How to Grow Plants for Sale
Family gardens have been around for hundreds of years, and often these small gardens can be very productive. Many families supplement their income by growing plants and selling them at farmer's markets or other venues. Maintaining a garden can also be fun and therapeutic.
What you will need:
Land zoned for agriculture usage, potting soil, seeds, garden tools
Directions:
- Familiarize yourself with zoning and use restrictions in your city or county, concerning what you can grow on your property. This includes specific items, but mainly deals with quantity. Most rural areas will permit growth of small gardens, even if the plants are for sale. Urban and suburban areas may be different, particularly those governed by homeowners' associations. If any permits are required, apply for and secure them.
- Make sure you have land you can use for growing plants. You need to consider the suitability of the soil where you plan to grow, as well as availability of water and its cost. Will you need irrigation, and how costly will that be?
- Plant the seeds and cultivate them, according to the specific guidelines. Fertilizers should also be used to help the plants grow into healthy crops, and large enough to sell at the market. It is always important to pick the right crops to grow, and crops indigenous to the area always work best.
- Pick the plants, particularly vegetables, while they are at a growing peak. Make sure that the crops you will sell are the best you have grown. They should be pleasing in appearance and otherwise healthy.
- Consider where you will be selling the crops. You can take the plants to your local farmer's market. Some grocery stores will purchase locally grown crops, particularly if a contract is in place. However, the larger the supermarket, the less likely this will be to sell regularly. It is also possible to sell your plants online, although this can be costly to set up because of packaging and perishability.