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  • From: Claude Sweet <hortventures@cox.net>
  • To: gardenwriters-on-gardening <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Excess plants
  • Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 09:05:42 -0700

Melanie,

If you have unique plant varieties eBay offers an excellent solution to sell extra plants.  Even more commonly available plant material is auctioned off.  You must be willing to properly pack and ship the plants, which is fairly labor intensive.

Depending on your state's nursery licensing regulations, you may be able to acquire a no fee nursery license which allows you to sell up to a specific dollar amount without paying a license fee.

There are potential sales taxes to be collected and remitted in some states.  If your state has a sales tax, you would be required to obtain a sales tax license. There may be local permits and business licenses to be considered.

Most businesses file a dba (doing business as) statement and obtain a bank account in the name.  This is as simple as going to your local newspaper and having a notice published (3 times if I recall correctly).

Don't forget to have a second phone line for business purposes and an email address. A web site is another way to reach the public with information about your plant sales.

I would create a partnership or corporation rather than file as a sole proprietor (schedule C) on your income tax.

Keep careful records of plants, pots, soil mix, labels, shipping boxes and packing materials, and of course all of your office expenses, plus trips to acquire new plants, etc.

Claude Sweet
San Diego, CA


Melanie wrote:
Good morning, Melanie Vassallo, Long Island NY zone 6b here.
 
Spring is finally at our door step along with all the wonderful chores in the garden. One of the toughest things for me is to remove the many volunteer plants and divide the larger perennial clumps. My soil is heavily amended with composted horse manure and I get wonderful increase in my plants.
 
What do you do with your excess plants? I've been giving them away by the car load. For three years I've had "dig days" where I invite whole garden clubs and dig excess plants for them. People crawl out of the woodwork on these days and yet hardly seem thankful the next time I see them.
 
Daylilies are donated to the local club, Hosta collection isn't ready for division yet but I have Dicentras, Polygonatums, Liatris, Geraniums, Sedums (over 25 varieties), Heucheras, Thalictrums, Euphorbias, Stachys, Alchemilla mollis, Echinacea, Rudbeckia Herbstsonne and so much more. The large miscanthus need dividing but I have no idea what I'd do with all those extra pieces.
 
Two years ago I tried digging plants and selling them at the end of the driveway. It didn't work well, wasn't advertised but I live on a busy road. People who stopped tried to negotiate prices even lower. I had Sedum Matrona, Geranium cantabrigense "Biokova" and more all for $3 per gallon pot. It was very frustrating.
 
This afternoon I have the members of a church in town coming for plants for their new shade garden at the church. I know in the next week I'll have to dig and divide so many more plants.
 
Is it possible to sell plants from the garden without running a full scale nursery?
 
Melanie
  



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