Pink or purple, short or tall, annual or perennial...JMK Greenhouse has it all.
Mike and Jennifer Kernahan, owners of JMK Greenhouse in Corning, opened for business back in 2000 and are now in their 22nd season.
Not having any formal training and never having even worked in a greenhouse, the Kernahans made the decision to start one up.
Jennifer says they just happened to come across an abandoned greenhouse and decided on the spot "Let's start a greenhouse!鈥�
They originally started their first greenhouse at the south end of Corning and then added a second, and after a few years, decided they needed more space to go bigger. They purchased the Corning School in 2003 moving their business there and added a third greenhouse and have been operating out of that location ever since.
"We needed the extra space to bring in trees, shrubs, perennials and such," explains Jennifer.
Jennifer says she starts her planting at the beginning of March with most flowers and vegetables being started from seed, although some flowers are imported and are then transplanted.
The Kernahans have been in the business for over 20 years but they say 鈥淚t's a learning curve every year.鈥�
"I've started my own peppers and tomatoes in the house prior to owning a greenhouse but that's nothing compared to the thousands of plants I seed now," says Jennifer. "In the petunia department alone I plant at least 10,000 seeds."
The petunia tends to be a plant that almost everyone purchases, as it is a very hardy plant, it's a good filler and it blooms all the time.
Other workhorses include marigolds, snapdragons and daisies, and then are the people who also like their basic vegetables 鈥� tomatoes, cabbages and peppers.
Overall Mike calculates that they plant upwards of 100,000 plants every year. Now that's a lot of playing in the dirt.
"I like being here in the spring," says Jennifer about getting things started for the season.
Jennifer says she likes to showcase a new type of flower every year.
The Kernahans have noticed changes over the years with their customers 鈥� years ago they were mostly purchasing plants for flower beds, but in last five years or so customers are leaning more towards the imported flowers and using hanging baskets and pots.
This year seems to be the burgundy and blues that are a big seller whereas some years it was the pinks.
"2020 was probably the best year we've ever had 鈥� we sold out," said Jennifer, unsure of whether that had anything to do with the pandemic or not.
"We've had great support from customers throughout the pandemic even though we weren't open to the public," says Jennifer and Mike. "Everything was curbside pickup."
Customers come from a 50-kilometre radius, with some making the trip from Weyburn, Estevan and a few from Regina.
"Our customer base has also changed since we first started with a lot more of the younger generation taking an interest in flowers," says the Kernahans.
"I used to see the moms with their kids and now those kids are all grown up and shopping for themselves," says Jennifer.
"I've had some of the same customers year after year since we started," says Jennifer, who adds, "so we must be doing something right."
JMK Greenhouse also custom plants street hangers and planters for Stoughton, Fillmore and the baskets for the Windthorst Memory Tree, and provides the flowers for Glenavon's flower pots.
She also custom makes colorful planters for weddings and graduations.
JMK Greenhouse donates a fair amount of flowers to various places throughout the season, including Stoughton and Fillmore care homes to brighten up the day.
Students at the Stoughton Central School are building planters for garden beds as a great learning program so JMK will donate vegetables so the students can harvest the veggies in the fall.
Customers seem to go through phases. A few years ago the greenhouse sold a lot of pond plants but recently the demand for trees and shrubs has increased. Fruit trees are a big seller and many pre-order trees for shelterbelts.
JMK placed their order last October for the 2021 season and found that certain items were already sold out. Plugs and imports are ordered in December and January and some of those items were already sold out as well.
Jennifer says she likes what she's doing even though she makes the comment 鈥淚t's not easy work,鈥� but she's thankful for having two good friends who help her out with the transplanting and are often on hand to help out with customers on busy days.
Mike says he likes growing the plants and seeing them advance.
"The most rewarding thing about having a greenhouse is 'our last day,'" she says with a chuckle.
Make the trip out to JMK Greenhouse in Corning ... you'll be glad you did.
