Growing to learn

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Eddie Barrow, who is the grower you’ll meet in this month’s issue. I spent an afternoon with Eddie, his lovely family and his excellent doggo at his small operation in the suburbs of Toledo, Ohio.

One of the most striking things about Eddie is his deep and insatiable curiosity about plants. He is endlessly fascinated by their changeability and adaptability, and those qualities fuel his work growing and breeding his material. He is excited about experimentation and willing to take risks to push plant forms, resulting in interesting growing habits and leaf morphology, including a variety of “twisty” and ruffled hostas.

But his experimentation is built on a strong foundation of knowledge. He’s put in the time and the study to understand what’s been possible before trying to push the boundaries. Learning always comes before innovation.

In that spirit, we present to you a June issue filled to the brim with knowledge you can use to boost your success. Our cover story is the first in a series related to the use of plastic pots in the horticulture industry. Writer Marie Chieppo looks at the history of the industry’s go-to container material and explores what the more sustainable future could look like.

We’re also proud to offer our 2024 State of Lighting Report. There’s a wealth of information here about how and why greenhouse operators are tapping into supplemental and photoperiod lighting and indoor artificial/sole-source lighting. One finding from the report is the explosion of LED adoption since 2018. We focus on LEDs this year with some excellent insight from Roberto Lopez, associate professor of floriculture and controlled environment production at Michigan State University.

You’ll also find information about how to determine the best lighting to bring into your operation. Plus, you’ll find resources to navigate the rebate and incentive programs that will help you revamp your lighting and realize energy efficiency savings.

Along with this issue, you’ll find our New Perennial Varieties guide. This year, we received submissions from nearly two dozen companies, and we have a new format jam-packed with all the information and pictures you need to learn what to bring into your operation.

Something that was clear to me as I drove home from my time spent with Eddie is that there are always opportunities to learn. Whether you’re a business veteran or just starting out in the horticulture industry, there’s always information available to help you grow.

In Eddie’s case, that growth is quite literal and translates to delighting his customers. After you peruse these pages, it’s my hope and wish that you grow, too — bigger, better and brighter.