A different sort of spring, a bigger sort of greenhouse

Everything about this spring and the preparations I have been making will be a little bigger and and a little different than my past spring posts and updates.  This year I have a staff to help me get the job done, and then some when the work load gets even bigger.
I won't be washing pots and flats in my basement wash tub and lining them up to dry on the basement floor.  In fact, I probably won't have much to do with it at all.  Considering that I did this job for 19 plus years before I left for my last job, it is not like I didn't do my time.  Now I have to decide when and what gets done.

It is a lot more fun doing it with a great group of workers than it is alone.  I am going to take this to a different level than past years in that I want to maximize the greenhouse space with rotations of plants to the out-of-doors during the late spring time to harden some things off and get a little more bench space to expand our crop offerings.  I do not have a crystal ball to predict the weather, so it is a bit of a guessing game and a gamble all at once.

We are propagating on a much larger level than I did in my basement greenhouse as well.  We experimented with perlite over heat cables and found that although it was good, heat mats with flats of media are better.  We also tried some different rooting hormone.  The powder was good, but the gel was better.  The staff has been working and researching different methods and it is paying off in better results.

The workforce has taken a change and we now have the men out-numbering the women this time around.  It reminds me of the times when I first got into this industry and I was often the only female on staff.  I remember working for a large insurance company on the ground maintenance staff and saw only one other female on the other side of operations with 75 men in between.  I got so used to being solo that now I often don't notice the numbers of male vs female.  I do notice how much younger they all look now...

The days are getting longer and we are looking forward to a promising spring.  It will not be without its problems, as it never is when you are dealing with living things.  We have over 200,000 plants that have to find their place in the greenhouse so they can grow their best.  I am so excited to be heading into spring with a plan and people that are going to get through it with me.

Life changes

Life has changed at a rapid pace.  10 to 12 hours at the office are the norm with spring in full bloom at the greenhouse and nursery.  I do not mind the change or the hours as they have been interesting and challenging days.  A far cry from the code enforcement days of winter.

I laugh to myself to think that last spring I was debating where to put the two fruit trees I bought at the garden center last spring.  This year I have 5,000 trees to think about where they have to go.  Last spring I was stretching my space by staggered seeding so I could fit it all in my basement.  This year I am working with a crew to get everything done at the same time so it is ready for shipping by the end of May.  Life has changed indeed!

Whether you are working with a large operation or enjoying your own hobby the concepts are still the same.  Light, water, food, and sanitation are still the key ingredients for growing plants.  You have to watch for insects and disease and decide what is your acceptable threshold before you do something to try and stop the pest from devouring your hard work.  It requires daily attention and tender loving care.

When life settles into a rhythm, I will share some shots of the larger operation.  Until then, we will depend on sunshine and a dedicated team to bring the crop into full season.  I am lucky to have such capable people to work with to reach for that goal!