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- Greenhouse Plug Operation Includes
15 Acres of Production
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- By Karen Gentry
Associate Editor
- In 1981 Rock Kietzer, owner and president of Kietzer Farms, constructed a few greenhouses to begin raising his own plants. In the early days, Kietzer grew his own plug transplants, but through word-of-mouth and trade shows, he now grows millions of transplants and sells to customers in 14 states.
Kietzer grew up on a farm not far from his present location in Hartford, Mich. He grew fruits and vegetables from 1964-1988. “I always enjoyed growing processing tomatoes and found raising the plants myself to be the most cost effective,” Kietzer said.
In the early 1980s, most growers were using bare rooted plants from the South. “The greenhouse transplants we were utilizing performed better in the field and there is less disease pressure,” Kietzer said.
At first most of his tomato transplants were grown for processors in Indiana and Ohio. After some processing plants closed, Kietzer expanded to a wide variety of vegetable transplants that include: squash, peppers, cabbage, eggplant, melons, collard greens, celery and his biggest crop today - tobacco.
Until 1988, he grew apples, cherries and a variety of vegetables. But, as his greenhouse business bloomed, he began growing fewer field crops. He has retained 50 acres of Concord grades. “Since our greenhouse season is January to the beginning of July, I found that grapes are not a hard crop to incorporate into my schedule,” Kietzer said.
“I had a feeling that greenhouse transplants were going someplace in the 1980s,” Kietzer said. “The greenhouse plant is far superior to bare rooted plants. We get a grower to try it once and they are hooked.”
Today Kietzer Farms, Inc. has grown to include 52 greenhouses with 15 acres of growing space (each greenhouse is approximately 30 x 400 feet). Plants are sold in flats ranging in size from 32-cell to 800-cell. He uses a Blackmore Company. Inc. cylinder seeder, which is versatile enough to handle all the different seeds they utilize.
During the early part of the season, the seeder lines can fill 8,000 to 10,000 flats using a peat-based mix. The flats are then ticketed for a three to five day stay in the germination room. From here the flats are laid out in the greenhouses; each house holds an average of 7,000 flats. Each greenhouse uses unit heaters with natural gas, except for the tobacco plants, which also require bottom heat.
Insects and disease are always a concern to field farmers and this is no different in the controlled environment of the greenhouse. Colorado potato beetle, aphids, and thrips are among some of the insects that can be a problem. Also, bacterial diseases can manifest faster when dealing with greenhouse transplants.
“During our season we employ up to 14 assistant growers who scout the houses on a daily basis for disease and insect problems,” Kietzer stated.
Kietzer works with a grower base of more than 150 customers, who are primarily centered in the Midwest. But, he sells plants as far east as Connecticut and Massachusetts, as far south as Georgia, and as far west as Kansas. In addition, he has deals with processors and a dealer network that sells tobacco plants for Kietzer Farms.
“April, May and June are our busiest shipping months. We ship flowers and watermelon early in the season and our tobacco is shipped throughout.”
Since he started, the greenhouse transplant industry has matured and now customer serverce can make the difference when facing competition. Kietzer said that 95% of growers now use greenhouse transplants.
“I think we have done a great job of communicating with customers,” said Kietzer. “I guarantee my customers that I will communicate with them to find quick and reasonable solutions to problems that may arise - which has helped me to build trust with my growers.”
Like all greenhouse operators, energy costs are a major concern. Kietzer said that energy costs in December 2000 were up 550% compared to the year before. And prices have averaged 260% more than in the past.
Recently Kietzer entered the flower business as a hedge against slow times in vegetable sales. He sells his plants through Bert Hybel, Inc. out of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Kietzer is past president of the Southwest Michigan Vegetable Grower Association, a former chairman to the Advisory Committee for the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station, and currently serves on the board of the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Kietzer and his wife Karen reside in St. Joseph, Mich. Their three children, Kari, Adam and Eric have been active in 4-H and work seasonally on the family farm.
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