Roses were first planted on our property in 1979 by our founders John Furman and Alan Mitchell. All our greenhouses were self-built by our own employees using steel frames and a double-ply polyurethane covering. In 1992, California Pajarosa became the first rose growers in Northern California to institute hydroponic growing methods. While initially an ecological experiment to reduce water run-off, we quickly realized that we were able to grow higher quality roses while increasing plant density and therefore increasing production per square foot. These initial hydro plantings utilized rolling steel benches and rockwool growing media. These new growing methods enable us to have greater control over plant productivity, recycle wastewater, and also increase our ability to monitor PH and nutrient levels. Hydro-ponic growing has constantly evolved over the last ten years, as rolling benches have been changed to buckets, and the rockwool growing media gave way to clay particles and then to coconut fibers mixed with perlite. The advent of hydroponic growing has given us the ability to use bending methods on the plants to further control production and increase both quality and stem length.
The 55 acre facility, located in Watsonville, California, is nestled against the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains which offers a coastal microclimate ideal for producing quality roses on a year round basis. Computerized greenhouses, fertilization systems, and a post-harvest grading machine make it possible to control consistent production in our 760,000 square feet of greenhouses. All roses are closely monitored, as we cut and harvest each variety up to three times daily to achieve an optimal cut point. In order to maintain integrity with the special characteristics of each variety, we are forced to cut each at a different stage of development. This process ensures that California Pajarosa will provide you with exceptional quality on a consistent basis.