Teaching Greenhouse Plant Sale Moves Online with Curbside Pick-up

The Dale & Adele Young Teaching Greenhouse & Plant Shop at Utah State University has moved its seasonal plant sale online due to COVID-19 safety measures. Flowers, ornamental grasses, perennials, annuals, vegetable starts, and fruit starts are available for purchase at https://greenhouseshop.usu.edu. Orders are paid for on the secure website and prepared by student-workers for curbside pick-up at the greenhouse.

Shoppers can filter by price and type of plant. Fuschias and mixed-floral hanging baskets comprise the high end of the price spectrum at just under $30, whereas daisies, fruit and vegetable starts are available for less than $1.

The plants were started by students in plant science courses before labs and in-person instruction were moved online to protect public health. Proceeds from the plant sale support the operation of teaching facilities and fund activities for the USU Plant Science Club.

“The club provides a way to get our students together for social activities, learning opportunities, and to build more camaraderie,” said Paul Johnson, head of the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate (PSC). “Those activities didn’t happen this spring because of everything changing due to COVID-19, but I'm hopeful in future years there can be a spring break trip where students get to tour nurseries, greenhouses, and ag facilities around the western U.S.”

The PSC department hired several students after instruction moved online to help them continue their hands-on education and cover some living expenses. Despite mounting challenges, these student workers were able to tend the plants while adjusting their schedules and work habits to meet more rigorous health and safety rules.

“In most years, this is part of the greenhouse management class, which gives students a lot of real-life experience learning how to produce greenhouse plants,” Johnson said. “But with the situation this year, they started to grow them, and then most students left campus. We hired students to help finish out the crop. They also made online videos of their work since most of their fellow students couldn't be here to watch things get finished up.”

The teaching greenhouse is located at 1360 North 800 East in Logan, just north of Maverik Stadium, at the intersection of 800 East and 1400 North. Due to USU protocols related to the COVID-19 outbreak, customers will not be allowed in the greenhouse. Instructions for picking up purchased items are on the website.