This is a personal website developed by John Erwin (Professor and Chair in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at the University of Maryland - College Park) for commercial flower, nursery and greenhouse edible crops producers, home gardeners and students.  The website contains articles from the trade literature, scientific journals, as well as original articles.  It also has pages tailored specifically for University of Maryland research supporters.  Lastly, it contains research findings on controlled environment agriculture, outdoor ornamental crop production, biotic and abiotic stress physiology, flowering physiology and photosynthesis conducted in the Erwin Lab.

CoVID is resulting in a renewed interest in home vegetable gardening.  See our new page for those who want to plant a new home vegetable garden for the Middle Atlantic region (Victory Gardening during CoVID).

Controlled
​Environment Agriculture

Controlled environment agriculture is the future of crop production in locations with adverse climates and/or limited water resources.  Urban agriculture, in particular, is expanding as consumers increasingly prefer locally produced food with increased food safety and access.  We conduct research and outreach around producing ornamentals and food crops in greenhouses in the Middle Atlantic region, in homes and commercial buildings and in other controlled environments.

Outdoor
​Ornamental Production

 The majority of U.S. ornamental crop production is outdoors.  Our program is one of the few with expertise in this area.  We partner with growers in MD, CA, FL, TX, OH, GA, NJ, CO, OR, MN and WA to research and facilitate outdoor crop production.  Aside from this work, we also identify and introduce new crops, ways to ameliorate crop stress, and reduce disease susceptibility.  We specifically focus on new heat and drought tolerant crops - especially cacti and succulents.

Research
and Teaching

  Our research focuses on the environmental physiology of flowering, root development and photosynthesis.  We also identify practical ways to reduce inputs including labor and pesticides to reduce costs.  Our coursework aims to prepare students for a rapidly changing international horticulture industry including emerging crop production, urban horticulture, and controlled environment agriculture - including space.