Verlinden Farm Inc.
Finding the Right Growing Media for High-Yield Berry Production
For Hetty Verlinden, innovation is a crucial part of the family business. Originally growing greenhouse vegetables, the Verlinden family transitioned from hydroponic Boston lettuce production into berries with a simple goal: rethink efficiency in strawberries.
“This was originally supposed to be our test plot,” Hetty says. “Now it’s grown into what we have today. We’re always developing, trying new things, and finding ways to become as efficient as possible in the smallest footprint.”
Today, Verlinden Farms, home of Harry’s Berries, grows strawberries for Driscoll’s in elevated tabletop production systems and blackberries on trellises in Norfolk County, Ontario. By producing in substrate rather than in the soil, the farm achieves significantly higher yields while using less land and labor.
“About three acres of strawberries here is equivalent to roughly 20 acres of traditional field production,” Hetty explains. “We have better control over irrigation and fertilizer, less disease pressure, and we can produce much more efficiently.”
Looking Beyond Industry Standards
As the operation continues to expand, Hetty ensures their growing media maximizes, not limits, their production. Last season, the farm trialed several different Berger substrates, including BM4 Wood Fiber, BM4 Coir, BM5 HP, and BM5 Super HP. The team carefully monitored moisture retention, drainage, and yields throughout the season and made notes for later comparison.
“The biggest thing I was looking at was moisture management,” Hetty says. “You need a mix that holds enough moisture but still drains properly. If you can’t control that balance, it becomes difficult to keep your fertility program on track.”
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Why BM5 Natural Fiber & Aggregate – Wood Super HP Stood Out
After evaluating the different mixes:
BM5 Super HP consistently provided the balance Hetty needs. “What really attracted me to BM5 Super HP was that it held moisture better but still allowed me to get the substrate back to the moisture level I wanted,” she explains.
During particularly humid weather in past seasons, Hetty found other mixes often stayed too wet, making it difficult to continue feeding crops consistently. “Sometimes it would take two days before I could feed again because the substrate wouldn’t dry enough. With BM5 Super HP, I can manage that moisture much better and keep feeding the way I want.” That consistency proves especially valuable in elevated berry production, where irrigation timing directly impacts plant performance.
“These systems aren’t very forgiving,” she says. “If you miss watering or feeding, you’ll see it right away. But when you find the right substrate and the right irrigation strategy, the results are outstanding.” Along with providing greater control over irrigation, BM5 Super HP contributed to higher yields during the trial, helping validate the farm’s decision to adopt the mix.
Supporting Blackberry Production
The benefits extend beyond strawberries. As the farm explored blackberry propagation opportunities, Hetty incorporated BM5 Super HP around the coir plugs that arrived with blackberry canes.
The difference was immediate.
“Straight coir became rock hard and dried out so quickly. We were constantly watering, especially during hot weather,” she says. “By packing BM5 Super HP around the coir, it retained moisture much better and gave us a little more flexibility. It made the system much more forgiving.”
Consistency Matters
For Hetty, performance isn’t just about one season, it must be repeatable. “We’ve used other suppliers before, and sometimes the substrate isn’t the same from one year to the next,” she says. “With Berger, we’ve found the consistency is there. You know what you’re getting.”
Hetty encourages growers considering substrate production to focus on finding the mix that best suits their operation rather than simply following industry norms. “Coir may be common in the industry, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best choice,” she says. “You always have to keep looking at what’s next and what works better for your farm.”
She also believes growers shouldn’t underestimate the role growing media plays in overall crop performance. “Growing in substrate is really about growing the substrate, not the soil,” Hetty says. “If you start with a clean, consistent substrate and manage your water properly, you’re setting yourself up for success.”
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As Verlinden Farms continues refining its production systems and expanding its berry program with Driscoll’s, one thing remains constant: a commitment to testing, improving, and finding the right tools to produce the highest quality berries possible.