For all you veg growers

[Gromit]

Hiya all

Sorry for intruding on Cycle Chat with this. I'm currently working on a business plan for my working environment module at Askham Bryan College in York.

I need to find out if there is a market for my particular project and approach at least three individuals who will be willing to part with money for my product. (Its all theoretical so pleases don't send any money).

I need to ascertain if anyone has ever bought vegetable plug plants from a nursery, catalogue or internet company.

As well as to find out their reasons for doing so.

Would you consider buying plug plants from a newly qualified horticulturist if the price is right?

Would it be OK to use some of your responses next week on a one to one bases with my tutor?

Thank you for your help everyone.

Debz

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Hey Up Gromit. Glad to hear from you.

I do veg growing. Nearly always from seed. However if my seeds fail for whatever reason I will visit the local nursery for some replacements if the season is getting on a bit and I need to claw back some time. Mrs 26x25 does flowers and she has bought plugs over the internet. She may not be as timely with her seed sowing as she might be I suppose.

So in conclusion I won't be sending you any money but I reckon there will be plenty out there who might.

Now can have my cut of the profits please

 

[summerdays]

I'm trying to think if we have bought plant plugs over the internet ... spuds yes, and seeds. I think we have bought squash plant plugs from our local nursery (only 50 yards from my LBS so usually visit both at the same time). I think I bought the squash ones as an impulse buy ... knowing we wanted to grow them and that we aren't having much success growing them from seed... (well not to the point of setting fruit that grows and doesn't drop off). If I saw an unusual variety that I was interested in trying in plug format then I might buy it.

I would worry about buying certain plants ... the ones that the books say that they don't like being transplanted. I don't know whether it would worry me about buying from a newly qualified horticulturist - I suspect we probably wouldn't come across you as a newbie (on the internet), so unless you were at a local farmers market, then in that situation we wouldn't really know that you were new.

Is that any good?

 

[Gromit]

Excellent thank you both , it does prove that there is a market out there somewhere.

I'm planning on targeting the private gardener/allotment holder, rather than going into the commercial sector selling to large vegetable business.

I would like to sell my plug plants to people who know the benefit of home grown vegetables but they really don't have the time or expertise to spend on growing veg from seed.

 

[accountantpete]

I buy plugs - mainly when I only want a few plants to dot around the veg plot in between the main crops - eg courgettes - and also ornamental veg to dot in the flower garden.

 

[Telemark]

I've been buying leek-lets for a few years, as I never seem to be able to sow them early enough and/or get proper leeks to grow from self-sown leek seeds . Sadly they don't sell them in bunches of 50 any more, but in little polystyrene trays of 12 leek-lets for £2.99 or something equally silly. I don't want the polystyrene, and for that price I may as well buy the leeks fully grown from the market or greengrocer

So value for money & no polystyrene would get my vote.

Good luck with your project! Happy to help if you need more.

T

 

[palinurus]

We (Ms P and I) have an allotment. Mostly grow from seed but have bought some brassicas as plugs, from a small local shop (who presumably order in from a nursery). Principal reason for buying them is they are tricky to raise from seed- they grow easily enough but sometimes get eaten, one day everything is fine the next day stalks. So then we buy plugs and transplant them directly into a netted area of the plot.