Nova Scotia growers importing plants after greenhouses damaged

Damage to greenhouses caused by winter storms is forcing Nova Scotia growers to import plants from out of province in an effort to salvage their season.

Robin Godfrey, who owns Atlantic Gardens in Middle Sackville and Lakeland Plant World in Dartmouth, says this year his business has been forcedto shift away from growing plants.

"Instead of doing seeding and vegetative cuttings starting from the beginning back in February, we have to go out and buy pre-finished product," he said Monday.

But buying the finished product is proving challenging and more expensive. Godfrey says some local growers are helping with greenhouse space, but many of them suffered major damage as well.

As a result, his business is bringing in plants from as far away as Ontario.

"We're so far behind. A lot of North America is already in the season and taking a lot of the product," he says.

"Seed is a lot easier and light to ship than a full-grown plant.Now, you're shipping not only the plant, but the plant, soil and the plant's pot. Freight is a huge issue."

Crews at Atlantic Garden are busy potting perennials despite some soil that remains frozen. Godfrey says with less production, he's hiring fewer staff. The business is opening May 1, which is about two weeks behind schedule.

Millions in damages

Godfrey says his business lost about 4,000 square metresof greenhouses at the two locations. Heavy snow crushed roofsand the winter storms ripped apart the heating, draining and irrigation systems.

He estimates it will cost $750,000 to repair it all, but he's waiting until the end of summer to decide what to rebuild. And he's not alone.

Kevin White, the co-owner of Avon Valley Floral, says 2.8 hectares of growing space has been reduced to0.8 hectares. His business is using greenhouse space in Sussex, N.B., and transportingplants here when that facility runs out of room for them.

"We can't get the space open as early as it should have been open," he says of hisFalmouthoperation, which lost more than 20 buildings.

Greenhouse Nova Scotia's co-ordinator, Yvonne Thyssen-Post, says greenhouses across the province have reported $3.5 million in damageand that number is expected to grow as operators assess the wreckage.

She says the organization is lobbying the province for some compensation for growers because there is no money available to replace damaged infrastructure.

Reduced production means fewer varieties

Thyssen-Postsays because of the damage, some smaller growers may have to reduce production, delay openings and offer fewer varieties.

Godfrey expects larger garden centres at chain stores may have the means to bring in more variety if their local suppliers can't provide it.

"I think once the season is done and people get through it, some people aren't even going to open up," says Godfrey.

"The winter of 2015 is really impacting the growing for 2016, where everybody stands. Who will be left in this industry?Unfortunately there are some big growers out there in other parts of the country that are probably licking their chops right now."