The Twitter25 of 2015

Among the drawbacks of Twitter is the white noise effect. Users have to follow other users to receive their tweet messages. But frequently, the feed of messages coming in can be overwhelming and unimportant drivel can drown out the key tweets.

 

The solution to that problem is simple: Know who to follow. If you follow only the best, most relevant accounts then you can make Twitter the sharp-edged marketing weapon and information gatherer it’s meant to be.

 

To that point, Greenhouse Management has assembled 25 of the best Twitter accounts- from growers, breeders, associations and universities- for you to follow. Our Twitter25 accounts are grouped by category and listed in no particular order.

 

We’ve previewed a handful within “Growing Edge” of Greenhouse Management’s June issue. 

 

And be sure to join the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #GMTwitter25

 

On behalf of the Greenhouse Management team and Nufarm, congratulations to all 2015 Twitter25 honorees! 

 

 

Solstice – Seattle, Washington

@solsticegrown

• This cannabis-growing facility has gained more than 950 followers by providing industry-related news and high-quality photos of its product. 

 

Doef’s Greenhouse – Alberta, Canada

@doefs

• For this grower, engagement is key. When new varieties pop up, they call for feedback through the social media platform.  

 

Thiel’s Greenhouses – Alberta, Canada

@ThielsGH

• Bright blues, greens and yellows flood this Canadian growers’ Twitter feed, which sets a distinct branding tone to its 800-plus followers.  

 

Windset Farms – British Columbia, Canada

 @windsetfarms

• This veggie grower knows how to connect to its end users. Our favorite posts are the delectable-looking recipes that include their fresh-grown produce.  

 

Bob’s Market and Greenhouses – Mason, West Virginia

@BobsMarket

• The family-run business reaches its 1,300–plus followers by posting unique-perspective variety photos and linking to “The Horticultural Industry Daily,” Bobs’ curated newsletter.

 

Rosa Flora – Dunnville, Ontario, Canada

@RosaFloraLtd

• Rosa Flora’s social media manager understands just how important it is to post updates often. And by connecting tweets with the Ontario greenhouse’s Facebook page, it extends its reach to an additional 200 followers.  

 

Hole's Greenhouses – St. Albert, Alberta, Canada

@HolesOnline 

• This grower/retailer celebrates its customers by retweeting their photos of their experiences in the garden center, and adds its own plethora of eye-catching content to its 5,300 followers. 

BrightFarms – New York, New York

@brightfarms

• The NYC grower has branded itself with its own hashtag #1000milesfresher, and doesn’t pass up theopportunity for a joke by placing its Baby Kale in famous photographs-- like the celebrity-filled Oscars selfie with Ellen Degeneres, or in the hand of Lincoln’s memorial in Washington, D.C.   

SunTech Greenhouse – Ontario, Canada 

@SuntechGH

• The perfect feel-good Twitter account for all you foodies out there, SunTech touts the importance of eating healthy by sharing delicious recipes that include produce they grow themselves to their end users. 

 

ArizonaEast – Minotola, New Jersey 

 @Arizona_East

• This grower shows just how beautiful succulents can be by displaying colorful photos of unique arrangements inits Twitter feed. 

 

HGTV Home Plants – hgtvhomeplants.com

@HGTVHOMEPlants

• Through perfectly crafted photos that would suit well in the fashion blogosphere, HGTV HOME Plants’ service-oriented account provides care tips for its users as well as giveaway opportunities of its sister Twitter handles.  

 

Proven Winners – provenwinners.com

@Proven_Winners

•  PW shares its beautiful varieties and won’t stop at the chance to retweet those who also share their plants in their operation—or while meditating in the mountains.  

 

Sunset Western Garden Collection – sunsetwesterngardencollection.com

@SunsetPlants

• The holiday graphics with varieties in the background have won us over. It’s a great way to brand the collections and share offerings.  

 

Terra Nova Nurseries – terranovanurseries.com

@TerraNovaNurs

• Utilizing a clever #plantoftheday to attract consistent followers, the breeder has eclipsed the 3,000 followers benchmark.  

 

Ball Horticultural – ballhort.com 

@BallHort

•  Ball excels at a down-to-earth, information sharing, brand spanning Tweeting style and that has helped them climb past 3,000 followers.  

 

Sakata Ornamentals – sakataornamentals.com

@FlowersBySakata

• A growing Twitter account, Sakata knows who to retweet and when, and specializes in promoting cross-platform media.  

 

University of Connecticut Extension – Storrs, Connecticut 

@UConnExtension

•  The UConn Extension Twitter is a bastion of relevant grower news and fun, Connecticut-based Tweets (like a picture with the school’s mascot Huskie).  

 

Michigan State Extension – East Lansing, Michigan 

@MSUExtension

• One of the largest extension Twitters, MSU’s tweets are clever and provide vital cultural information and weather forecasts to growers.  

 

University of Illinois Extension – Urbana, Illinois 

@uie_hort

•  With tweets encouraging followers to get to know their farmer, and a regular #GardenChat, it’s no surprise that UofI’s Twitter is growing rapidly.  

 

Geoff Denny – Starkville, Mississippi 

@MSTrialGarden

•  Regular updates and images from the Mississippi Trial Gardens await followers. The Twitter account is currently not well known, but prospective followers would be well advised to check it out.  

 

National Garden Bureau – Chicago, Illinois 

@NatGardenBureau

•  One of the best known “green” accounts on Twitter, NGB advocates for gardening and names each year for specific plants.  

 

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – Dallas, Texas 

@dallasarboretum

• The popular Dallas Arboretum Twitter helps popularize local gardening and highlight statewide industry trends.  

 

Nufarm Americas – nufarm.com/us

@NufarmUSGHN

• A new account with a finely honed focus on serving greenhouse operators, followers will find a bevy of resources and vital information.  

 

American Floral Endowment – Alexandria, Virginia 

@FloralEndowment

• By retweeting gardening tips, sharing gigantic pictures of gorgeous flowers and supporting “green” holidays like “National Rose Month” the AFE Twitter has truly blossomed.  

 

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) – ontariogreenhouse.com

@ONgreenhouseVeg

•  The OGVG Twitter is all about helping. Help customers discover fresh food and tasty recipes and help Ontario growers get a little publicity and a steady following in the process.