The Market Place

The Horticultural market place, like other manufacturing market places, is an ever changing entity and unless we change with it we will get left behind.

Today it is no good offering the general public tatty tiered looking plants or out of date varieties, many people interested in their gardens either watch the garden makeovers on the telly or read their favorite mag's.

Even the DIY sheds are now offering some pretty good quality gear, but in my experience lack in detailed horticultural knowledge and nursery skills.

This is where the experienced nurseryman can win, giving that all important 'Tit Bit' of information and down to earth growing advice.

Plants

Our advice to prospective customers is don't buy more plants than you can't comfortably sell, it is better to buy a few at a time and keep them fresh looking.

If you do over buy most of the varieties we sell can be potted on and sold later as specimen plants when in flower at a premium price.

Potting

We believe it is better to pot the plug grown plants into either 7cm. - 8cm. or 9cm pots and grow them on to the point of sale - which during the growing season need only be a few weeks - then if you have any unsold plants, pot on again into either 1Lt. - 2Lt. or 3Lt. to produce quality plants for sale later.

Never allow the plants to stand on sale if they are looking tired and bedraggled, trim them and pot them on turning them into money.

The larger sizes we offer can be potted straight into larger containers where they will quickly make up and produce nice quality specimen plants.

Potting Compost

It is essential to use a good quality compost, it does not matter if you mix your own or buy in a propriety brand, just so long as it is an 'Open' compost with a good AFP, (air filled porosity) which will allow the roots to breath.

It is essential, in our opinion, to use a slow release fertiliser and a insecticide mixed in to control the Vine Weevil and other soil born pests, some of these chemicals will also control Aphid etc.

When you purchase your plants we can advise on suitable composts and pot sizes free of charge.

Aftercare

Once you have potted your plants give them a really good watering in, and I mean a good watering, not just a 'Dribble' that only wets the surface, you must make sure all the compost in the pot is wet.

Leave any further watering until the composts is just moist and then water normally as and when the plant needs it, never keep the compost saturated all the time, allow it to go to just moist so that the air can enter and allow the roots to breath, this should happen naturally as the plants take up more water.

Watch the watering during the winter, don't get them too wet, on the other hand don't let them dry out either.

One important time to watch out for dryness is in the winter after a spell of very hard frost, when the compost thaws out the water will evaporate, leaving your plants dry.

Watch out all the time for Aphid and Caterpillar's etc. as these can devastate a crop in a very short time. It is best to have a regular spay program in force if you want to keep on top.

If you don't believe in using chemicals there are various other more friendly methods of control, but which ever you decide to use it is imperative that you keep the plants free from pests and decease's or you will not be able to sell them.

Sale Time (Presentation)

When you come to sell your plants don't forget to look them over, removing any dead or yellowing leaves or stems, making sure there are no weeds growing in the compost.

Give them a good watering.

Wipe the pot clean.

Display a descriptive label, preferably a coloured label, as a good picture is worth a thousand words.

Make sure you clearly show the price. It is really worthwhile considering offering a price each and another price for say 3 or 5 from the same price range at a slightly reduced markup. The supermarkets do it and it works well for them, the self same customers that visit your garden centre are the same customers that purchase from the supermarkets, so go for it 'What's good for the Goose is also good for the Gander'

We trust you will have a good season and sell out of lovely plants and come back to us to buy more.

Remember if you need growing advice don't hesitate to give us a ring or send an E-mail we will be only too pleased to assist you as best we can.