Garden Culture has always been about sharing knowledge, questioning old habits, and advancing progressive gardening. Behind every great crop and every hard-earned lesson, there are professionals quietly doing the work: the growers, consultants, agronomists, researchers, retailers, and operators who live in this industry.
That is what Professional POV is all about.
We are excited to welcome a new contributor, Mexx Holweg, PhD, whose background in light science is second to none. Quite simply, I have never met anyone who understands lighting and its effects on agriculture better. His article “From Root Zone to Air: Managing Water Flow and VPD for Vegetative Growth” is a must-read for growers who want to deepen their understanding and improve results.
In “Oversteering Your Grow Off a Cliff”, Dustan McLean delivers one of the best lines I have ever read: “The best nutrient for a plant is the shadow of the grower.” He reminds us that more is not always better, and that data can never fully replace observation and experience.
In “The Microbial Renaissance: Why the Future of Cultivation Won’t Be Sterile”, Colin Bell, PhD, highlights the essential role biology plays in a healthy garden. And finally, Tyler Simmons tackles an often-overlooked factor in cultivation success: water quality. In “Why Some Cultivation Facilities Run for Years Without Problems”, he breaks down what long-term success really looks like in well-run facilities.
Whether you are running a commercial facility, advising growers, managing a retail floor, or simply pushing your own operation to the next level, my hope is that this issue sparks ideas, conversations, and a deeper respect for the professionals shaping modern cultivation.
This is Garden Culture, from the professional point of view.
Happy Growing
Dustan McLean writes about the topping technique gardeners use to control growth, improve airflow, and increase yields in crops like tomatoes, basil, and more.
From topping for bigger yields to growing with TLC, explore 5 expert-backed ways pros get the most from their gardens and grow rooms.
Little Red Flower Truck is a flower and vegetable farm in Harborside, Maine, growing seasonal blooms and produce with care for pollinators.
La Ferme Coopérative Aux Champs Qui Chantent is a worker-owned organic farm in Quebec, growing regenerative food and building local food sovereignty.
