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  Jack Weatherford of Weatherford Farms and Greenhouses Inc. and other growers share their greenhouse expansion experiences. | |
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By Kelli Rodda Expansion is accompanied by vital decisions -- how much, how big and what kind. But growth does not have to be coupled with stress. Look for ideas and inspiration in this account of four growers' expansion adventures. Jack Weatherford, president of Weatherford Farms and Greenhouses Inc. in Stafford, Texas, looked to the past for ideas for his new greenhouses. His grandfather founded the business in 1927 and used glass houses, Weatherford said. As the foliage market prospered, Oglesby Plants International Inc. in Altha, Fla., kept up with the demand with new releases and advances in tissue culture. This year, Oglesby is adding about 43,000 square feet of covered production to bring greenhouse space up to 150,000 square feet, said Oglesby president Gary Hennen. For some growers, new construction is not an affordable option. In California, many growers are turning to retrofits because new construction is often hindered by the state's stringent permit process. Mike Faigle, owner of Schubert Nursery in Salinas, Calif., has retrofitted several greenhouses over the years. Michaels Nursery in Boynton Beach, Fla., got the chance to build a new facility when housing developers offered its owners what they felt was an offer they couldn't refuse.
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