Head Grower — Moscarillo's Garden Shoppe (Torrington, CT)
Full-time, year-round
About Us
Moscarillo's Garden Shoppe is a family-owned garden center, florist, and landscaping business serving Connecticut since 1933, with locations in Torrington and West Hartford. We grow much of what we sell, and our reputation is built on healthy, high-quality plants and knowledgeable people. We're looking for a Head Grower to lead greenhouse production at our Torrington location.
Job Overview
As Head Grower, you'll own our growing operation from start to finish: spring annuals, fall garden mums, and finishing prefinished poinsettias for the holiday season. You'll plan crop schedules, manage the greenhouse environment day to day, and lead our growing team to produce retail-ready plants timed to our busiest selling weekends. This is a hands-on leadership role for a grower who takes pride in putting a quality crop on the bench, season after season.
Responsibilities
- Plan and execute production schedules for spring annuals (from plugs and liners through finish), fall garden mums, and prefinished poinsettias, timed to key retail dates
- Manage day-to-day greenhouse operations, including heating, venting, shading, and environmental controls
- Oversee watering and fertility programs, monitoring EC/pH and adjusting feed to keep crops on track
- Direct crop work such as spacing, pinching, and growth regulation to produce compact, well-finished plants
- Scout crops regularly for pests, diseases, and nutrient issues, and run an integrated pest management (IPM) program that catches problems early and minimizes chemical use
- Supervise and train the growing team, including seasonal staff during spring and holiday ramp-ups
- Keep accurate records of crop schedules, treatments, feed programs, and environmental conditions
- Coordinate with the garden center team on crop readiness, availability, and quality standards so the sales floor stays stocked with fresh material
- Maintain irrigation systems, greenhouse equipment, and clean, organized production areas
Qualifications
- Proven experience growing greenhouse crops — annuals, garden mums, and/or poinsettias strongly preferred
- Working knowledge of greenhouse environmental controls, irrigation, and crop fertility (EC/pH management)
- Experience with IPM and safe pesticide handling; Connecticut pesticide applicator license (or the ability to obtain one) is a plus
- Experience leading and training a team in a production setting
- Strong attention to detail and the discipline to keep crops on schedule through busy seasons
- Basic math skills for calculating fertilizer and chemical rates and tracking crop inputs
- Physical ability to lift, work on your feet, and handle greenhouse conditions (heat, humidity, cold-weather work), including weekend availability during peak seasons
Join Us
If you're a grower who wants to see your crops through from plug to sales bench — and take pride in what customers bring home — we'd love to talk. Join a family business where quality plants and good people have been the standard for over 90 years.
Pay: $62,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) 3% Match
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
Experience:
- Growing: 10 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- Pesticide Applicator's License (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
