On the way to an organic rose nursery: Belle Epoque and Verschuren join forces

Op weg naar een biologische rozenkwekerij: Belle Epoque en Verschuren bundelen de krachten

At Belle Epoque, we believe in quality, durability, and future-proof cultivation methods. That is why we have started a collaboration with rose nursery Verschuren from Brabant to take an important step forward: growing organic roses.

On a special field, which will soon be largely planted with David Austin roses, the rootstocks have now been planted. These will be grafted this season, which means we are literally laying the foundation for a new generation of organically grown rose bushes.

From November 2026, the first organic bare-root roses will be available. And from May 2027, we will also offer organic potted roses. A fine development for everyone who consciously chooses roses with respect for nature and soil.

For Belle Epoque, this means that from that moment on we can offer 50% of our collection organically. The other half will follow a year later: due to limited available space, we unfortunately cannot switch completely right away.

It is also good to know that organic cultivation comes with challenges. We expect a loss rate of about 30%, which will also affect prices in the coming years. Of course, we do everything we can to limit this loss as much as possible in the future.

We also want to inform you in advance about something you might notice: roses in pots may sometimes be pruned earlier than you are used to. This is a deliberate choice. Buying roses is not an investment for just the first week in the garden, but for years of enjoyment. Organic cultivation in open ground is quite feasible, but in pots it is more complex. To keep our roses healthy, we sometimes prune earlier so that we develop strong, young plants. This year, the organic pot cultivation went well. We work with feed based on Bio Alg, lava meal, and lime, in organic potting soil from Biokultra. So far, this yields good results – and we are pleased with this choice towards organic production.

Now, just over a year after the takeover of Belle Epoque, we look back on a period in which we have fulfilled our wish to make the webshop also a physical place. The location is now open and will continue to grow in form and function in the coming years. We are very grateful that more and more people find and appreciate our place. The contact with customers and lovers of roses brings us much inspiration and valuable knowledge, which we use again to improve our webshop and services.

Another important ambition is social enterprise. This has not yet been realised, but remains a core point in our future plans. We hope to start the first social projects in 2026 or 2027, in cooperation with partners from the region.

These developments fit our vision as a specialised rose nursery in Aalsmeer: special rose varieties, directly from the grower, with attention to people and environment. Whether you are looking for roses in pots for the terrace, shrub roses for the garden, or roses for shady spots, we are happy to help you choose from a range that is becoming ever more sustainable.

 

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