Risse Greenhouse has been in operation for almost 60 years. The story goes that Lee Risse, unsatisfied with the tomatoes he could buy locally, decided to build a greenhouse and grow his own. Before their first winter in Alaska, he and his new bride, Greta, had built what was to become Greenhouse #1. It was bigger than a small family needed, but Lee assured Greta that they would use the extra space to grow additional plants and tomatoes for sale to offset some of the construction expenses. They sold vegetable and flower starts, tomatoes, and cucumbers to friends and acquaintances the next spring. Greenhouse #2 followed in 1959. Greenhouse #3 in 1962. You get the idea.

Fast forward 50 years….the business has expanded to 18 commercial-sized greenhouses with 40,000 square feet of indoor growing space. Lee and Greta have passed on, but the business still thrives under the next Risse generation.

Now a full-service garden center, you will find over 600 varieties of plants—annuals, vegetables, herbs, perennials, trees, shrubs, and berries. Risse’s makes and sells its own brand of potting and bedding soil—both traditional and organic. Seeds, garden tools, fertilizer, pots, containers, and other supplies are sold throughout the year. Produce is available in summer months from the garden. Some of the greenhouses are still used to grow those delicious red, ripe tomatoes as Lee and Greta originally intended.

Risse Greenhouse is located on the original Risse homestead at the end of Risse Road, at Mile 6.4 of Chena Hot Springs Road. Greenhouses # 1 – 9 are open for retail sales from April to August of each year.

Risse Greenhouse owes much of its success to Lee and Greta’s insistence on the best quality plants at an affordable price. The crew at Risse Greenhouse is made up of dedicated employees that have prided themselves on that top-notch quality. Their dedication to quality is apparent in the products, the physical plant, and in the exemplary customer service they provide.