I help operate a small backyard nursery. Im telling you, this man is telling you the Gods honest truth. I have single handledy face these issues all season long. Its challenging. Savvy Dirt Farmer is saving yall years of shortcomings and learning curves.

Great video Craig, a little tough love! Big difference between dabbling as a hobby that costs money and transitioning to an actual business that makes money! Well said!

Good morning craig great info you are spot on. I work a full time job evenings and weekends are dedicated to my little nursery. But love it and been doing for years

Thanks for the tips, Mr. SDF! God bless you for helping people and giving them great advice that could save them valuable time, heartache and money.

Good points! Definitely start slow if money is an issue. Learn how to propagate a few plants and before you know it you’ll have hundreds of plants with very little money spent. Seek out used pots from nurseries, garden centers and garage sales.

Working/volunteering at someone else's nursery business or farm for a season or two is a good way to get an idea of what is involved. I personally excess sell vegetable and flower seedlings from my home and I raise everything from seed. Its a small operation but its fun and its a nice source of seasonal pocket money. Maybe one day I will grow it bigger, however at the moment I'm just one person operation. After 2 years of doing this I am still learning and adapting. Everything has a learning curve.

You hit on a few things that I can relate to personally. The first is not going hog wild and burying yourself in the responsibility. I eventually will expand, but I need to keep it manageable for one person. The second is raising working capital to start inventory. I began with simple, common houseplant cuttings, kept that money separate from household/bills, reinvested in more parent plants, and went from there. This also started establishing a good reputation for healthy, well cared for stock. The last one has to do with the lack of support. Being told it's just a pipe dream from someone vegetating on a couch wasn't helpful, BUT just motivated me to prove it wasn't. Once the pile of Monday shipments got bigger and bigger, I expected I made my point. Now that it's established that sea of pots and plants=$$$, nobody's laughing at me now 😎

I am in a small apartment with a large balcony and I'm starting from there. So yes probably not the ideal demographic but it's ok to dream

Thank you, as always. Good info.

Thanks so much, I needed to hear this one... I was becoming a tad overwhelmed with everything just to start from nothing... While I do have my family and friends support, it's still a bit daunting... I'm also a planner - so I like having that written plan... step 1,2,3 etc. Your wisdom is such a valuable blessings! Thanks again! ❤

Great video, and spot on. I work full-time and do this on the side The biggest things that I have learnt is that it is a lot more work than I anticipated and it is a lot slower going than I was hoping for. But I love doing it 🌺 Thanks for the great videos.

An acquaintance has a large greenhouse business, mostly does spring bedding plants, containers and hanging baskets, does really good for himself. He's located a bit out in the sticks, but nearby enough to a large city with numerous satellite communities. He's done wise to secure large wholesale contracts with major retail outlets and also now open to walk in traffic. Has a substantial spring staff and a permanent right hand man from Mexico. This guy's operation is BIG, he runs himself into the ground, he'll retire more than wealthy, though probably meet his waterloo long before his time for his petal to the metal mentality. Indeed plenty of thought required for all this! Another nearby place is on a much smaller scale run by a middle aged woman having build a nice little greenhouse set up, though situated really out of the way and receives very little business, sad seeing her place still full of unsold annuals in July, it's known she's not in good financial standing. Another problem is that it's difficult to sell such a place of obvious poor location long down upon dead end road.

All good advice. Success doesn't just happen, you got to work your butt off for it.

Great video! Really causes you to think. I’ve been selling pine trees. This is my second year of doing that. But now, because of your videos I want to branch out and try my hand at a few other things. I’m so excited about this because it gives me a way to still play in the dirt and actually make money along the way. Your nursery looks great!

Good video man, I have a small tree service and you inspired me to start a nursery business on the side

Another great video! You and your family are doing an AWESOME JOB.💪👍😎👏

Thank you for these tips! I am just starting myself and am excited for what the future might hold. Unfortunately, I’m the kind of person that likes to see results very fast, so your reminders of starting small and slow are helping keep me grounded. Love your videos.

