"Re:think: The Unknown Side of a 'Familiar Flower'" Vol. 4: A Journey to Discover the Unknown Side of Tulips - Visiting Tajiri Kaen in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture, Part 2

Growing within a Limited Period

*This article is the second part.
You can read the first part here.
▶ Read Part 1

Tulips are shipped until the end of March.
The season is never long.

Even if planted at the same time, the growth speed varies greatly depending on the variety.

It takes an average of 8 weeks for soil cultivation.
For hydroponics, the fastest takes 4 weeks.

In hydroponics, sunlight, temperature, and water are crucial.
At Tajiri Kaen, fresh well water is added every night and circulated while overflowing.

"I haven't calculated it, but the amount of water used at one time might be about a third of a swimming pool,"

He said it casually, but the scale was astonishing.

The quality of tulips is determined by "half bulb, half environment."

Only after growing them do they sometimes turn out to be a different color or form than expected.
That's why it's necessary to understand the characteristics of the parent variety and manage them with anticipation.

Temperature control, sunlight management, water management.
All at the optimal timing.

Not flashy techniques, but thorough management.
This is where the difference in quality arises.

Differences between Hydroponics and Soil Cultivation

Mr. Murata's analogy was very impressive.

"Water is easy to drink.
But tomato juice, while nutritious, is a bit rough and catches in the throat."

Soil cultivation, rich in nutrients, also causes stress.
It is this stress that makes the flowers strong and sturdy.

Hydroponics causes less stress, allowing for straightforward growth.

It's not about which is better.
Each has its own merits.

Flowers, too, change their character depending on the environment.

To deliver them in the best possible condition

At the production site, the outer skin of the bulbs is peeled before planting.
This is to facilitate rooting.

Since bulbous plants use stored nutrients to bloom, it is difficult to maintain the same quality the following year, so they are not reused.

Furthermore, there are efforts to maintain length.

Instead of cutting above the bulb, the bulb is crushed, and the stem is cut at the tip inside.
This is a way to deliver them to the market even a little longer.

At JA Fukaya, a special treatment agent for tulips is used during the first water uptake.
This is to suppress neck elongation, rapid blooming, and yellowing of leaves.

"Tulips are cute but difficult to handle,"
We want even traditional florists who felt this way to use them.

From the producers' words, I felt their enthusiasm to deliver tulips to homes in even better condition.

The Beautiful Moment is Different for Everyone

"Actually, we harvest them when the buds have just a little color, but they actually grow about twice as big. I think buds withしっかりに入った color are beautiful."

"And then, that curve of the tulip. I like that curve."

said Mr. Murata.

Mr. Tajiri said,

"What I thought of was Mango Charm. I've been liking Mango Charm a lot recently. Producers have to ship Mango Charm when it's like a thin, pointed horn. But I like it when it's become quite round and a little split at the tip.

But Marilyn is also hard to give up!"

"Marilyn is good, isn't she~," the two laughed.

Mango Charm: A single-flowered apricot-colored variety.
Marilyn: A lily-flowered variety with a white base and red lines.

Furthermore, it seems there are also voices that appreciate the process of change.

The moment the rustling petals fall as they fade.
The appearance of opening like a propeller.
The appearance of growing crookedly.

Even moments that producers might find surprising are the best moments for someone else.

Everyone has their own preferences. That might be the interesting thing about tulips.

The Future of Tulips

Recently, more young people are picking up flowers.

Tulips, with many varieties blooming all at once during a limited, short period.

That's why we want people to enjoy the season.
And to feel the charm of flowers, including their growth process.

Producers who grow high-quality flowers.
And florists who convey that charm to customers.

Our visit to Fukaya made us rethink our roles.

If you want to know the background of the production area first, go to Part 1.
If you want to review the future of tulips again, please reread it.