After a quiet winter, February marks the start of our planting season. Each year, we carefully plan our schedule to ensure strong, healthy plants by spring. Timing is everything – too early, and plants can become overgrown; too late, and they won’t be ready for peak planting season, especially Mother’s Day, one of the busiest weekends of the year.
By the time we’re done, we’ll have planted over a million plants, using around 30,000 cubic feet of soil. These plants start from a variety of sources – seeds for our fields, small starter plants called plugs, and cuttings taken from mature plants. Our plugs and cuttings travel from all over the country, from Florida to California to right here in Minnesota, before growing to maturity in our greenhouse.
Our first plantings in February include New Guinea Impatiens, Fuchsia, and Zonal Geraniums. These early selections take the longest to develop, with Zonal Geranium cuttings needing extra time since they start without a root system. By the end of the month, we’ll have planted over 25,000 hanging baskets filled with a mix of beautiful varieties.
Soil plays a crucial role in plant health, and interestingly, the “soil” we use in pots doesn’t actually contain any traditional soil. Instead, it’s a blend of peat, vermiculite, perlite, composted bark, fertilizer, lime, and a wetting agent. We also carefully manage pH levels to ensure plants absorb nutrients effectively, keeping them strong and vibrant.
As we gear up for another growing season, spring is just around the corner. Stay tuned for all the beauty that’s on its way!
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