By Rachael Burnett with excerpts from “Family business in Slayden has deep roots” by Beth Breithaupt of The South Reporter
Jones Greenhouse, originally known as Oak Hill Nursery, began as a small family-run operation in 1965 and has since grown into a much larger, though still very much family-run business, with 40 greenhouses and five acres of blackberries in production. Johnny and Betty Jones f
irst had a small farming operation in which they raised cows and crops in Forest Hill, TN, now known as Germantown. In 1961 they decided to move their business to Slayden, MS, and shortly after they built a greenhouse as a little “sideline.” Their four children, Chris, Katey, Jill, and Jody all helped their parents in the venture, and throughout the 1960s until 1982, this little “sideline” gradually expanded, growing vegetables and flowers for local garden centers. In 1972, a tornado devastated “Oak Hill” flattening 60 trees and thus necessitating the name shift to Jones Greenhouse. Ten years later, in 1981 after Johnny’s passing, eldest son Chris took over the business and expanded the greenhouses to 20,000 square feet. In 1990, the Jones’ daughter Katey returned to help her brother run the growing operation. in 2016, Chris' youngest son Kirby joined the family business. Under Chris and Katey’s direction, the focus shifted from raising vegetables for garden centers to growing major bedding plants for landscapers. They now serve close to 70 landscapers and garden centers within a 75-mile radius, including Memphis, TN, Desoto County MS, Corinth and Tupelo, MS. This wholesale business comprises over 95% of their business; the remaining
