Grower Profile: Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery
Growing plants under extreme conditions in the Sonoran Desert can be a challenge, but Thomas Birt decided to take the risk and started his nursery in the early 90s with a revolutionary concept. As a clever entrepreneur, he learned and understood the art of growing plants while he was working at another nursery and also by experimenting with growing techniques in his backyard.
Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery started with one acre in the middle of a residential area in Tucson, AZ. It consisted of a small office and a production area for native trees, shrubs and plants. At that time, Thomas managed the crop production area, sales, and made deliveries. The hard work paid off and after a couple of years, he expanded his production area by purchasing residential properties next to the nursery and constructing new greenhouses.
With the expansion, Thomas needed to hire a grower to split the workload, then came Guadalupe Velarde. He would be responsible for growing bedding plants, herbs, vegetable transplants, tropical foliage, citrus, roses and orchids. Thomas would still be responsible for the production of shrubs, native trees and plants, succulents and cactus.
Currently, Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery has grown to a 22-acre farm divided into three production areas:
- 3 acres of high-tech greenhouses for bedding plants;
- 2 acres of retractable roof greenhouses for trees;
- 2 acres of shade houses for citrus, roses, tropical foliage and vegetable production.
In addition, there is another greenhouse designated to grow plants that require high humidity and low light. Thomas calls it his “Orchid Greenhouse”.
Besides plants, the nursery has a gift shop that offers fine pottery, fountains, outdoor copper sculptures, soil amendments and many types of potting soils including the Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery’s own brand name. Mainly 95% of their sales are from retail and the remaining is wholesale.
Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery has also a Plant Pharmacy: its objective is to teach customers how to grow plants rather than exchanging “sick” plants for healthy plants. Customers can come in with questions about their unhealthy plants and ask a team of experts for advice about the cause of the problem and prescribe the precise treatment. Customers follow recommendations and if the plant requires a “medicine” it can be purchased onsite. “Medicine” is often a mild pesticide or fertilizer. Customers can also find books and tools for gardening.
Every year, Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery hosts several events during the spring season.
This season started with “Citrus Tasting”, which was held on the first Saturday of March. During this event, several types of tasteful citrus were offered for customers to sample including grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins and even kumquats.
During the second Saturday of March, the Tucson Orchid Association held its event at the nursery. Their annual Rose Show was held during the first Saturday of April in which the latest varieties of roses were displayed. Rose lovers waited in line for several hours before the nursery opened to get the best selection of the most colorful and fragrant roses.
Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery has recently started to use PRO-MIX® products and PRO-MOSS TBK.
Guadalupe was already a satisfied customer with PRO-MIX products, as he used to grow plants in PRO-MIX® BX early in his career at a different nursery. After several years of using another growing medium at Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery, Premier Tech’s Grower Service and Sales team set up a trial with PRO-MIX products. Trials were a success and, being convinced of the benefits of MYCORRHIZAE, Guadalupe changed his substrates to PRO-MIX including PRO-MIX® HPCC AGTIV® REACH™.
Some aspects that made him change were:
- Active ingredients,
- High-quality peat,
- Grower Services and Sales Team Ongoing and attentive support.
We wish Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery, Thomas Birt and Guadalupe Velarde the best in their new venture.
