Shifting gears and planning for the future

In Northeast Ohio where we’re based, warm temperatures persist during the day, but the nights are cooling off considerably. Colorful mums and pumpkins are replacing porch planters, and homeowners are harvesting the last fruits and veggies of the summer season. Some, like me, have started thinking about cooler season crops like garlic and greens. But my existing summer veggie garden is ready for the compost pile, and I’m pondering possibilities for next summer.

No matter where you live, it’s a great time to start planning for next year. As we saw in the Greenhouse Management State of the Industry Report this month, vegetable production on both a homeowner and commercial level is still on the rise. More than 40 percent of growers anticipate that vegetable plants will have the biggest increase in production out of all of their crops. Sixty-three percent of Garden Center retailers experienced increased edibles sales this year, and some garden centers (like the one on page 26) have expanded their selection. But now is not the time to rest on your laurels—it’s time to take a good, hard look at your business and determine what you need to do to meet demand and increase profitability.

For our cover story this month, assistant editor Chris Mosby traveled to CropKing, an Ohio-based supplier of hydroponic systems. Hydroponics, while not a new growing method, has been increasing in popularity with commercial and home growers alike. Co-owner Paul Brentlinger explains more about hydroponics and where he sees the industry expanding in the future starting on page 10. Berries are also an increasingly popular choice for consumers, both in the garden and in the grocery store. Learn more on page 30.

Speaking of production, we take a look at the importance of bees in your greenhouse on page 16, and how to keep those pesky caterpillars out on page 28. If you’d like to implement more eco-friendly practices into your greenhouse in 2015, get the latest on “Zero Emissions” technology on page 20.

For those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of getting to know yet, I’m glad to meet you, and excited to be onboard as the new editor of Produce Grower.

kvarga@gie.net | (216) 393-0290
Twitter: @Produce_Grower