Vanstone Nurseries is a family owned and operated business located in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. We grow and supply finished plants to retail garden centres and other related companies in a territory spanning from Northern Ontario to the Rocky Mountains. We specialize in hardy perennials and flowering shrubs and also produce an expanding line of annual garden plants ranging from hanging baskets to herbs and vegetable plants.
David and Eunice Vanstone and began with a piece of property in Portage la Prairie. They built a house and a small greenhouse in 1982 while caring for young sons Ashley and Owen. To supplement their income, they grew and sold vegetables from the yard. David taught in the Diploma Agriculture program at the University of Manitoba during the winters. Eunice cared for the family as Tim and Jessica were born over the next few years.
The nursery grew over the years and had a special focus on perennials and shrubs. Greenhouse space gradually increased year by year, and with this came a broadening focus on annuals and herbs. Shrubs that were once grown in the field and sold as bare root plants moved into containerized production to provide a wider sales window. There has been a continual pursuit of mechanization and automation, and today there is a high level of automation which helps provide the most consistent control of environment, irrigation, and production quality.
Vanstone Nurseries now grows for more than 250 garden centres from Ontario to Alberta. Many of these plants are delivered by our own delivery team which can pay special attention to the concerns of a live plant so that orders arrive in optimal condition.
Owen and Tim have accepted the main leadership responsibilities and love working alongside their wives and children and the great team of employees. Owen and his wife Gina have three young children who enjoy working in the greenhouse. Tim and his wife Olga also have three children who are often at the nursery helping out and learning the trade. Their exciting ideas and energy will move Vanstone Nurseries forward to the next generation. Together, we aspire to make Vanstone Nurseries a top Canadian nursery with the best plants possible.
