation:
May 2021
# Salad varieties:
3-13
Certification:
Bioland, EU-Bio
Production time: 38-101 days
Seasonality: All year
Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Deutschland
Shelf life: 7 days
Distance to wholesaler: 137 Kilometer
Size of cultivation area per year: ca. 25.900 sqm
Production Steps
View process→
Step 2: Plantation & growth
Step 3: Harvest
Step 4: Mixing & packaging
Step 5: Transport & sales
Step 1: Young plant production
Salad varieties
Depending on the season, the salad mix can contain up to 13 types of lettuce at the same time. Since many lettuces grow at different times of the year, it is also possible that the salad mix consists of only three lettuce varieties. Throughout the year, Bio-Gärtnerei Watzkendorf produces a total of 15 different lettuces: Asian lettuces (mizuna, leaf mustard red / green, cut cabbage), blood sorrel, plucked lettuces (salanova types), rocket, sorrel, edible chrysanthemum, cut chard, cut lettuces (babyleaf), cut beetroot, spinach, (winter cress). In the winter months it consists of lamb's lettuce, postelein and spinach.
General Information
The Bio-Gärtnerei Watzkendorf produces its own Bioland certified young plants and plants them in its foil tunnels, greenhouses or in its fields. Depending on the season and weather conditions, the Bio-Gärtnerei Watzkendorf plants different lettuce varieties with distinctive characteristics (resistance to fungal attack - e.g. mildew or similar).
Details
# workers: 1-2
Machines & tools: soil pot production line, transporter, NAPF-boxes
Material input: black turf, lambs lettuce seeds ,gravel, terra aktv mix (green compost, wood fiber, predator mites), water, sunlight,
Locations: Control & production room, germination room, greenhouse young plant area
Waste: excess soil mixture, dirty water
Timeline
Soil pot production
The production of Bioland certified lettuces in the organic nursery Watzkendorf starts with the production of young plants. First, soil pots consisting of 70% black turf and 30% terra aktiv mix (green compost, wood fiber, predator mites (good against fungus gnat), bio-dynamic compounds) are formed and filled with seeds by a special production line (1 to 15 seeds per pot depending on the salad variety).
Germination room
The soil pots are then put into boxes (150 soil pots per box) and stored in the germination room for 5-7 days. The germination room is protected from light and has a constant temperature of 16 degrees – optimal germination conditions. The constant temperature helps the plants to grow evenly over time.
Young plant growth
As soon as the young plants germinate they need light to produce chlorophyll and grow. That is why they are transported to the next section in the greenhouse which is flooded with sunlight. Depending on the season and the weather conditions the young plants stay here and grow for 3-6 weeks. During that time the young plants are checked for diseases regularly and are irrigated as required.
Hardening
Before the adult young plants are planted in the respective foil tunnel, greenhouse or field, they are placed in the outdoor area of the greenhouse or in a foil tunnel for at least three days to harden off and get used to the weather conditions in the fresh air.
Produktionszyklus - Jungpflanzen
January
Salanova & lettuce (babyleaf)
February
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, mustard green/red, mizuna, salanova, lettuces, spinach
March
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, mustard green/red, mizuna, salanova, spinach, lettuces
April
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova, lettuces
May
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova, spinach (beginning of May)
June
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova
July
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova
August
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, mustard green/red, mizuna, salanova, spinach
September
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, mustard green/red, mizuna, salanova, winter cress, spinach, postelein, lamb's lettuce, babyleaf romana red (red lamb's lettuce)
October
Winter cress, spinach, babyleaf romana red (red lamb's lettuce), postelein, lamb's lettuce
November
Lamb’s lettuce
December
No more young plants are produced in December.
Step 2: Plantation & growth
Plantation
The young plants of the different lettuce varieties are transported to the foil tunnel or the greenhouse, where the employees of the Bio-Gärtnerei Watzkendorf plant the young plants by hand. Apart from the plucked lettuces, all lettuce varieties are mainly grown in foil tunnels or greenhouses. The young lettuce plants are planted with 15 cm spacing between plants, 25 cm spacing between rows (spinach 4 cm between plants and 20 cm row spacing, postelein 25 x 25 cm). If the plants are too close together, they will compete with each other for light, water and nutrients. In addition, the plants need air circulation to dry out after watering and thus reduce the risk of mould or plant diseases.
Growth
Depending on the weather and season, the different lettuce varieties have to grow for 3-8 weeks before they can be harvested. During the growth phase, the plants are frequently checked for diseases, watered, aerated and fertilised if necessary (vinasse - by-product from sugar beet processing).
