Peak bloom in the seedling beds, containing over 15,000 seedlings, is from late May to the first of July. This 22 by 45 greenhouse was constructed in 1997 and features a variety of fully automated systems designed especially for the hybridizing program of Tom Bruce. The center aisle benches can hold up to 315 five-gallon nursery pots of recent introductions and selected seedlings used by Tom in his hybridizing program. Each season begins and ends with a well-cleaned and sterilized facility to ensure a healthy growing environment. The evergreen and semi-evergreen daylilies are placed in the greenhouse in mid November.
Dormant cultivars go inside after the first few heavy frosts.
Each pot has its own drip tube creating an automated watering system. After a few weeks at 70 F the daylilies really start to grow. Extensive labeling and detailed record keeping ensures Tom and his seed customers of accurate information concerning parentage. During November and December, over 5,500 seeds are planted and placed along both sides of the greenhouse. A second crop is started in the greenhouse in early spring.