In Sibaté–a municipality located in Colombia’s largest strawberry-producing region–agricultural engineer and representative of Comercializadora Macri, Yorlady Criollo, uses Jiffy Growbags to grow more sustainably, avoid fungicides and insecticides, and achieve more uniform production.
Criollo and her team at the 16-year old trading company began growing strawberries on this particular plot 13 months ago. One problem, however, is that most regions of Colombia are “biologically loaded with fungi that are not friendly to strawberry cultivation,” Criollo says.
The Benefits of Starting With Clean Growing Media
To protect their crops from potential pests and diseases, and reduce the need for applications, the team began trialing 20-liter Growbags from Jiffy. Since then, they have observed significant advantages compared to traditional farming methods.
These Growbags are filled with both fine and coarse coconut coir–which is inert–so it helps them start from clean material.
This provides two major advantages:
- Comercializadora Macri can more confidently bring their product to market knowing they have reduced their fungicide and insecticide applications, and
- It also drives down costs for their farmers. “The Growbag essentially pays for itself [with] environmental benefits and health benefits for humans,” Criollo says.
Improved Labor Operations and Increase Yields
Farmers have been able to work much faster with the Growbags. “If a farmer has to bend over, they get tired and take longer. A fruit producer or harvester working upright can do it faster,” Criollo adds.
In addition, the team has been able to produce more uniform plants, increase density per acre, and yield larger fruit production. “The size of the fruit is maintained for a longer period [with Jiffy’s Growbags] compared to soil management,” she says.
Overall, Criollo has been pleased with the significant crop benefits of switching to Jiffy’s Growbags. “Our recommendation is that we adopt these technologies on our farms.”
Editor’s note: Quotes by Yorlady Criollo have been translated to English from Spanish.
A Deeper Dive Into Jiffy’s Growbag Solutions
The Jiffy Growbag is the most powerful multipurpose growing medium available on the market today. With a vast range of options in terms of drainage, porosity, and format, you are sure to find the perfect Growbag for your needs.
All Jiffy Growbags are available in Finesse – our famed premium quality, and Essence – our budget choice.
They are available in a standard grow bag format as well as a typical container format (EFBags), with different substrate recipe options – High Yield, Husk Chip, 50-50, and Peat-Free.
All Jiffy Growbags contain 100% coco substrate, an eco-friendly substrate with no disposability issues. They are supplied from our own plant in Sri Lanka.
The Growbags are available in a wide range of configurations, with or without pre-cut planting and drainage holes, to suit your greenhouse or horticulture practices. Compressed and light, they are easy to transport and store.
Once put into use, Jiffy Growbags can last multiple cultivation cycles and are great for clean plant production.
To learn more about Jiffy Growbags, visit our Growbags product page and download our Growbags brochure.
Jiffy Growblocks, The Perfect Pairing to Jiffy Growbags
Jiffy’s Growblocks complement Jiffy Growbags nicely in horticultural production.
The all-in-one medium and container: the Jiffy Growblock is the number one choice for all cut-flower and vegetable growers using hydroponic systems, greenhouses or other nursery applications.
And thanks to air-pruning, better temperature control, and versatility, Jiffy Growblocks create healthier, stronger plants in many greenhouses around the world.
For the manufacturing of all Jiffy Growblocks, we use polylactic acid (PLA) netting, which is a corn starch alternative to plastic. PLA netting is a lightweight, fine-fibre web which is biodegradable and compostable under controlled industrial conditions.
Jiffy Growblocks are also RFP Certified for Horticulture for security and safety, meaning they have been tested for contamination prevention, chemical and physical properties, as well as phytosanitary processes to reduce risks of weeds, pests, and diseases.
Visit our products page to learn more about Jiffy Growblocks.
Let’s work together
Jiffy is a leading global supplier of premium growing media and solution thinking. We aim to serve you, our customers in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer worries. We do this by continually improving, innovating, and working toward our common goals, based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. Let’s develop sustainable plant growing solutions together: Let’s start today!
