The plant sale at
Ayden-Grifton High School is a micro scale experience of the real world of
plant production and sales. I am a
first year agriculture teacher, but I taught horticulture in the community
college for 14 years. We had a
plant sell every year as a fund raiser for our horticulture club and that is
how I got my feet wet in this daunting task. Although students are our growers, they still have to
address the same issues that small scale and corporate growers face. First, the students have to answer the
question, “What do people want to buy this year?” The problem is they have to answer the question 12 months
before the homeowner buys and the garden magazines come out to entice
them.
The first thing we think
about is what are the right
plants? What are the hot sellers for this year? I believe the best way to
approach this question is to follow general trends. Have you noticed that the big box stores are stocking more
perennials? They sell well because
people don’t have to replace it next year. We also noted that the annual selection retailers are
offering has fewer types of plants than they did 3 years ago. The annuals trend towards the basics:
marigolds, petunias, impatience, begonias and geraniums. Another great place to look for trends
is Southern Living magazine.
They show what is newest and best in plants and plant design, and it’s a
magazine our buyers read.
Vegetable plants should sell well this year ,
people see their garden plot as a way to save money and eat organically.
People love color. The question
is what color is hot this year? You will always have that teacher that just
loves blue flowers, but most people like the basic colors: white, red, pink and
yellow. They want pink but not
just any pink, hot pink is often what they are looking for. The pastels and soft colors are out of
style. The bright and neon are
in. When I see an ad or watch the
never ending series of garden shows, I look for the predominate color being
used. When plant groups are shown,
which color catches your eye first?
Michele Spence the agriculture educator at North Lenoir High School
offered me this suggestion, “Grow basic plants and purchase color plants
wholesale as you need them. You
get the color you need and don’t tie up your assets with the wrong colors.
Thirdly it is true, size
matters; especially when plants are involved. People like to buy
big, the bigger the plant the
more they like it; especially in annuals, perennials, and vegetables. Planting a 2’ tall tomato evidences
gardening competence! My neighbor
last year was so proud when he was showing off his 3’ tomato plants early in
the year. Later I found out he bought them the day before he was showing them to
me. The average customer wants to
have the plant look mature the minute it goes into the ground.
Whether you visit a garden
center, watch a home improvement show, or go to the spring home and garden show
- containers are in. People love
the look of those gorgeous plant combinations in pots but lack the ability to
create that look. This year we
will sell the basics, but offer to design and plant your pot or container for
you. This was done by Becky Mitchner at AGHS and teachers are still talking about
it. Have your customers bring in
their pots, tell you the colors they like and if the pot will be in sun or
shade. Then, let them pick up their containers the next day full of bright
colors, big plants in a wonderful design.
One compliment and they will be back next year for more. You get to sell plants, the students
learn how to design a container and the customers are happy, what more could
you want?
A
final thought. If you want to know
what not to sell next year, go to a big box store in mid-June, your eyes will
be opened. Remember even your best
laid plans will be compost if they don’t sell.
William Scott - Ayden-Grifton High School
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