Details
# workers: 2-6
Timeframe: 21-56
Machines & tools: Irrigation system, ventilation system
Material input: uel (transport), electricity (machines and facilities), liquid fertiliser, plant fortifiers, soil (analysis), sunlight, water
Locations: Field, foil tunnel, greenhouse
Timeframe: 21-56
Machines & tools: Irrigation system, ventilation system
Material input: uel (transport), electricity (machines and facilities), liquid fertiliser, plant fortifiers, soil (analysis), sunlight, water
Locations: Field, foil tunnel, greenhouse
Timeline
Transport
The young plants are transported to the respective foil tunnel/section in the greenhouse.
Plantation
The seedlings are planted by hand in rows with a distance of 15 cm between plants and 25 cm between rows (spinach 4 cm between plants and 20 cm row distance, postelein 25 x 25 cm).
Growth
The plants grow here for 3-8 weeks before they are harvested. In the meantime, they are watered frequently, checked for diseases, aerated and fertilised as needed.
Step 3: Harvest
General Information
As soon as the respective lettuces have reached the right size, the workers can start harvesting. Depending on the lettuce variety and weather conditions, the lettuces can be harvested up to four times. Bio-Gärtnerei Watzkendorf supplies its products mainly to wholesalers and retailers. Therefore, the harvest is organised according to daily orders to keep the lettuce as fresh as possible. When harvesting lettuce, the gardeners sort out damaged plants or leaves and leave them on the ground (in the case of cut lettuce, all sorted-out plant parts are brought out of the greenhouse with a box → prevention of fungal diseases). Depending on the weather and the condition of the lettuce, one worker can harvest 5-20 kg of lettuce per hour.
Details
# workers: 4-10+
Timeframe: 1 day
Machines & tools: Lift truck, knife, NAPF boxes, wheelbarrow, transporter, scales
Material input: Fuel (transport)
Locations: Foil tunnel / greenhouse - planting area (1-6), distribution and packaging hall
Waste: Damaged salad
Timeline
Harvest
The different lettuces are harvested by hand. Sometimes the workers use a knife to sort out damaged leaves or plants.
Temporary storage
The harvested lettuce is stored in 1 kg NAPF boxes.
Transport
Then the freshly harvested lettuce is transported either by wheelbarrow or stacked on a pallet truck to the distribution and packaging hall.
Erntezyklus
January
Postelein, winter cress, possibly last lamb's lettuce at the beginning of January
February
Postelein, winter cress
March
Spinach, lettuce
April
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, mustard green/red, mizuna, salanova, cut lettuces, spinach
May
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, mustard green/red, mizuna, salanova, spinach (beginning of May)
June
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova
July
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova
August
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova
September
Sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova
October
Winter cress, spinach, babyleaf romana red (red lamb's lettuce), sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, edible chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, cut cabbage, green/red mustard, mizuna, salanova
November
Lamb's lettuce, winter cress, sorrel, beetroot, staghorn plantain, chrysanthemum, chard, rocket, kale, mustard green/red, mizuna, spinach, tansy, babyleaf romaine red (red lamb's lettuce)
December
Winter cress, spinach (possibly), postelein, lamb's lettuce, babyleaf romana red (red lamb's lettuce)
Step 4: Mixing & packaging
General Information
Directly after harvesting, the lettuce is transported in NAPF boxes to the distribution hall. There, the different types of lettuce are mixed in a large container and packed in 100 g RPET containers or in 1 kg NAPF boxes. The lettuce is then labelled, placed on a Euro pallet and temporarily stored (cooled) until it is collected by the truck from the Watzkendorf organic market garden.
Details
# workers: 2-5+
Timeframe: 1 day
Machines & tools: Printer, scale
Material input: Electricity (machinery and equipment), labels, RPET trays, plastic foil
Locations: Distribution and packaging hall
Timeline
Mixing
The salads are poured into a large container in equal proportions and then mixed by hand.
Packaging
Then the mixed salad is packed in 100 g RPET boxes or 1 kg NAPF boxes depending on the order, labelled and loaded onto a Euro pallet.
Temporary storage
The Euro pallet is temporarily stored in a cool place until it is loaded onto the transporter.
Step 5: Transport & sales
General Information
The salad mix is stored for a maximum of one day before being delivered to Terra Naturkost in Berlin. From there, the salad is then delivered to regional supermarkets (Alnatura, Bio Company, etc.) or smaller organic retailers.
Details
# workers: 1-2
Timeframe: 1 day
Machines & tools: Manual lift truck, transporter
Material input: Electricity (transporter & plants), fuel (transporter)
Locations: Distribution and packaging facility, transport destinations (Terra Naturkost Berlin)
