Its mostly favourable climate makes Portugal an interesting country for Dutch garden plant growers. Current growers are expanding their production in Portugal, while others are exploring the opportunities in the southern European country. As such, garden plant production in Portugal does not seem to have reached its peak yet.
Thanks to the favourable climate, garden plants from Portugal are available on average four to six weeks earlier than production from the Netherlands, with the caveat that there are large climatic differences within Portugal. North of Lisbon, for example, it rains more often, and there is relatively more cloud cover than further south. As a result, garden plant nurseries are mainly found around Lisbon and farther south.
For several Dutch nurseries, extending the sales season has been the main reason to also set up production in Portugal. Alta Nova from Zevenhuizen started growing energy and labour-intensive products there some 25 years ago. Around the same time, Gebr. Van der Salm from Boskoop started cultivating lavender there. Sjaak van Schie Nursery started cultivating half-grown hydrangeas in Portugal about 20 years ago, and Van Woudenberg Tuinplanten has been active in the southern European country for about fifteen years now, growing perennials.
