Catoctin Mountain Growers in Keymar, Maryland, is a leading producer of predominantly flowering bedding plants. In 2025, the American family business will celebrate its 40th anniversary. It will also be the first year of operation of the new 3-acre (1.2 ha) Roll-Air greenhouse. Founder Robert (Bob) van Wingerden is pleased with his state-of-the-art convertible greenhouse, which can make the all-important spring peak even more profitable.
The history of Catoctin Mountain Growers dates back to 1985, when Bob van Wingerden and his wife Denise founded a modest nursery with a greenhouse of only 0.4 acres. Based on hard work, commitment to quality and dedication to both customers (garden centers and retail chains) and employees, the company grew steadily to its current growing area of 23 acres (9.3 ha).
Bob van Wingerden
"We grow as many as 150 varieties of bedding plants, both in greenhouses and outside in container and tray fields," says the founding father. "Most of the work is done by our children these days, but we are still involved in the business."
First encounter
The continued commitment of the founders led to the new construction of 3 acres of Roll-Air greenhouse last year. No small investment, but highly justified, according to the experienced grower. "The Roll-Air is a high-end convertible film greenhouse, perhaps the best available," he notes. "We had been looking for such a greenhouse type for some time, but every brand had its shortcomings. Especially maintenance can be a nightmare. Therefore, it had not yet come about. In early 2024, I visited the international plant fair IPM in Germany. On display at the Rovero booth was the Roll-Air. I was impressed by the quality of the construction and the mechanism with which the roof opens and closes. Cleverly designed and very solid!"
Bob took his experiences and the necessary documentation home to discuss. A short time later, plans for new construction were concretized. . A few months after that, the containers with construction parts and polyfilm from the Netherlands arrived in Keymar.
Transition between inside and outside
The Roll-Air greenhouse serves a clear purpose: to produce even more quality plants during the all-important spring peak. "Plants don't always have an easy time transitioning from the relatively warm greenhouse to the container field, where weather conditions vary greatly," explains the plant grower. "In early spring, night frosts and precipitation are always lurking and these can be detrimental to the growth and ornamental value of the crop.
Still, at some point the plants need to go outside to harden off. With a convertible greenhouse you can make that transition smoother and safer for sensitive varieties. From the glass greenhouse they go to the Roll-Air to calmly harden off and continue growing until the moment they can finally go outside or be delivered to customers. As long as the weather permits, the greenhouse is completely open. In bad weather or too low temperatures, you close the deck and the plant is protected from that."
Less dropout, better quality
The Maryland-based entrepreneur expects the better-regulated trimming and hardening off of their plants in the March-May period to result in less downtime, better plant quality and a more uniform product. "This allows us to get even more out of the spring, which is important because we realize almost three-quarters of our annual sales in that short period," Van Wingerden said. "The Roll-Air greenhouse could increase sales and margins significantly. Whether it will actually succeed we have to wait and see, but I am confident. Especially since Rovero now also has a good dealer in this part of the United States."
"I was impressed with the quality of the construction and the mechanism by which the roof opens and closes. Cleverly designed and very solid," said Bob van Wingerden.
For more information:
Rovero
www.rovero.com