The "Original Ehmo-Tec Headprotect" is a 140 centimetre wide and 100 micron strong asparagus plastic with an added 50 centimetre wide white strip in the middle. It is especially developed for an early harvest and prevents the asparagus flowering and overheating. Tests have shown that the harvest could be up to four days earlier, states Firmenich.
First the totally black side of the plastic will be placed on the tunnels. And as soon as the harvest starts the plastic will be turned over to the side with the white strip. The high daily yield is due to the black part of the plastic that heats the soil of the asparagus beds while the white part protects the head of the spears. Firmenich promises that the newly patented pockets ensure that the soil stays in the plastic pockets and therefore improves the stability of the tunnels against the wind.
A strip of the plastic is added to the pockets that closes the pockets when the soil weights them down.