I would like to know how to start a plant nursery here in North Carolina. I'm disabled and I use crutches and a wheelchair to get around with. I want to open a nursery where I live to support my wife and I. I know that you need to start growing plants, but what kind should I start with? There are many to choose from. I also need to know where I can buy small containers wholesale. I don't have much money to start on so I need some good advice on this subject. Can anyone help me. I would like to open this nursery this spring. Thank you and may the Lord God Bless you all.

-- Keith Phipps (key@coastalnet.com), January 05, 2002

Answers

Keith,

A good possibility is kitchen herbs using antique canning jars and containers as planters. You can find a lot of containers at flea markets , yard sales and swap meets for as little as a couple dollars apiece. You can easily sell one of these for as much as $15 to $20 , depending on your market area.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 05, 2002.

Type ATTRA into your search engine and check on cut flowers.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 05, 2002.

Hi Keith,Try this web site http://freeplants.com/ Tons of information and a good message board. I've used a lot of ideas from them. Check it out,it may be just what you are looking for. Good Luck. Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.

There are a number of books on the subject which are probably available at your local library. I always find the library a wonderful place to start finding information on virtually any subject. Despite what American Express says, the card I can't live without says 'Public Library' on it. ;o) Good luck with your search. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 06, 2002.

Keith, Here is a good site about farmers markets: http://smallfarms.orst.edu/marketing.htm, though this might not be what you are looking at, it gives good overall advice and a number of links on growing and selling things. Seems to me that you need to evaluate what others are selling in your area and then decide if their is room in that market for another seller(you). Try contacting your county extension agents and local universities (agricultural departments) for information.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), January 06, 2002.

First visit a few other nurseries around you & ask what they sell most. Some specialize in certain plants (ie.. one nursery might sell only trees & bushes, while others sell only landscape plants (not all trees & bushes are for landscape), or some will only sell potted plants (small pots) like flowers). No matter what, don't try to do too much at first as you could bankrupt yourself without knowing it until its too late. My personal opinion is to grow a veriety of flower seedlings & a few vegitables (tomatoes, peppers both sweet & hot, & cucombers seem to be popular) your first year. And ask (question cards) what people would like to see next year (other flower or vegitable verieties). Add only those most asked for (tulips, lillies, etc...), and maybe a few bushes (roses, butterfly bushes)& trees the next year.

As for buying pot cheaply. Make a search for greenhouse supplies, or flower pots (growing cells). Many will make you buy in bulk, but if you are just buying cells (6 packs, 4 packs, & single 4 inch pots) the price might be worth it(ie. get only 1 package of each). This search should give you several to choose from.

Good luck

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), January 06, 2002.

Keith:

Don't lock yourself in on a nursery. There are likely many other things you could do within your physical limitations. You are welcome to request a free e-Book copy of my book on How to Earn Extra Money in the Country. Perhaps there is something in it more suitable for you. Just send a request to my e-mail address separately.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 06, 2002.

Hi Keith:

I hesitated to answer you because I know what I have to say might discourage you - but here it is... My partner and I started our nursery 5 years ago and it is by far the most labor intensive thing either of us have ever done. At the end of the day we are completely exhausted and muscle sore. My partner is 43, an avid hiker, physically fit and very strong, but even he falls into bed pooped at night.

You might have to hire someone to do all the endless lifting and moving of heavy stock. We obtain our organic soil for growing in large bags (@100 lbs when dry) and this soil must be emptied into bins to use it in potting up plugs or seedlings. Once a potted up flat is full we move it out of the potting shed into the nursery. In season we do this dozens of times each day. I don't know if you can come up with a system that would eliminate all the "lift and move" jobs.

If you want to ask me any specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me. By the way, we have found it is better to spend a little extra money of things like quality pots and soil. Cheap pots do not last long and you end up having to re-pot plants when they pots crack.

I do wish you the very best of luck and I hope some creative planning can overcome all obstacles. Best Regards, Diane

-- diane greene (greenwitch@catskillnativenursery.com), January 06, 2002.

You might start out by stopping at the stores that sell plants in the spring and askingthem if there is anything they might like you to produce for them. No guarentees: just an idea of what you can offer them once you have plants to offer.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), January 07, 2002.