Garden Center web news and social media highlights from December

What’s trending on Instagram

As the year winds down to a close, we’d like to thank all of our engaging Instagram followers for tagging us in your posts. From novel birdhouses and vintage garden décor to the lush greenery of home-grown plants, we love to interact and see the goings-on of our readers’ everyday lives. We look forward to another year of seeing your photos. Tag us @gardencentermag!

See it here.

Tomatoes from start to finish

How long does it take to grow a tomato? This time-lapse video by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre shows a bountiful tomato harvest grow — without the wait.

See it here.

Garden Center Trivia

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION:

What semi-parasitic holiday plant with leathery leaves and small white berries must obtain water and minerals from its host plant, but can produce food for itself?

Check back next month on Home Page for the answer!

Last month’s question and answer: Small pockets of air inside these fruits cause them to bounce and float in water. What fruit is this?

Answer: Cranberries.

5 Stories in brief

Top industry news from our website

Survive and thrive

With sales and plans to rebuild already underway, North Haven Gardens isn’t letting a tornado slow them down. Read it here. 

A passion for serving elders

Orla Concannon, founder and CEO of Eldergrow, provides mobile indoor gardens to senior communities to improve their well-being and mental health. Learn how these gardens help senior communities thrive. Read it here.

The top gardening books to stock at your IGC

Whether it’s an herb gardening book or an urban how-to guide, help consumers find the perfect gifts for their loved ones by offering these bestsellers at your garden center. Read it here.

Creative ways to combat labor issues

Finding labor is a common challenge for most companies. Here are some unique ways to tackle it while helping others too. Read it here. 

Lively Root looks ahead with a community-inspired focus

In this Q&A, we caught up with Jon Ewing, who co-created the e-commerce website, Lively Root. Read it here.