The export of plants and flowers from the Netherlands rose only 1% in the first quarter of the year as freezing weather across Europe depressed sales, the flower wholesalers group VGB reported on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, the first three months of 2018 marked the 16th successive quarter of higher export sales. The organisation is keeping to its forecast of full-year 2018 sales above the record €6bn booked last year.

Sales of garden and house plants fell 11% in March and were down 2% on the same quarter in 2017. The one bright spot was higher exports to eastern Europe, with sales to Russia up 24%.