Rooted In Wichita Since 1928: Family Traditions & Container Gardening Tips
Hello, again!
Our business roots go back to 1928, when my grandfather Orie Johnson ‘truck farmed’ and sold vegetables at the Johnson & Binford Market located at Douglas and West Street just off of what we called ‘Cannonball Highway’. Cannonball was the old stagecoach route that started on Wichita’s West Street. It ran west along Maple Street and connected with what is now U.S. 54 going west to Kingman.
Even late into Orie's life, he still grew a garden. I remember his last crop of cantaloupe behind the garden center. It was probably over 100’ in length. Way more than needed to supply all of the employees at the garden center, but that’s what he enjoyed doing. The three Johnson boys all followed in our family’s footsteps with careers working with plants.
I find myself a bit like Orie in that going back to the root of our business is what I most enjoy. I still find myself getting my hands dirty working in the soil, planting a small garden, or spending time in the greenhouses. I know my brothers do as well.
I visited my brother Linden recently, and although he retired from his business, Johnson’s Legacy Landscapes, he still enjoys the outdoors. He stays busy adding plants to his landscape and giving us a hand as needed.
My middle brother Wes spent years operating a wholesale greenhouse, and now, along with Megan and their son Orie, they own and operate Orie’s Farm Fresh. Orie’s is an urban farm nestled in the heart of Northwest Wichita. They specialize in garlic, and grow about twenty varieties each year. In addition to garlic, Orie’s grows a wide array of seasonal vegetables and herbs, raises grass-fed lamb, and produces a full line of handcrafted, all-natural, full-flavored seasonings.
While all three of us learned everything we know about our businesses from Dad and Orie, I wonder how much easier it would have been if Orie had taken Wes's approach to growing many of his food items in containers. Wes grows his plants in large 15-20 gallon pots. His tomatoes flourish in well-drained organic soil and slow-release fertilizer that feeds them for weeks. There’s no bending over to harvest, cultivate, and tend his crops.
If you’re interested in giving container gardening a try, here are a few simple tips:
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Select the largest container you can for your crops.
We carry EarthBox, Smart Pots, and more container options, perfect for patio and small backyard gardens. -
Select a professional potting media to grow in.
I use ferti•lome Ultimate Potting Mix in all of my containers. -
Feed your plants regularly.
Vegetables are heavy feeders, and I like to use fertii•lome Blooming and Rooting at planting. For long-term feeding, I use ferti•lome Tomato and Vegetable Food.
For years, we've used the tagline "Johnson’s, for every season, for 4 generations". We are fortunate to have the 4th generation of Johnsons, Jeremy and Kristen, both involved in running what Orie started almost 100 years ago.
Come see us for all of your gardening needs - for plants in the ground or in containers.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
