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 Container-Nursery Production

Container-nursery operations are moderate to highly intensive systems, who primarily produce plants in small (1-gallon) to quite large (15-gallon) containers in soilless substrates such as pine bark.

A typical container-nursery may grow 50-250 species of plants at any one time, with numerous cultivars of each species, depending upon market demand.

The primary objective of these nurseries is turnover and so plants are often grown closely packed, in blocks. Most plants are grown in a single season -- and plants that are carried over are then "shifted up" to a larger container. The vast majority of plants are grown in 1-5 gallon sizes.

Irrigation water is routinely applied on a daily basis throughout much of the growing season (Mar - Nov). The majority of large growers use overhead sprinkler irrigation, for ease since drip or low-volume systems are impractical for these types of operations. Plants are grown in hoop-houses, which are covered with plastic during the winter months, to protect plants from freezing weather.

Fertilizers are often incorporated or top-dressed. Slow-release fertilizers are a best management practice, to reduce nutrient runoff. Many operations capture runoff in containment ponds to recycle water and nutrients.