About Us

Withcott Seedlings was established in 1983 on a foundation of high quality seedlings and great customer service. Withcott Seedlings grows a large variety of vegetable and plant seedlings and has the proven capacity to produce well over 500 million seedlings per year. Our business may have grown, but Graham Erhart and his team retain their traditional values and the business continues to be based around excellence in seedling quality, customer service and in understanding and collaborating closely with our customers.

We do this using Smart, Safe & Sustainable practices.

Smart

Withcott Seedlings is committed to the use of Smart practices throughout seedling production. We are leading the way with innovation and development from products to production processes and techniques.

LARGE PRODUCTION CAPABILITY FOR ORDERS OF ANY SIZE
With nursery sites at Withcott and Bowen we have the capability to produce well over 500 million seedlings per year. We cater for small orders right through to the largest requirements enabling customers to focus on their core business.

DELIVERY IN FULL ON TIME WITH OUR OWN FLEET OF TRUCKS
With our own fleet of trucks we deliver direct to most customers throughout Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. Having our own fleet ensures end to end control of seedling quality, providing confidence and flexibility to meet customer requirements.

NURSERY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE PROCESS CONTROL
Our nursery production and order management system has been specifically developed for our own vegetable production processes and provides structured workflow and reporting capability.

GRAFTED SEEDLINGS ENHANCING CROP OUTCOMES
Our market leading innovations particularly within grafted tomato and watermelon are working to increase crop yields whilst limiting the impact of disease. We are the leading supplier of grafted watermelon seedlings for fusarium problem blocks for improving cold soil vigour to enhance crop outcomes.

SELECTIVE PLANT GENETICS FROM OUR TISSUE CULTURE LABORATORY
Our on-site facility enables replication of plants with specific characteristics. Plants with the most desirable traits can be reproduced to provide consistent crops with predictable harvest outcomes. We carry out extensive trial work to develop viable and innovative plant lines.

SEEDLING FORTIFICATION TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE SEEDLINGS
We pioneered seedling drenching in Australia in order to counter the impact of aphids and silverleaf whitefly. This initiative continues today.

VARIETY OF TRAY SIZES FOR CUSTOMER CHOICE
We use a wide range of trays with a variety of tray sizes to provide customer flexibility and the ability to select the most appropriate cell size for each crop type and growing region.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND SUPPLIERS
We work with a range of leading seed and input suppliers to source the most appropriate supply available to satisfy our customers needs. We also lead the way in the application of new chemical technology for prevention of disease and insect damage.

Safe

Withcott Seedlings use a range of initiatives to ensure Safe production processes and seedling supply.

TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF PROVEN EXPERIENCE
With a long, proven history of providing quality seedlings to Australian growers we have developed high levels of knowledge and expertise in safe production processes that are evident across our nurseries.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS UNDERPIN ALL PRODUCTION
We have Codex HACCP, ISP 9001:2000 and GMP quality management systems with onsite Quality Assurance officers to ensure quality of process document control, process mapping and outcomes. This supports our customers own accreditation requirements for supply to retail, processing and other markets.

STRICT HYGIENE PRACTICES ACROSS THE NURSERY
Strict hygiene and quarantine practices commence at our nursery gate and are integral to the growing process. These range from foot and wheel baths at entry and throughout the nursery to sterilisation of trays, racks and crates prior to entry to the production process. All of our plants are grown on raised aluminium benching to avoid ground contamination and moved on sterilised racks and crates.

COMPREHENSIVE PEST & DISEASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Stringent crop management protocols are used to minimise the risk of disease. We use a variety of programs and initiatives as part of our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. In addition to the use of selective chemicals, beneficial insects are also released as part of our pest & disease management strategy.

COMPLETE SEEDLING TRACEABILITY TO IMPROVE CONTROL
From seed purchase to delivery, each seedling is traceable throughout the production and dispatch process. This enables specific identification and enhancement of any component of the production process that may be required.

EXTENSIVE VEGETABLE SEEDLING PROTECTION
Starting in sterile germination rooms, seedlings are protected by more than 22 hectares of igloos and shade netting. This provides protection from extreme environmental conditions of temperature and events such as hail. Many of our igloos can be heated for a controlled winter environment.

DOCUMENTED SEEDLING SPECIFICATIONS TO ENSURE QUALITY
Written product specifications are in daily use across the nursery for each crop type and variety. These are used extensively to ensure that seedlings are consistently grown to customer requirements.

CONFIDENTIALITY ASSURANCE
Confidentiality of customer information is assured through a number of initiatives. In addition to all employees signing confidentiality agreements we also secure information systems and control access to specific groups. Our education and cultural practices also emphasise the importance of confidentiality.

Sustainable

WORLD CLASS, SELF SUFFICIENT QUALITY WATER SUPPLY TECHNOLOGIES
We have specialised environmental water re-cycling infrastructure using reverse osmosis water filtration systems to secure our water supply quality. At the Withcott nursery, this draws from two large, interconnected on-site dams which provide year round water supply security. To further support sustainable water management, much of the nursery is gently sloped enabling water run-off to be directed back to the dams for recycling and further use.

DUAL SITE PRODUCTION FOR RISK MITIGATION
Our annual production capacity is well over 500 million seedlings per year. With nurseries at Withcott and Bowen we can further mitigate risk related to weather and other events that can impact a single nursery. This ensures year round supply continuity for our customers. We can supply sun hardened plants from our Bowen nursery for Winter and early Spring plantings and source seedlings from Withcott to remove risks related to seasonal weather events.

LEADING AGRONOMIC PRACTICES
Our business uses agronomic practices that integrate with the principles of environmental health and efficient use of resources, while also working to ensure the profitability of our customers.

ENVIRONMENTAL DIVERSIFICATION
Our capability and innovation ability has led to the production of seedlings for agro-forestry and carbon offset trees used to enhance the environment and in self sustaining forestry based industries.

Withcott Seedlings - Queensland