What should I tell them to do?

16 years ago

Let's say that you know this person who is going to have way more plants than any normal gardener should have. Let's say they have over 300 jugs outside and 40+ trays filled with seedlings inside. There is no way that he will be able to use even half of what he has. I am pretty sure he would like some advice in this area.

What should I do? Err... I mean, what should I tell him to do? Do you think people would buy the plants on a rummage sale? Or do you have other suggestions. I would really like to help him out.

Thanks

Lyle

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Comments (9)

clumsygrdner
16 years ago
Put them in a small basket with a note, put them on the porch of the neighbors, ring the bell and run!

lol

You can try to give them away on Freecycle.
ilene_in_neok
16 years ago
Yes, Lyle, I'm pretty sure people would be tickled pink to buy your --er, your friend's-- extra plants. If they are not unusual plants, price them about half what the local garden center is charging. If they are unusual or heirloom, you can charge more. It depends on how many plants you have and how fast you want them to sell. It works better if you do this every year. You will start to have regulars. Be sure to mention "unusual plants" or some such other phrase in your ad. When I sell plants, I post a picture of what the plant looks like in bloom, or if a vegetable plant, what the fruit looks like.

I plan to sell my extras this way. I haven't sold plants in a long time, so I will probably make little cards with my address and phone number on it - sorta like little business cards - so that when people go to the garden center and compare prices and availability, or when they mention to friends where they got what they got, they'll be able to find me.

I also ordered some "gourmet beans" and had to order a pound of each. The price was $3.99 to $4.99 and I had a few friends who were interested in them too, so I ordered several varieties. I have quite a lot left over that I plan to sell in little clear packages, 30 beans for 50 cents.

I figure this way I can pay for my gardening supplies and for the seed I did buy before I discovered the seed-trader site, and I'll be proving a point to my husband who kind of guffawed at the whole winter-sowing idea. I have seedlings up now, about 30 different plants to be exact, with about 60 left that haven't sprouted anything yet. I'm zone 6.

I will also be selling thinnings of things at this time -- Surprise lillies, grape hyacinths, violets, hollyhock -- things that are coming up in my yard right now that aren't where I want them to be.

hope this helps! --Ilene
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nocturnal_sprout
16 years ago
Lyle,

Tell your friend that people like me would buy plants at a rummage sale, that is if we didn't already have a bunch to deal with as well. I think that is a great idea. Also, if craigslist has a decent following in your area, you could post there too.

Good luck to you! (I mean your friend)

Adrian
flwrs4ever
16 years ago
Lyle

I would truly hate to be in that same situation..please tell ur friend I can relate...um..I mean...understand his problem...

I always RUN to any rummage sale that lists plants..so YES, I think there would be a lot of people that would love to buy your..um...friends...over stock.

Good luck, and also you might want to think of the schools nursing homes and food pantries..alot of them are willing to take them off your hands.

I know I posted a request on freecycle last year asking for people that had extra plants, and two very generous people helped me get my garden started ( plus MANY from here !!)

I am surprised you arent offering to help out that friend of yours by taking some of those plants...LOL
gardener-budding
16 years ago
Hello!

I also RUN to garage/yard sales when they list plants. I have had A LOT of luck posting for plant swaps and trades on craigslist. I am sure that "your friend" could very easily sell plants on there. I would buy plants off of craigs list!

Good luck!..... ummmm I mean tell your friend good luck!
mnwsgal
16 years ago
I didn't have enough plants for a sale of my own so when my neighbor had a garage sale I put a large sign at the end of my driveway and sold plants to people who drove by on the way to her sale.

By the way, this was her idea so I wasn't stealing her customers.
misskimmie
16 years ago
I'm hoping to have the same problem as your friend. I (a WS N00b) have over 100 containers and I'm still going at it. I plan to take leftovers to my church and sell them and give the proceeds for a special project. We have 2 bake sales a month right now - and we are looking for creative ways to raise $$$.
zengeos
16 years ago
Great ideas all!

This being my first year, I have no idea how many plants to expect, sooo with that being the case, I probably will not worry overmuch about extra plants. BUT, if I get lots of plants this year, it's nice to have good ideas as to what to do with them all.
stage_rat
16 years ago
Freecycle and craig's list are great ideas--you can sell them on craig's list, or give them away. You can also find out if there's a community garden that could use some of the extra plants, too.

I've sold plants at a yearly organized pretty-big plant sale, and also held a garage/plant sale. The darn newspaper ad cost more than getting a spot at the plant sale! I may do another garage sale this year, but I will only post it on craig's list, and put signs though town. If you have a couple of neighbors interested in in doing garage sales, you'll get a lot more customers by doing it together--and the ad will be more affordable.

I haven't sold extra wintersowing seedlings before, so I don't know how well people react to the plant size. Some garden shoppers are "size queens," you know!!! But some people are sure to be happy to get a smaller plant at a smaller price.

What should I tell them to do?

Comments (9)

clumsygrdner

ilene_in_neok

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