Originally from the UK, Jack started his farming career in the dairy sector before relocating to Tasmania to pursue new opportunities. Alongside working in the Tasmanian dairy sector – where his family bought a dairy farm, as well as doing some consultancy work – he purchased 80-hectares of land, which has become part of the 280-hectare farm he operates today.\u00a0 The dairy farm has now been sold and Jack sees a future in berry propagation growing.<\/p>\n
The shift from dairy to strawberry plant production was a bold one. Initially approached by a fruit marketing company to lease some of their land, the relationship evolved into Jack and Lisa getting their own propagation licences and working in conjunction with proprietary genetics owners with contract propagation.<\/p>\n
Strawberry plant production: scaling up<\/strong><\/p>\n Today, Jack and Lisa\u2019s farm produces between 5 to 10 million strawberry plants annually, supplying every Australian state except the Northern Territory, where strawberries are not grown. The farm cultivates 16 strawberry varieties, including many proprietary types protected by breeding companies with intellectual property rights. These high-performing varieties are in demand across the country, with the farm helping to meet the increasing appetite for top-quality plants.<\/p>\n The production is divided into two key systems:<\/strong><\/p>\n This traditional method involves growing plants directly in the soil. Bare root plants are ideal for large-scale commercial growers seeking hardy, robust plants with a strong root system.<\/p>\n The misted tips are cultivated in Haygrove polytunnels on elevated table-tops using Precision Plus fully buffered coir grow bags from coco coir specialist, Botanicoir. The farm plans to switch to Botanicoir\u2019s Precision Plus Ultra (PPU) grow bags next season, which are deeper, offering more space for root development, optimal drainage and potentially higher yields.<\/p>\n The farm\u2019s plug plant production has seen rapid growth. \u201cIt\u2019s our second season growing plug plants and the sector is growing at an alarming rate; our sales are expanding at 400% compounded per annum,\u201d says Jack.<\/p>\n The misted tips are then transferred to plug trays filled with a Legro professional propagation substrate blend of peat, coir, and perlite. These trays are then moved outside for hardening off – a process that takes between 4 \u00a0to 16 weeks, depending on the variety.<\/p>\n Exceptional results with premium growing media<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the farm\u2019s biggest success stories is its outstanding yield rates, thanks in part to the quality of the growing media. \u201cWe\u2019ve had fantastic results with the growing media, for example, one of the proprietary varieties yielded 750 tips per bag and you don\u2019t do that without having good material,\u201d says Jack.<\/p>\n Jack works with Phil Badgery at substrate specialist, Legro. \u201cPhil supplies us with Botanicor coco coir grow bags for the misted tips. \u201cWe need consistent growing media to deliver these results. For the best quality crop, we want the best bag and I\u2019m confident that it is,\u201d says Jack.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also use a bespoke Legro substrate mix containing coir, for the plug trays, which gives us a 98% grade rate,\u201d he says. \u201cThis means that if we plant 100 tips, we successfully sell 98 of them.\u201d This high success rate is a testament to the farm\u2019s precision growing methods and careful attention to detail.<\/p>\n “Jack and Lisa have done a fantastic job expanding into strawberry tray and plug plant production, all while maintaining exceptional quality. It\u2019s been fantastic to work with them to optimise their growing operations with quality growing media. I\u2019m confident that Australia will continue evolving into a market driven not only by cost but also by yield and performance – and they are a prime example of that,” says Phil Badgery at Legro.<\/p>\n While strawberry plant production is the core of the operation, the farm also prioritises sustainability. Of the 280 hectares, 70 hectares are dedicated to regenerative agriculture and native grassland restoration.<\/p>\n Of the remaining area 150 hectares are used for forage production, primarily growing lucerne. This diversification helps balance the business and promotes soil health through crop rotation and sustainable farming practices.<\/p>\n Meeting the growing demand for strawberry plants<\/strong><\/p>\n As the Australian berry industry continues to expand, the demand for high-quality strawberry plants is only increasing. Jack and Lisa Beattie\u2019s farm is well-positioned to meet this growing need with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and premium plant quality.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope to move to Botanicoir\u2019s Precision Plus Ultra (PPU) bag next year, it drains a bit faster, which we hope means we can get better performance on some varieties,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n By embracing cutting-edge growing techniques, investing in premium substrates, and maintaining a commitment to sustainability, Jack and his team have grown the strawberry propagation into a thriving business. With the plug plant sector booming and proprietary varieties in high demand, the future looks bright for this Tasmanian strawberry nursery.<\/p>\n\n
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