Explaining plant size to customers?

huntoften · March 6, 2009

Last year was my first year of selling seedlings. I just sell them directly from my greenhouse and had a blast meeting new folks. I actually broke even on gardening costs last year! Whoohoo!

One thing I noticed was that my customers had two completely different schools of thought on plant size. Some wanted the largest plants possible because they thought they would produce earlier and have a higher chance of survival. Others wanted small stocky plants with lots of roots.

Who is right, who is wrong or are both ok? I plan on having some large plants to sell (more $ for those), but the majority will be anywhere from 4-10 inches tall with lots of roots.

I always tell them to pinch off the bottom set or two of leaves and plant as deep as possible...they are fascinated when I show them how the hairs on the stem become roots.

Barbee · March 6, 2009

I don't grow plants to sell. Might experiment a little with it this year and see how it goes? Anyway, when I'm at the nursery and see people choosing plants, especially tomatoes.. it seems you have the people who will pay 7 or 8 bucks for the tall tomato in the gallon sized pot which usually has a couple of blooms and maybe a baby mater on it. Then you have the people who want a six pack for a buck and the tomatoes are leggy, yellowed, sorry looking things that have been in that 6 pack way too long.

My brother in law is one that likes the ginormous plants with the baby tomato on it. Usually, that little mater on there falls off before it can ripen or it stays small and is hard as a rock.

I think they all suffer a bit of transplant shock, so IMO you are not gaining anything by buying the larger plant with a bloom. But if I was selling plants, you bet your sweet bippy I'd have a few of those big tomatoes there for my customers to pay the big bucks for. The rest would be a normal sized, healthy plants.

barkeater · March 7, 2009

With 2 completely different schools of customers, I suggest growing for both. Start some plants earlier for those who think size matters, and start some a week or 2 later for the rest.

For both groups a big root system is a must. Just pot your early ones up to a bigger cup, and charge more. 12 or 16 oz. Solo cups are the best, as the shape encourages roots to grow down without strangling themselves, plus they allow for maximum top growth. Charge AT LEAST a $1.49 each for the large ones. If you have a lot, 3 for $4 will move them faster than hotcakes;-)

huntoften · March 7, 2009

I used the cups last year...worked very well! Drilled three holes in the bottom...did this while they were stacked and made the job easy.

Sold them for $1 each or 6 for $5 last year. Had one weekend where I sold them for buy 10 for $10 get 10 free...I was seriously running out of space and needed to move a lot of plants...it worked!

I was amazed at how many people only wanted the hybrids, but I talked most into trying an heirloom or two. Hopefully they'll be back to try some more new varieties!

The best part was meeting all of the urban gardeners and their reasons for gardening. Great folks!

March 6, 2009	#1
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	Explaining plant size to customers? Last year was my first year of selling seedlings. I just sell them directly from my greenhouse and had a blast meeting new folks. I actually broke even on gardening costs last year! Whoohoo! One thing I noticed was that my customers had two completely different schools of thought on plant size. Some wanted the largest plants possible because they thought they would produce earlier and have a higher chance of survival. Others wanted small stocky plants with lots of roots. Who is right, who is wrong or are both ok? I plan on having some large plants to sell (more $ for those), but the majority will be anywhere from 4-10 inches tall with lots of roots. I always tell them to pinch off the bottom set or two of leaves and plant as deep as possible...they are fascinated when I show them how the hairs on the stem become roots. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

March 6, 2009	#2
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	I don't grow plants to sell. Might experiment a little with it this year and see how it goes? Anyway, when I'm at the nursery and see people choosing plants, especially tomatoes.. it seems you have the people who will pay 7 or 8 bucks for the tall tomato in the gallon sized pot which usually has a couple of blooms and maybe a baby mater on it. Then you have the people who want a six pack for a buck and the tomatoes are leggy, yellowed, sorry looking things that have been in that 6 pack way too long. My brother in law is one that likes the ginormous plants with the baby tomato on it. Usually, that little mater on there falls off before it can ripen or it stays small and is hard as a rock. I think they all suffer a bit of transplant shock, so IMO you are not gaining anything by buying the larger plant with a bloom. But if I was selling plants, you bet your sweet bippy I'd have a few of those big tomatoes there for my customers to pay the big bucks for. The rest would be a normal sized, healthy plants. __________________ *Barbee*

March 7, 2009	#3
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	With 2 completely different schools of customers, I suggest growing for both. Start some plants earlier for those who think size matters, and start some a week or 2 later for the rest. For both groups a big root system is a must. Just pot your early ones up to a bigger cup, and charge more. 12 or 16 oz. Solo cups are the best, as the shape encourages roots to grow down without strangling themselves, plus they allow for maximum top growth. Charge AT LEAST a $1.49 each for the large ones. If you have a lot, 3 for $4 will move them faster than hotcakes;-) Last edited by barkeater; March 7, 2009 at 09:29 PM.

March 7, 2009	#4
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	I used the cups last year...worked very well! Drilled three holes in the bottom...did this while they were stacked and made the job easy. Sold them for $1 each or 6 for $5 last year. Had one weekend where I sold them for buy 10 for $10 get 10 free...I was seriously running out of space and needed to move a lot of plants...it worked! I was amazed at how many people only wanted the hybrids, but I talked most into trying an heirloom or two. Hopefully they'll be back to try some more new varieties! The best part was meeting all of the urban gardeners and their reasons for gardening. Great folks! __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a