The time has come to plan artichoke cultivation and plant purchasing. Fresh produce is doing well at the moment but high-quality plants are needed to obtain good produce. "We specialize in the multiplication of artichoke plants using meristems. In 2018, we sold over 500 thousand plants, mainly to Italian producers," explains Mauro Masini from Microplant (Cesena).
Inside Microplant
Microplant's team travels a lot around the production areas in Italy to check on crops. Masini just got back from Sardinia. "Harvesting started a few days ago. Quality is excellent and prices are very high, around 70 eurocents per head. Demand is lively, but quantities were affected by frost in January."
Multiplication phase
Masini stresses that multiplication using meristems provides more guarantees when it comes to plant quality. "Plants are able to withstand water stress and critical conditions such as frost better. The root system develops earlier and plants adapt to different conditions more easily."
Microplant produces different selections of Romanesco, Violetto francesino, Tema and Terom artichokes. It can provide both plants that still need to be acclimatized and plants ready for transplants. Orders are placed between February and May and delivered between July and September.
Mauro Masini visiting a producer
Contacts:
Microplant
Via San Cristoforo 2135
47522 Cesena - Italy
Mob.: (+39) 347/1050539
Tel.: (+39) 0547 317319
Email: masinimauro@microplant.it
Website: www.microplant.it