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 and ornamental nursery growers, greenhouse edible crop producers, controlled environment agriculture businesses and home gardeners and students.  The website contains over 2,000 articles and papers from the trade press, scientific journals, extension bulletins and original articles.  It also contains links to other websites, as well as, recent research findings from my lab.  Syllabi and content from former courses are also included as well as exclusive pages tailored for University of Maryland research supporters.  Please use drop down menus at the top of this page to navigate to those sections most relevant to you.

Controlled
​Environment Agriculture

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and urban agriculture are expanding rapidly.  CEA is the future of crop production in locations with adverse climates and/or limited water.  Urban agriculture 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 environment facilities.

Outdoor
​Ornamental Production

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

Research
and Teaching

  My research focuses on mitigating the effects of climate change on crop production, selection, and yield.  Specifically, we work on the environmental physiology of flowering, how temperature (especially high) affects rooting and photosynthesis, and how plant growth regulators can be used to improve crop quality and sell through.  We also identify practical ways to reduce inputs: especially labor and pesticides.  My coursework aims to prepare students from all communities to be successful in a rapidly changing horticulture industry.