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Research and Development Unit Top of page Research and Development (R&D) is where our new and unusual plants are tested and compared to our existing varieties. On occasions we are the only nursery to trial a new variety, and care and security are of the utmost importance. Most new plants are protected by an agreement between ourselves and the breeder, thus protecting the breeders rights and ownership. Trial plants are grown in a designated area under glass, on a designated outdoor area and in a small garden to allow true garden trials to be carried out.   Plants are placed in trials when they reach a saleable standard. The plants are scored on a scale of 1 - 10 based on their aesthetic appearance, sales potential, similarity to other plants we currently sell, and all round package. All nursery staff, from those who have little plant knowledge to the plant fanatics, take part in the trial scoring to give a wide opinion of whether the plant would appeal in the garden centre market. These scores are then evaluated to give a potential list of new introductions to the market. All plants trialled are logged and recorded, and in 2007 one hundred and seventy plants were trialled. To date, The Bransford Webbs Plant Company has introduced over a hundred new plants to the garden centre market in the UK. Have you found a new plant that we might be interested in? |
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Propagation Top of page This is the first step in the production of all our plants. The majority of our plants are propagated through cuttings. Material for cuttings is collected from a range sources, including stock plants, final plants (before they are ready to be sold) and liners (continue reading and all will become clear). Cuttings are taken throughout the year, and between 5000 - 7000 cuttings are taken in one day. The cuttings are 'stuck' in plug trays and placed in a mist unit, which provides them with a high humidity atmosphere to aid rooting. The amount of time taken for cuttings to root depends upon the species. Once the cuttings have rooted they are 'weaned off' the protective atmosphere of the mist unit before being potted on. We also propagate using seeds, grafting, division and buy in micropropagated plugs to wean in our mist unit.
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Liner Plants Top of Page Following rooting, the plugs are potted into 9cm pots, which are known as 'Liners'. The plants are grown at this stage for between 3 - 12 months again depending on the species of plant and the production schedule. All plants are grown with the time of year they will be sold in mind, and propagation and potting dates are worked out from this. The majority of the liners are potted on the automatic potting machine, to increase efficiency and uniformity. 
The Liner Unit at Bransford is 4500m2 and all liners are grown under glass and on Efford Sand Beds, to reduce the need for overhead watering which improves cleanliness and efficiency. At Wychbold, the liners are grown in four polytunnels with overhead watering. There are always exceptions to the normal, and a limited range of crops are not potted into liners, but straight into their final pot size.
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Potting Top of page Liner plants are potted into the final pot that they will be sold in. This varies from a 1L to 3L, occasionally a 5L, and includes 1.5L and 2L pots. Our compost has been specially formulated to benefit each plant species and includes long term, slow release fertilizer. 
 Potting continues throughout the year on the nursery. All potting is done on the automatic potting machine, and the plants are then transported to the area of the nursery where they will be grown ready for sale. There are four full time members of staff in the potting team, who are assisted by other production staff or seasonal staff during the busier times of the season. |
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Growing On Top of Page The nursery is split into different areas, and each area is the responsibility of one of the production supervisors, overseen by the production manager. The supervisors become familiar with each crop and can care for them in a very specific manner resulting in high quality plants for the garden centre market. Plants are 'grown on' for between six months and one year before being sold. Throughout this time, they are are pruned, spaced and tended by the team of growers we employ. Irrigation occurs, when required, from our purpose built reservoir. We try to use cultural and biological methods to control pests and diseases when possible. For more information about our environmental issues, click here. We have 41, 000m2 of glass and polythene covered growing space, and 60% of our irrigation is drip or sub-irrigation leading to improved watering practice and savings. 
 Glasshouse Production Certain crops are grown in the glasshouse where the environment is perfect to achieve the high quality plant required. 
 Polytunnel Production We have thirty six polytunnels at Bransford and twelve at Wychbold. We use both permanent structures and french polytunnels. This offers extra protection to certain varieties of plants that are grown, and enables the environment to be monitored very specifically. For example, the skins on the french polytunnels can be removed in summer to improve ventilation and reduce heat, but during winter the cover will protect the plants from frost and extremes of temperature. When plants are young and in pots, they are unable to withstand the environmental differences they can cope with when they are more mature and planted in the ground. 
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The Sales Team Top of Page Our plants are grown to a production schedule, based on the best time to sell that specific variety, e.g. Dahlia 'Chic' is sold in June when it is showing bud and flower. The sales team complete a crop walk every Monday morning, during the season, to assess which plants are saleable. Once the plants have met the high criteria we set for a saleable plant, the sales team contact our customers to inform them of the availability. There are four sales representatives on the road, covering the whole of UK, showing plant samples to our customers, offering information and advice and building good working relationships with our customers.. This is complimented by our in-house telesales team who phone all our customers on a regular basis to ensure they are offered the plants when they are at their best. In addition, we publish a weekly Looking Good List and Availability List. 
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Despatch Top of Page Once an order has been placed, the plants are 'pulled' from the nursery. Every plant that leaves our nursery has been personally graded by our dispatch team, tidied, top dressed and pot washed. The majority of our plants come with a bespoke label designed to offer clear and concise information to the final consumer. All plants can be pre-priced and bar-coded. Plants are loaded on Danish trolleys, and the majority of our deliveries are coordinated by Rick White Transport of Pershore, through an initiative with the Midland Regional Growers Group. 
75% of the 1, 200, 000 plants we grow each year, are delivered between April and June!
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