A Family Legacy Blooms at Helms Greenhouse in Southern Indiana

When Nathan and Peggy Helms first bought land in Spencer Co., Indiana back in the 1940s, little did they know that their family's produce farm would blossom into what it is today.

Every week, my route to our Owensboro offices takes me through Reo, Indiana. I've often caught sight of the greenhouse signs but never found the time to make a pit stop. However, today was different. On my journey, I decided to pull into Helm's Greenhouse tucked behind Luce Elementary, curious to see what was growing behind the school.

As you pull up, the first thing that catches your eye is the quaint farm stand. A gentle breeze wafted through the open doorways, and an older gentleman leisurely rocked in a chair. It felt like I had stepped straight into a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting.

Tom Helms, along with his dad Nate Jr., are fixtures at the greenhouses, tending to their greenery day in and day out. Nate Jr. greeted me with a playful "You're late," accompanied by a mischievous twinkle in his eye. I couldn't help but chuckle, admitting that I had indeed arrived one minute past schedule due to my missing the turn and school traffic.

As I glanced around, my eyes were drawn to a sea of vibrant tomatoes adorning the table in hues of red, yellow, orange, and green. "How on earth do you have such ripe tomatoes in April?" I asked. Tom, Nate's son, wasted no time giving me the grand tour, unraveling the secrets behind their early harvest.

He divulged that they kick-started their tomato plants the day after Christmas, carefully staggering the planting dates across their greenhouses to ensure a continuous yield until early July. Thanks to the natural gas heating, the initial batch of plants had already soared to a towering nine feet, bearing plump, juicy fruits. By July, they transition to harvesting from the outdoor plants.

Their prized tomato hybrid, a marriage of Big Boy and Beefsteak varieties, promises bold flavors and hefty yields, are sought after by local greenhouses who often source their plants from Helms's.

As I wandered through the greenhouses, I was surrounded by a lush jungle of tomato plants, with flower baskets and baby veggies popping up here and there. Outside, rows of sweet onions swayed gently—a delicacy that Tom informed me is even used in apple pies down south. From eggplants to peppers, cucumbers to melons, their array of fruits and vegetables spoke volumes of their dedication to their craft.

This year marked a nostalgic milestone, as it was their first season since the passing of Tom's mother, Joyce, in 2015 that the family offered hanging baskets of beautiful flowers. Tom told me she was the one who always tended to the flowers. She had "the touch." Even though I never met Mrs. Helms, the blooming flowers and all the greenery felt like a lovely tribute to her.

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Nate Helms Jr. originally purchased the property that the greenhouses sit on in 1962, following in the footsteps of his parents, Nathan Sr. and Peggy ran a farm in Spencer Co. that remains within the family to this day. Their produce is not only available at the greenhouses behind Luce School in Richland but also at their stand in Newburgh, conveniently located across from the Tin Fish.

At the end of my visit, I chatted with Tom and Nate and left with four plump tomatoes in a brown paper bag. It feels like summer came early, and I'm thrilled about it. Make sure to put Helm's Greenhouse on your summer bucket list! And while you're there, don't miss checking out Tom's collection of antique John Deere tractors. It's a fantastic spot where time seems to slow down, and you can savor the flavors of summer.