All good exhortations and practical applications to any kind of vision or goal.Thanks for sharing ❤

Good informative video.

I plan on only selling 3 types of plants. Keeping it small. I have a lot of knowledge and experience with these plants. I have examples of each to start with, but space is my #1 issue. City won’t let me have a green house AND a shed, and I already have a shed. I’m going to have to lease a spot of land from a friend. Also, I know this is a long distance race, not a sprint. I don’t really need it to take off for a couple years, if it actually does!

Thanks for the good reminders. I am ordering in 3 - 32-plug trays of green giant arbs (96 total) and 9 trays of hydrangea. Do you recommend potting everything up to gallon pots? And when do you put arbs directly in the ground to grow out?

Thank you for your experience. I really needed you today. God has given me the ability to grow beauty. I acknowledge what I've been given, and now I'm looking to educate myself on making my vision a reality. God gave me your presence on my KZfaq. This video was EXACTLY what I needed today. Thank you 😂

Thank you for your tips Craig. All great things to think about. I’ve really pushed myself this year in my nursery & I’m glad I did!

It's been a while since you made a video like this one...thank you! I'm still stuck in my shaded, 25 foot wide townhouse due to a family situation, but as soon as the situation changes we'll be moving to a place that will support a backyard nursery. Thank you for the reminders and the outline of a plan!

Great Craig. Very well said and real good advice.

Wow those dabbled willows have grown! Everything is growing so nicely!!

That was wonderful! I've been subscribed for about a year, and I'm always glad to see a new video, but this one was exceptionally helpful. I'm still working on my land and house, so I'm not ready to take the step yet but when I am ready, your videos will have been a major part of why I succeed. Thank you so much for adding 'You Tuber' to your already impressive CV.

Great video, good information!

Great advice for any business

Supportive and straightforward honest video. Thank you!!

You're awesome 👌 thank you very much!

Hi Craig great video mate love watching you and you family all the ups and downs of a nursery business..but you are a inspiration to those starting out , learning from your experiences is the only way to learn. your successes and your mistakes and brave enough to share them .all the very best Dave uk

I think this is the reality check i needed. Germinated 40 horsechestnut seeds thinking i could sell them. Can't even give them away. Half are still the tub and the other half individual pots or put in pots of 4. Would love to get a stall next summer andctrycto sell them. Only expense is the compost.

Thank you for this honest video. Do I have everything checked off on the list, of course not, no. But I from watching your videos I have considered generally all on the list. As a former florist, starting from scratch, it took 2 to 3 years to even begin to see a real return. New business take two years to birth is my experience.👍 When I think of the difference between your nursery and mine, you can call in a few extra hands when needed. I think that is such a blessing. I have full family support and they are definitely helping with the foundation of getting set up but they don't do the potting up part. For me, I love it and work is really what we all do. Thankfully, now I am able to work from my backyard and walk this new path and season ahead out day by day. 🌱🏡😊 Blessings to you and your family. p.s. you guys did a great job of weeding out those arborvitaes! Wow! 👏👏 Lot of hard hand work there. Great job!

Thank you very much

What Zone are you in? 7, 8? I’m in 8, Pacific nw. I would like to learn how to successfully overwinter potted herbaceous plants. Ideally a “greenhouse”. How about putting containered plants into a metal trough and packing them with with some organic matter to help keep the cold away?

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0ne thing you did not mention was a health interruption!

I am having problem gaining traction on facebook market place. Good plants, good pictures at very reasonable price, lots of clicks but no sale :( To make things worse, this are commonly sought after plants. And only 2 other sellers with same plants at much higher prices Any tips, Mr Odem? Thank you

I' like to buy Some plug Emerald green 70

Makes me not want to start a nursery and it makes me wounder why the universe gave me this dream when i am horrible at math?

Could you make a video on how to properly take care of your potted plants week to week basis? I was doing good at first but everything started dying on me and I don't know why. I water daily but that's pretty much it