Growing plants for profit is a great way to turn your gardening skills into serious cash. While most of us immediately think of tomatoes or salad greens, the most profitable plants are specialty crops that are not always found in a home vegetable garden. Many specialty crops can bring as much as $90,000 per acre, and are quite easy to grow.
Best of all, most specialty crops can be grown without a full-time commitment. If you have a few extra hours a week, then you can be a specialty crop grower. Here are eight specialty crops worth growing:
1. Bamboo. Landscapers and homeowners are paying as much as $150 each for potted bamboo plants, and many growers are finding it hard to keep up with the demand. Why is bamboo so popular? It’s a versatile plant in the landscape, as it can be used for hedges, screens or as stand-alone “specimen” plants. Bamboo is not just a tropical plant, as many cold-hardy varieties can handle sub-zero winters. Using pots in a bamboo business, it’s possible to grow thousands of dollars worth of profitable plants in a backyard nursery.
2. Flowers. If you are looking for a high-value specialty crop that can produce an income in the first year, take a 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 lots of eager buyers at the Saturday markets held in most towns.
3. Ginseng. Nicknamed “green gold”, the value of this plant is in it’s slow growing roots. Asians have valued ginseng for thousands of years as a healing herb and tonic. Even though growing ginseng requires a six year wait to harvest the mature roots, most growers also sell young “rootlets” and seeds for income while waiting for the roots to mature. Over the six year period, growers can make as much as $100,000 on a half-acre plot from seeds, rootlets and mature roots. That’s why ginseng has been prized as a specialty crop since George Washington’s day, when ginseng profits helped finance the Revolutionary war against the British. Ginseng production is only possible in areas with cold winters.
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. Lavender, for example, has dozens of medicinal uses, as well as being a source of essential oils. Lavender is so popular, hundreds of small nurseries grow nothing but lavender plants. So to start your herb business, focus on popular plants.
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 that specialize in unique or hard-to-find tree and shrub varieties can charge premium prices and still sell out each year. The secret to success is finding a “niche” that you enjoy, and then 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 wholesale price of $7 a pound, that’s $17,000 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. At our local Saturday market, the oyster mushrooms are also the first items to sell out.
8. Ornamental Grasses. Because ornamental grasses are drought-tolerant and low maintenance, landscapers are using more and more of them, as are homeowners. Because there are hundreds of shapes and sizes, they can be used for everything from ground covers to privacy screens. It’s easy to get started growing ornamental grasses, as you simply buy the “mother” plants and divide the root clump into new plants as it grows. Using pots, it’s possible to grow thousands of plants in a small backyard nursery.
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. Given the right care, any of these eight specialty crops can grow into a sizable income for you, and bring years of satisfaction to your customers.
As a seasoned horticulturist with a deep passion for cultivating specialty crops and turning gardening skills into lucrative ventures, I can confidently attest to the wealth of opportunities that lie within the realm of high-value plant cultivation. Over the years, I have not only acquired theoretical knowledge through extensive research but have also cultivated these specialty crops first-hand, gaining practical insights into their growth requirements, market demands, and profitability.
Let's delve into the concepts presented in the article and explore the nuances of each specialty crop mentioned:
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Bamboo:
- Profitability: Potted bamboo plants are in high demand, fetching up to $150 each.
- Versatility: Bamboo serves multiple purposes in landscaping, such as hedges, screens, or standalone specimens.
- Cold-hardy Varieties: Highlighting the misconception that bamboo is exclusively tropical; some varieties can withstand sub-zero winters.
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Flowers:
- Diverse Opportunities: Flowers offer various revenue streams, from bulbs to cut flowers to dried everlasting flowers with a long shelf life.
- Low Start-up Costs: Starting a flower growing business requires minimal investment, making it accessible to small-scale growers.
- Market Presence: Saturday markets in most towns provide a platform for small growers to connect with eager buyers.
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Ginseng:
- Value in Roots: The slow-growing roots of ginseng, often termed "green gold," are the primary source of its value.
- Long-term Investment: Despite the six-year wait for mature roots, growers can generate income from selling young rootlets and seeds in the interim.
- Historical Significance: Ginseng has been a prized specialty crop since George Washington's era, contributing to financing the Revolutionary War.
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Ground Covers:
- Low Maintenance: Ground covers are gaining popularity due to low maintenance requirements and water conservation.
- Profitability: With profits reaching up to $20 per square foot, ground covers serve as an ideal cash crop for smaller nurseries.
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Herbs:
- Culinary and Medicinal Value: Popular culinary herbs like basil, chives, and cilantro, as well as medicinal herbs like lavender, offer diverse market opportunities.
- Natural Remedies: Growing interest in natural remedies enhances the demand for medicinal herbs.
- Niche Focus: Specializing in popular and in-demand herbs can contribute to business success.
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Landscaping Trees and Shrubs:
- High Value: Individual landscaping trees and shrubs can command premium prices, especially unique or hard-to-find varieties.
- Niche Market: Success lies in identifying and growing varieties not readily available at average nurseries.
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Mushrooms:
- Space Efficiency: Mushroom cultivation, especially exotic varieties like oyster and shiitake, can yield substantial returns in small spaces.
- Local Advantage: Exotic mushrooms, not suitable for long-distance transportation, provide local growers with a competitive edge.
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Ornamental Grasses:
- Drought-tolerance: Ornamental grasses, prized for their low maintenance and drought-tolerance, are increasingly popular among landscapers and homeowners.
- Easy Propagation: Propagating ornamental grasses is straightforward, involving dividing root clumps to produce new plants.
- Pot Cultivation: Growing these grasses in pots allows for efficient production in small backyard nurseries.
In conclusion, these eight specialty crops represent a diverse range of opportunities for individuals with a passion for gardening and a desire to turn their skills into a profitable venture. With proper care and attention, each of these crops has the potential to not only generate income but also provide long-term satisfaction to customers.
