Rosen Tantau, a prominent rose breeder located in Northern Germany, has successfully completed the construction of its new greenhouse dedicated to cut roses. The culmination of this project marks a significant milestone for the company, with the first blooms now visible as the plants thrive within the state-of-the-art facility. Alexander Letkow, spokesperson for Rosen Tantau, expresses the collective joy of the team, emphasizing the successful development of the plants.
The journey leading to this achievement has been a protracted and challenging one, Letkow reveals. Plans for the greenhouse complex were initially formulated in 2019, only to face an unexpected setback with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The management board, responding to the uncertainties in the rose market and the global industry, temporarily halted the project during the first lockdown. It wasn’t until 2021 that a decisive resolution was made to resume the project and proceed with the construction of the new greenhouse.
Spanning an impressive 8,500 square meters, the new complex comprises five distinct sections. It occupies the site where greenhouses from the 1960s and 1990s were previously demolished, resulting in a substantial expansion of the overall area.
The greenhouse structure follows the classic Venlo design, crafted by Maurice Ammerlaan from the Netherlands. Standing at a height of 5.50 meters, the greenhouse features a double screen for shading, offering optimal conditions for rose cultivation. Notably, four of the five sections are equipped with full LED lights supplied by OSRAM/Fluence.
The primary functions of this greenhouse include the cultivation of cut roses, the selection of new rose varieties, serving as a showcase for customers, and facilitating the propagation of budwood material for their own young plant propagation.
Despite the successful completion, the construction phase was fraught with challenges and unforeseen delays. Letkow cites adverse weather conditions and, significantly, the economic impacts of the Ukrainian war on construction material supply as major contributing factors. These issues necessitated multiple postponements of the planned planting date, ultimately resulting in the rose plants being introduced to the new greenhouse at the end of September instead of the initially scheduled April timeline.
Celebrating this accomplishment, Rosen Tantau extends an invitation to cut rose growers to attend their Open Days from January 15-19, 2024, coinciding with the grand opening of the new greenhouse. The event promises to be an opportunity for customers to witness firsthand the advancements in rose cultivation and to share in the celebration of this significant addition to Rosen Tantau’s infrastructure.