2020

LVM Podiņi Nursery Increases Its Production Capacity and Introduces Innovations

This year, the preparation of a new additional area of 22 ha has been completed at Podiņi Nursery; this new area is intended for growing bare-root seedlings with an improved root system. The expansion of the territory allows the nursery to be ranked at the top of the world's largest specialized seedling nurseries.

Already in 2019, an additional greenhouse and an outdoor landfill were built at Podiņi Nursery, which allowed the nursery to increase its capacity by 2.5 million high-quality seedlings per year. Thus, the expansion of the nursery enables it to grow about 12.5 million seedlings. The nursery has already sold 10 million seedlings this year.

Following the increase in the area of ​​the nursery implemented this year, its total area has now reached 94 ha, which allows it to further strengthen its position among the world's largest specialized nurseries offering bare root seedlings with an improved root system.

Innovations in sowing and waxing

“At Podiņi Nursery, we mainly grow selected spruce seedlings, but birch and black alder seedlings, which are grown using selected seeds, are also in high demand among customers. Moreover, an innovation has been introduced in the work of Podiņi Nursery this year – granulated birch seeds are used for sowing, which allows the sowing process to be mechanized thus replacing manual work,” says Guntis Grandāns, Director LVM Sēklas un stādi.

Seedlings grown at Podiņi Nursery are in high demand both in the local and foreign markets. Seedlings also travel to other LVM Sēklas un stādi nurseries: in Pļaviņas, Smiltene and Valmiera, thus facilitating the use of modern intensive methods in plant growing.

Podiņi Nursery also uses a waxing robot for waxing seedlings in winter; it treats about 4 million seedlings, which are effectively protected against damage caused by the large pine weevil. There are only two such devices available in the world.

“The cultivation of seedlings, which lasts on average from one and a half to two years, must be planned not only in terms of volume, but also in terms of seedling species and their regional origin, because seedlings grown in southern or western part of Latvia will not always be suitable for Vidzeme and Latgale fields and forests. Therefore, we are able to provided foresters who have placed a timely order, with top quality seedlings that will grow better in the forest, thus saving forest owner’s time and resources,” says Guntis Grandāns, Director LVM Sēklas un stādi.

LVM Sēklas un stādi manages forest seed plantations in an area of 698 ha, where, thanks to the scientific breeding research carried out by the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava” genetically high-quality seeds can be harvested. The cultivated seedlings allow increasing the productivity of forest stands by about 20%, as compared to seedlings that are grown from seeds harvested in forest stands, as well as reduce the life cycle of a forest stand by 10%. Moreover, part of the seedlings is treated with alternative, environmentally-friendly plant protection methods, such as biowax to protect young trees from possible insect damage in the forest.