January 2025 - 38

BIG GROWER
" We invested in a breeding
program and now have
introduced hundreds of
perennials to the market. "
- Christa Steenwyk
our customers continue to love, "
Steenwyk said. " Throughout the
years, we've evolved by adding a
plug line and building greenhouses.
That's now grown to 18 acres. We
invested in a breeding program and
now have introduced hundreds of
perennials to the market. We also
teamed up with Proven Winners and
are proud to be part of the No. 1
plant brand in our industry. "
The company sells products in the
U.S. and Canada, and works with
licensees throughout the world with
its plant genetics.
" Our customers look to us for our
exceptional genetics which have
proven themselves over the years,
from our distinctive hostas to our
fabulous hardy hibiscus and many
others, " Steenwyk said. " The top
exclusive genetics from our own
38
JANUARY 2025 BIG GROWER
hybridizing program and hybridizers
worldwide are trialed and selected
for the Proven Winners line. "
Thanks to its location along Lake
Michigan, the company utilizes
sandy, well-drained soil that
helps its roots grow bigger faster.
The sandy loam soil, moderate
Zone 5 temperatures and semiconsistent
snow cover create
perfect growing conditions.
While most varieties are cultivated
for a single season, hemerocallis
and hosta varieties are grown for
two seasons. During harvesting,
the majority of the soil is removed
and the tops of most varieties
are trimmed back to the crown.
They are then graded, packed
in shredded aspen or sphagnum
moss and stored in freezers
until it's time for shipment.
PLANT DEVELOPMENT
Hans Hansen is the company's
director of new plant development
and, for more than a decade, has been
a driving force behind the company's
numerous plant introductions.
Under Hansen's leadership, Walter
Gardens' New Plant Development
department works on projects
involving more than 80 plant genera
annually, which results in more than
35,000 unique crosses each year.
While many seedlings are quickly
eliminated at the onset, thousands
make their way to landscape trials.
In addition to the expectation of
better landscape and production
performance, each breeding project
is approached with genus-specific
goals. Plus, by honing specific
characteristics through multiple
generations of breeding, the

January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2025

Table of Contents
Editor's Report
Intern of the Year | Theodore Salgado
Technology | When are the robots coming?
Labor | Must-have heat safety measures
Trends | A rosy outlook for foliage
CEA | USDA grants for energy efficiency in your greenhouse
Management | Bring on the dragons
Big Grower | Walters Gardens
SGAFT | Sidewall winterization for small greenhouses
Culture Report | Poinsettia 'Red Ribbons'
Forty Under 40 Perspectives | Irrigation at a large container farm
AmericanHort | Top 10 ways you can thrive in 2025
Product Marketplace
Industry News
Events
Classifieds/Ad Index
January 2025 - 1
January 2025 - 2
January 2025 - Table of Contents
January 2025 - Editor's Report
January 2025 - 5
January 2025 - Intern of the Year | Theodore Salgado
January 2025 - 7
January 2025 - 8
January 2025 - 9
January 2025 - 10
January 2025 - 11
January 2025 - 12
January 2025 - 13
January 2025 - Technology | When are the robots coming?
January 2025 - 15
January 2025 - Labor | Must-have heat safety measures
January 2025 - 17
January 2025 - 18
January 2025 - 19
January 2025 - Trends | A rosy outlook for foliage
January 2025 - 21
January 2025 - 22
January 2025 - 23
January 2025 - 24
January 2025 - 25
January 2025 - 26
January 2025 - 27
January 2025 - CEA | USDA grants for energy efficiency in your greenhouse
January 2025 - 29
January 2025 - 30
January 2025 - 31
January 2025 - Management | Bring on the dragons
January 2025 - 33
January 2025 - 34
January 2025 - 35
January 2025 - Big Grower | Walters Gardens
January 2025 - 37
January 2025 - 38
January 2025 - 39
January 2025 - 40
January 2025 - 41
January 2025 - SGAFT | Sidewall winterization for small greenhouses
January 2025 - 43
January 2025 - 44
January 2025 - 45
January 2025 - 46
January 2025 - 47
January 2025 - Culture Report | Poinsettia 'Red Ribbons'
January 2025 - 49
January 2025 - 50
January 2025 - 51
January 2025 - 52
January 2025 - 53
January 2025 - Forty Under 40 Perspectives | Irrigation at a large container farm
January 2025 - 55
January 2025 - AmericanHort | Top 10 ways you can thrive in 2025
January 2025 - 57
January 2025 - Product Marketplace
January 2025 - 59
January 2025 - 60
January 2025 - 61
January 2025 - 62
January 2025 - 63
January 2025 - Industry News
January 2025 - Events
January 2025 - Classifieds/Ad Index
January 2025 - 67
January 2025 - 68
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2022
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2022
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/newvarieties-2022
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