Growing plants for profit is a great way for anyone over 55 to turn their gardening skills into serious cash. While most of us immediately think of vegetables or salad greens, the most profitable plants are specialty crops not always found in a home vegetable garden. Many specialty crops can bring as much as $80,000 per acre and are easy to grow.
Pick your own hours …
Best of all, most specialty crops can be grown without a full-time commitment, which makes them ideal for anyone over 55. You can be a specialty crop grower if you have a few extra hours a week. Here are seven specialty crops worth checking out:
1. Lavender. Growing lavender for profit can be a great way to turn your love of herbs and gardening into a solid income from selling lavender plants and the value-added products you can make, such as dried lavender bundles, lavender buds, aromatherapy products, skin-care products, sachets, and herbal pillows. There are dozens of products that are easy to make and in demand by consumers who love the scent of lavender. Once planted, these long-lived plants will continue to produce hundreds of blooms every year for 15 years
2. Flowers. If you are looking for a high-value specialty crop that can produce an income in the first year, look at growing flowers for profit. A flower growing business has almost unlimited possibilities, from bulbs to cut flowers to dried flowers – often called “everlastings”, for their long life. It doesn’t cost much to get started growing flowers for profit either – just a few dollars for seeds and supplies. Most small growers find many eager buyers at the Saturday markets held in most towns.
3. Microgreens. These tiny plants are used as a garnish for main dishes or as a mini-salad. Unlike most other food crops, microgreens are quick to grow and ready to sell in just two weeks. They can be grown indoors or outdoors, so microgreens are a perfect crop for urban farmers who may not have access to a patch of dirt. Because microgreens are expensive, selling for $16 to $30 a pound, growers can produce a solid income in a small space, such as on indoor shelving that uses vertical space more efficiently.
4. Ground Covers. Due to high labor costs and water shortages, ground covers are becoming the sensible, low-maintenance way to landscape. Growers like ground covers, too, as they are easy to propagate, grow, and sell. Bringing profits of up to $20 per square foot, ground covers are an ideal cash crop for the smaller backyard plant nursery.
5. Herbs. Growing the most popular culinary and medicinal herbs is a great way to start a profitable herb business. The most popular culinary herbs include basil, chives, cilantro, and oregano. Medicinal herbs have been widely used for thousands of years, and their popularity continues to grow as people seek natural remedies for their health concerns.
6. Landscaping Trees and Shrubs. With individual plants bringing as much as $100 in a five-gallon pot, many small backyard plant nurseries are enjoying success on a small scale. Those specializing in unique or hard-to-find tree and shrub varieties can charge premium prices and still sell out yearly. The secret to success is finding a “niche” you enjoy and growing the varieties that simply can not be found at your average plant nursery.
7. Mushrooms. For those without space to garden, growing mushrooms for profit can produce a great return in a small space. Exotic mushrooms, such as oyster and shiitake, make sense, as they can be grown indoors without soil. Oyster mushrooms, for example, produce around 25 pounds per square foot of growing space in a year’s time. At the current price of $8 a pound, that’s $20,000 worth of mushrooms from a 10’x10′ space! Exotic mushrooms do not travel well, so small local growers will always have an edge over distant producers. The oyster mushrooms are also the first to sell out at our local Saturday market.
These are my favorite profitable plants, as they all enjoy strong demand year after year, yet can be grown by anyone who has or can learn a few basic gardening skills. These specialty crops can grow into a sizable income, given the right care. To discover more, visit:www.profitableplants.com
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