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#46 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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My mums have been a disaster. My cuttings were all half-smashed when they arrived, but because I don't know anything about mums, I couldn't tell. The stems were only half-broken and the tops were not wilted. Then over the next few days, the top half of almost all my cuttings died off, and I was left with the bottom half.
I started everything too late by about a month, and having broken cuttings I'm sure set me back as well. I may be over-wintering a lot of mums. Half of them made into into my gigantic 9" pots, which are way too big. The other half that looked more sketchy are in 4" sheet pots. On top of all that, I have seen mums at the hardware mega-store Menard's for $4, and now the local farm store has them for $2, which is below my cost to grow them. There's no competing with prices that low. Now I see why there are not a lot of mum growers. I may have done better to stick with dwarf zinnias, sunflowers, and marigolds, sold as table-top pieces in the fall, even if they are annuals. |
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#47 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Dang dude hate it for ya. Mine are growing pretty well. It's rained here everyday but one this whole month so I haven't had to water but I can't fertilize either. I need another tunnel for flowers I guess. I've also noticed that some plugs just don't grow for some reason. At any rate I can hopefully at least get my money back out of them.
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#48 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Updated pics to show growth.
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#49 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Well I finally got back to market and sold some mums. Went very well. Funny how the mums nearly doubled in size over the past 2 weeks. All in all I already made a profit but I think I've learned enough from this year to greatly improve next year. Also the red color sold 3 to 1 vs the other 2 colors, which I think was partly because they were also the biggest and most uniform.
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#50 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 110
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Commercial growers rarely make money in mums. The thing I really like about your crop is its compact size. Not overgrown and floppy. But they are often a loss leader because people epect them in the fall
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#51 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky
Posts: 1,094
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My wife & I both like the dark reds.
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Mark |
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#52 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,148
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I'm so glad that they worked out for you. They are beautiful and so is that little peach of yours.
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~ Patti ~ |
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#53 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Omaha Zone 5
Posts: 2,514
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What is that vegetable you have there, BVV? The stores around here pretty much gave up on selling fall transplants in thi area. The local hydro store is going to carry them next year because so many people requested the transplants for fall this year.
I would upgrade some of the pots the mums are in. When you put them in a cheap wicker basket they sell for a few dollars more at lowes and they sell well. Maybe half plain half premium? I also bought mums in pumpkin pots a few years ago. If kids (ditto on the little peach) shop at your market they would be drawn to the pumpkin pots. How could a mom resist. Have either of you started mums from cuttings? I used to do that with some success in my backyard. - Lisa |
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#54 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Omaha Zone 5
Posts: 2,514
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Just a thought. Have you considered the potting soil with moisture control? I am also partial to the three colors of mums in one large pot.
- Lisa Quote:
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#55 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Thanks all, and all advice appreciated. I'm just glad I made a profit. I still have about 80 left so if I sell the rest it will be a nice profit. I will do them again for sure, they weren't much trouble, and I know better how to take care of them, and to grow a lot more reds. A lot of customers said it was to early for mums or if I'd have them for Thanksgiving so I may do early and later sales next year. My eventual goal is to have some kind of flowers to sell almost every week next year. They just sell, and are a lot less effort than veggies.
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#56 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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Great pics, Van. Mine are just now beginning to have their blooms open. It will be a week or two before I take any to market. My greenhouse is full. I have way too many plants.
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#57 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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#58 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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That's awesome dude. Glad yours did come back. Btw as I was looking at new plants to grow/sell next year I saw Lobelia. Perennial, cheap seeds, vibrant colors, and they even have trailing varieties for hanging baskets. Edit: actually there are annual & perennial lobelia.
Last edited by BigVanVader; September 26, 2017 at 02:06 PM. |
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#59 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
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carolyn k |
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#60 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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I'm mainly looking at Spring sales and hanging basket uses.
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