Tidal Creek Growers has grown from a 2 acre contract operation in Earleville, Md., to 621,455 square feet of environmentally controlled greenhouse space, 6 acres of shadehouses and 11 acres of field production. While 35 percent of the business is still contract growing, direct sales to independent garden centers account for the other 65 percent. Two locations in Earleville and Davidsonville, Md., service the needs of customers in the Mid-Atlantic region.
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Owner Jake Van Wingerden started Tidal Creek Growers in 2002. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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A bay of propagated poinsettias in a glass MX greenhouse at Tidal Creek Growers' Davidsonville location. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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An open-roof Cravo house in Davidsonville filled with pansy crops. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Outside fields of 8-inch mums in Davidsonville, all on drip irrigation. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Outside fields of drip-irrigated mums at Tidal Creek Growers' Davidsonville location. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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James Doukas, lead grower at Tidal Creek Growers' Davidsonville facility. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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James Doukas, lead grower at the Davidsonville facility, checks out a poinsettia crop with Section Grower Carlos Recinos. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Section Grower Carlos Recinos checks on boom irrigation at the Davidsonville facility. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Section Grower Carlos Recinos checks on boom irrigation at the Davidsonville facility. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Boom irrigating a bay of recently spaced poinsettias in Davidsonville location. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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A Cherry Creek systems Echo-Veyer is used to move plants from one end of the greenhouse to the other at the new Earleville addition. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Mark Bleezard, site manager of Earleville facility, grew up working on the nursery side of the horticulture industry before making the jump over to Tidal Creek Growers. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Mike Leubecker, head grower for Tidal Creek Nurseries and site manager at its Davidsonville facility, has been with the company for nearly 10 years. He grew up working in the greenhouse industry. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Outside fields of drip-irrigated 8-inch mums in Earleville. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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A worker scouts for dry plants in outdoor fields of 9-inch mums at Earleville. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Transport wagons are used to shuttle greenhouse carts with product and supplies to the newly constructed greenhouse in Earleville. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Tidal Creek Growers includes 6 acres of shadehouses and 11 acres of field production. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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A boom irrigates a 6 1/2-inch blackout mum crop in the Earleville Cravo house. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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A section grower carries trays of 6-inch pansies for an order at the Davidsonville Cravo house. Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
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Mike Leubecker (right), Tidal Creek Grower’s head grower and site manager at the Davidsonville, Md., facility, discusses a pansy crop with Lead Grower James Doukas (left). Photo by MJLeubecker Photography.
In the springtime, the Earlville facility is mostly dedicated to contract growers. Half of the contracts are picked up on the dock, and the other half are delivered using hired contract haulers that pull Tidal Creek Grower’s trailers. Production at the Davidsonville operation is almost entirely independent garden center business and landscapers. Deliveries are fairly local, so box trucks are used for easy access in and out of smaller parking lots.
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Tidal Creek Growers has three brands that are sold exclusively to retail garden centers. Ashley’s Annuals is a premium line of items like New Guinea Impatiens, lantana and geraniums. The perennial line is called Grace’s Gardens, and Emma’s Ornamentals is a 3-gallon program of hydrangeas and buddleias. Chef Jeff rounds out the brands with a line of vegetables and herbs.
As one of the newest growers to make Greenhouse Grower’s Top 100 Growers list at No. 98, Tidal Creek is a sharp operation dedicated to delivering high-quality products and top-notch customer service Check out this photo gallery to see the Davidsonville and Earlville facilities and learn more about the operation.