North, We Go…
My summer travels this week take me north to visit our Growers Minerals nursery/tree aficionado, Markus Weber, and his wife Margit in Ruthven, Canada. Markus grew up on the family farm in Black Forest, Germany and enjoyed plants as a youth, especially edible plants because they feed people. Growing up on a farm, it became his life's passion. About 17 years ago, Markus moved to Canada to capitalize on his passion.
After a few years working in various farm operations, Markus established "Plantigro," an edible tree nursery. The last nine years, Markus has developed a fine business supplying local orchards, greenhouses, and some small farms and individuals with edible trees (apple, peach, cherry, plum, etc.) grown from cuttings (Photo 1). His process starts with making cuttings in the fall, overwinter in the cooler until March or April, then transferred to the greenhouse for a month or two (based on the weather). From there, the trees are planted in the field at 6' to 8' in a row and 5' row spacing (Photo 2), foliar spraying Growers Mineral Solutions and liquid calcium once or twice a week through the process. Markus also feeds Growers Mineral Solution through the drip to promote more microbes colonizing on the roots. This multiplies the efforts of the nutrient digesters turning soil and crop residue into plant available food which also makes a stronger root stock. After the first year of growing a strong rootstock, then, in year 2, when the actual bud or scion wood grows, he gives them even more Growers Mineral Solution and liquid calcium until they are ready to dig.
What makes Plantigro a special place is not only the process, but the live productive soil the trees thrive in. Focusing on the root and striving for big strong/hairy root systems, matching the root zone with the top zone of the soil, Markus has created a great soil environment, rich in nutrients and fertility, critical because they experience several environmental issues like windstorms, dry weather, mildew from damp conditions, high pest pressure, etc. A strong root anchor and a rich soil system help Markus prevent or avoid most of the issues, and whether the issues that are out of his control.
After the visit and tour of the Plantigro operation, we headed to the "Center for Horticultural Innovation" greenhouse to meet Matt Korpan, executive director of R&D operations. The center is part of a larger organization that not only does extensive research and trials but has production greenhouses and also builds and designs greenhouses. Our visit to the research center was very interesting and truly amazing. The research being done on various plants, crops, trees, etc. with technology is comparable to the research being done within our medical industry. The center does third party research along with several trials of various products and processes. It was a breath of fresh air to know there are organizations that are not influenced by the establishment. They operate on their own terms. They are in the business of providing answers and knowledge to benefit all, along with operating a profitable business enterprise.
As my day with Markus was coming to an end, we met Markus' wife, Margit, for lunch at the local diner. This is always one of my favorite times during my visits around the country (and Canada): Sitting down to share a meal with Growers folks and family. The talk usually isn't about farming, but family, and Markus has a great family!
This is an excerpt from the Late Fall Growers Solution (2025) written by Chris Kohls, National Sales Manager.
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