Located in Zhejiang, Jiashan HX Sino-Dutch Horticulture Technology is home to China’s largest single-span hydroponics system for leafy greens. Specializing in lettuce cultivation, this high-tech greenhouse uses advanced Dutch horticulture equipment and Jiffy’s Preforma Plugs to enhance production.
Hydroponics systems for leafy greens needs
Within their 33,000 M2 greenhouse, Jiashan HX produces up to five tons of fresh lettuce daily, supplying major cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou. With a key focus on consistent quality of seedlings, the nursery ensures a reliable supply to meet high customer demand. “We all know that seedling cultivation is crucial to vegetable production,” notes Zhang Yangping, Manager of the operation. “And that substrate plays a vital role in this process.”
How Preforma revolutionizes hydroponic cultivation
To support their extensive growing, Jiashan HX adopted Jiffy’s Preforma Plugs. Specifically designed for their hydroponics system, the plugs have provided many positive results for Jiashan’s salad crop cultivation. Thanks to Preforma Plugs, the seedlings develop abundant root systems, minimizing the risk of transplant shock.
The Jiffy solution is also a very successful match with the facility's automated production system. For instance, the plugs eliminate the extra steps of substrate mixing and loading. Blocked irrigation system components and contaminated water are also a thing of the past, as the plugs are integrally molded.
Key advantages of Preforma Plugs
More and more hi-tech growers rely on Jiffy Preforma Plugs for the many advantages that the plugs offer:
- Ready to Use: Preforma Plugs require no preparation, making them easy to implement and immediately usable for hydroponics systems for leafy greens.
- Consistent Seedling Growth: Fast, uniform rooting is ensured with a consistent air content of at least 30%, preventing compaction even under heavy misting.
- Efficient Water and Nutrient Management: Tailored to the grower’s requirements, Jiffy’s solutions meet the specific needs of leafy green production, promoting optimal growth with minimal resource waste.
- Food Safety: Jiffy has taken many precautions to ensure safe farming, achieving ISO 22000 certification for all of its substrate production facilities. Efforts include rigorously minimizing the risk of contamination throughout the supply chain and using the highest quality raw materials. Read more about hydroponics and food safety.
Preforma's innovative characteristics include a binder structure that minimizes transplant shock, allowing for smooth shipping and transplantation. Recent research from the University of Georgia highlighted its exceptional performance in hydroponic systems. Trials with arugula and lettuce demonstrated that Jiffy Preformas Plugs and Jiffy-7 Pellets outperform competitors, showing superior results in leaf area, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight (Ferrarezi et al. 2024).
Read more about Preforma | Explore hydroponic system solutions
Durable horticulture solutions
“Jiffy offers truly customized solutions,” adds Zhang Yangping. As standard plugs have small and deep holes, it can make it difficult to place seeds properly during sowing. “When we communicated the issue concerning seeding, they immediately came to meet with us and have a detailed discussion.” Jiffy quickly resolved the situation by customizing the diameter and depth according to Jiashan HX’s exact needs. This greatly improved the precision of sowing and boosted emergence rates. Jiashan HX now uses a full container, about 960,000 plugs, each month.
Partnering with Jiffy for strong growth
“Preforma Plugs are specifically designed for automated horticulture. In fact, all of Jiffy’s products are stable, efficient, high-quality, and environmentally friendly, making them a perfect partner for CEA.”
The partnership with Jiffy and the use of Preforma Plugs have empowered Jiashan HX’s hydroponic farming efforts. With improved seedling quality, efficient production, and reliable outcomes, the operation highlights the role of innovative substrate solutions in modern agriculture.
Ready to take your leafy green operation to the next level? Partner with Jiffy and experience the benefits.
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!