----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 8:38
AM
Subject: [gwl-g] Selling plants and
Potting Soil
For many years I gave away trunk loads of
perennials from my garden. Last year I finally potted them up and had a one
day plant sale here. 50% of the proceeds from the daylilies and 100 % of the
proceeds from all other perennials was donated to the local high school
marching band. The Band made $1600 and I made about $500.
This year there will be less daylilies for sale
as I have to leave my clumps undisturbed until after next years convention of
the American Hemerocallis Society (to be held here on Long Island). I can
easily pot up 300 to 400 perennials without making a dent in the garden and am
in the process of doing so. 100% of all profits will go to the band since I
found out $2,000 is barely enough to buy one horn.
Potting soil has turned out to be the biggest
headache right after separating those darned pots. To save money, I mix my own
potting soil. To be honest, I actually prefer my own mix when compared to
those soil-less mixtures.
Not being very scientific, I mix
together one 40 lb bag of top soil, one 40 lb bag of compost, 1
bucket full of peat moss (maybe 1.5 cubic ft?) and a half bucket of perlite.
This gets stirred together in my trusty/rusty old wheel barrow while I chant
"double double toil and trouble" and before you know it I have a very magical
mixture.
This morning I'm off to Home Depot to get 5 more
bags of compost, 5 top soil, 2 peat moss and 2 perlite. With the cost of
gas I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better next year to have a 6 yard truck
load of compost delivered to the house.
During the actual sale I answer all kinds of
questions plus spot dig some specialty perennials. The teens and parents from
the marching band pull wagons of plants up the driveway for customers, color
guard waves flags on the front lawn (helps to stop traffic) and take care of
the money. None of the parents know much about gardening but most recognize
the standard fare of Hosta, Black Eyed Susans and Purple Cone Flowers (which
all sell out first).
I would appreciate any tips and suggestions from
all of you, many of you sell plants or have worked at nurseries. You can
e-mail me at melaniev@optonline.net
Plants for sale this year are: Monarda, Stachys
"Helen von Stein", Euphorbia polychroma, Oenothera, Bronze Fennel, Corydalis,
various Nepeta, various Astilbe, Colombine, Campanula percisifolia, Hosta,
Rudbeckia laciniata, Rudbeckia fulgida, Rudbeckia "Herbstsonne", Alchemilla
mollis, Geranium c. "Karmina", Digitalis, Geranium sanguinium, Salvia
verticilata "White Rain", Echinacea, Liriope, Sedum aizoon "Lemon Snowflakes",
Sedum "Matrona", Sedum t. Ruprectii, Lychnis coronaria, Polygonatum humile,
Hellebore foetidus, common daisies (no idea of the botanical name), Coreopsis
"Zagreb" and of course hybrid daylilies.
Plants are $4 per pot (size 300) and $6 for
larger pots (monster sized Digitalis)
One concern is plants with patents. For instance
I have Lysimachia punctata "Alexander" growing like a weed and won't be able
to sell it. I'm thinking I will offer it for free as a bonus.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Melanie Vassallo
Old Country Gardens
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