Munich/Nuremberg – At the beginning of the spring season, Bavaria’s nurseries want their customers to pay only part of the increased production costs.
The companies had tried elsewhere to save costs, said the managing director of the Bavarian Gardening Association (BGV), Jörg Freimuth. “This includes changing the assortment to plants that are less sensitive to cold.” In addition, the seeds were sown later. Some farms have also reduced the number of plants “so as not to have to heat individual greenhouses”.
The nurseries are therefore struggling with cost increases of around 20 percent. According to a survey of companies, prices for customers should only increase by around ten percent on average.
Initially, the companies were worried that customers would be reluctant to buy plants in the spring because of rising prices. In the meantime, however, the BGV can give the all-clear in this regard: At least in regions with higher purchasing power, companies are hardly reporting any declines in sales.
So far, however, there are no reliable values for the rush, said Freimuth. Now let’s hope for good weather. “Three days of sun and that’s best at the weekend and we’re fully into the spring season.”