Perennial Nursery Business Secret
Well my last post ruffled a few feathers when I stated that anything larger than a 4 inch potted perennial was a waste of money. I not only got emails from gardeners who disagreed with me a got few from angry growers. I stand by my statement that a perennial in a pot larger than a 4″ pot is a waste of money and to provide some evidence for my opinion I wanted to show you a production timing chart that is used by perennial nurseries for timing their crops. Before you jump straight to the chart keep in mind that this chart is showing finish times from “plug to pot”. In other words this is an estimate of how long it will take to have a retail ready pot size once the liner or plug has been transplanted to it’s retail sized pot. This chart represents perennials only…. the shrubbery and tree business is way longer ( up to 1 year for 1 gallon ) and deserve their retail prices. Take a close look at the chart below and tell me a 1 quart or 1 gallon perennial is worth $18 – $20 when you can buy a 4″ pot for $3 -$5.
The source for this chart is one of largest growers of perennial plugs / transplants in the US. I will not say who but you can run a web search for perennial plug timing chart and you will eventually stumble across it as well as many others. So before you pay Garden Crossings, White Flower Farm or Wayside Gardens the ridiculous prices they are getting for their plants think about this chart and ask your self if the extra dirt is really worth it. My notes are in red.
Perennial Timing Chart
Filed under: Uncategorized on February 17th, 2010
Thanks for explaining the benefits of EGP pots. Next you need to explain the new Ellepots. They are being used more and more for all types of perennial crops and I noticed you guys are using them now. Do you have the machine?
While everyone has a preference (and experience level) on what size is best to start – one thing to consider in your statement regarding the ‘Timing Chart” would be the *Footnote. Optimum conditions are probably in a controlled greenhouse. Also, it is not just a little extra dirt, but a professional growing medium (no soil).
For most gardeners, instead of 2 months, the time span difference is probably at least one year; or at least that has been our general experience comparing greenhouse vs cold frame vs outside, in the containers listed; also planted in the ground is probably slower still.
You are correct that the optimal conditions are part of the equation, however in my experience the optimal conditions are more related to greenhouse temps than any other fator. I used the word “dirt” just because that is what most home gardeners would refer to it as…. not growing medium. I appreciate your comments but I still stand behind my opinion that perennials grown and sold in anything larger than 4″ pots are not woth the extra cost. Thanks again for your comments.