What works for D.S. Cole Growers

Between the millions of young plants, the wide variety of finished plants and the new variety trials, Doug Cole, president of D.S. Cole Growers in Loudon , N.H. , is entrenched in the industry. A true green-industry role model, Cole is a knowledge-hungry leader with a passion for improving his business and the entire industry.

GMPRO asked Cole to identify some of his top picks in plant material and production aids.

Calibrachoa MiniFamous Double Pink from Selecta First Class commands a lot of orders.

“It’s in huge demand,” Cole said. “It’s a vigorous grower and a good performer outdoors all summer.”

MiniFamous Double Pink is the first double-flowering calibrachoa. It has a semi-trailing habit and is self-cleaning. It flowers earlier than most double petunias and has a slightly wilder habit compared to other MiniFamous varieties. It grows best in baskets, according to Selecta First Class.

For more: Selecta First Class, (800) 955-5644; www.firstclassplants.com.

Surfinia Mini-Mini Purple is causing a lot of buzz at D.S. Cole Growers.

“It’s a great consumer performer,” Cole said. “The plants have fantastic vigor and are covered with small, purple flowers.”

Surfinia Mini-Mini Purple is part of the Suntory Collection from Jackson & Perkins. Surfinia petunias are a cross between a wild South American petunia and propagated seed hybrids. They’re vigorous growers with densely branched foliage and masses of trailing flowers. Surfinia petunias flower March through November and are heat tolerant.

For more: Jackson & Perkins, (800) 877-6737; www.surfinia.com.

One of Cole’s newest improvements is an Aqua-Hort system from Denmark . It adds copper ions to the irrigation system using copper plates and electrolysis. The copper ions prevent water-borne diseases, including Pythium and Phytophthora. The system is controlled by a simple keypad. It helps eliminate algae and other organics while helping the root system, Cole said.

“We are able to check the ppm of copper at the end of our hoses using a simple test kit,” Cole said. “The best part is that there is no additional cost for chemicals or concern for overdose of chemicals.”

For more: Aqua-Hort, telephone 011 (45) 70226611; www.aqua-perl.dk.

D.S. Cole Growers Inc.

Founded: 1987 by Doug Cole.

Location: Loudon , N.H.

Crops: D.S. Cole Growers sells 10 million young plants nationwide and 400,000 finished plants annually to independent garden centers.

Employees: 30 year-round and 80 during peak season.

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- Kelli Rodda