I have been interested in Mike McGroarty's website http://www.freeplants.com/growing-japanese-red-maples.htm for a couple of years now and thinking of this as a possible retirement business. DH says to check to see if there are others locally that have used it...he's pretty wise like that...not jumpy into something like I would ;-) I am in zone 7b- Northeastern Texas but would like to hear from anyone that might have tried this! The intermittant mist system that he teaches sounds like the way to grow lots of plants without the expense/expertise to run a greenhouse.
He sells the info to start up a backyard growing system for $88. http://www.freeplants.com/system.htm
And NO, I'm not trying to promote the guy, just trying to find out if it really works. He has a lot of "reviews from satisfied customers" but not sure if they are legit. If you aren't familiar with him, then how would I go about doing my own research into his success stories and claims?
Thanks for your replies! I think this is my first time to start a thread. Keeping my fingers crossed that I did it right :)
~Karen
Anyone have experience-McGroarty's Backyard Growing System?
Sounds like a lot of work for retirement, but why don't you get it and report back if you learn anything new and good.
Besides sounding like a lot of work for retirement, is there a market for the common variety un-named Japanese red maple? All the expensive prices mentioned in that first link are probably commanded by named finer-leafed red maples. Red maples are an understory tree in Texas because they tend to scorch. So you would have to provide shade from the hot afternoon sun.
If he was getting rich selling plants he would not be telling others his secrets. He's getting rich on his CDs. There is no get rich quick in the nursery business. There is a world wide recession going on right now and most people are not letting go of their money for anything that is not a necessity, and plants are not a necessity. anytime someones says I made $3,142 in one day, selling plants from my yard, I get a funny feeling. He is selling his system like a side show geek pitching snake oil.
If your interested in starting a nursery, do your homework. Get on Dave's ever day and read the seed starting and propagation forums and all of the forums for Iris, Brug, Alocasas, Japanese Maples, etc..... But first, the most important thing in running a business is location, location, location. The best book I have read on the nursery business was ( So you want to start a Nursery ) by Tony Avent. If you have never heard of him, he owns the nursery Plant Delights. Running a nursery can be fun but it is also hard work. Mixing soils, carrying pots, keeping the green house warm during those long cold Winters.
If you decide to start a nursery business, we will back you all the way and we will always be here to help you in your search for knowledge and information.
Thanks so much to morgan. betty and especially kenboy. I appreciate your honesty and insight but mostly your support!
I will continue with my daily research on DG.
I have recieved e-mail from Dave Mcgroarty for a couple of years the only problem with his system is he's in Cincinati on the northern most part of Ohio. So the way he gardens is completely different from here in Tx. For one thing because they have 4 complete seasons their soil is very rich and can grow anything. and if they get an 85 degree day they consider it HOT. But I will say that some of the information he sends out in his free E-mail is very useful. I have had trouble germinating Redbud seeds untill. He told how in an e-mail. His box he built for rooting cuttings is pretty neat and cheap to build. But he grows everything in his back yard uncovered. That won't work here where I live. I did order Japanese maple seeds from "Seed and More" and I have not germinated them yet because you have to refrigerate them for a while them stratify them so it takes a while.
I am retired also and had the same Idea as you so I built a greenhose and so far all I have grown went into my own yard (I am doing a total yard make over) so starting this year I will see what I can grow for sale. My problem is Once I have spent that much time with a plant I hate to part with it...........rucky
Hello , PLay . If you will go to craigs list , the Atlanta site , go down 7 or 8 pages on Farm and Garden , to May 19 , there is a coupla going out of business and selling off this weekend .
Mike grows all year , then puts everything out to sell a few weekends in a row . He doesn't sell all year , so his plant sales are concentrated , thus so much money . He also sells in volume to other growers .
There isn't anything he does that you can't do on your own . He also sells plants that are common and easy to root . July is coming and it will be time to start rootingyour own plants . Check out the prices for pots , you might change your mind real fast .
Also , there are other charges for the whole program .
Hope this helps . digger
All of you are pointing out several things I hadn't considered so I'm learning a lot. However, I did have a DG'er write to me and said he would send me his info from Mike McG. I'm anxiously awaiting it in the mail.
Not sure if I will implement as a business but looking forward to getting some serious propagation going!
rucky, I've never tried to germinate redbud seeds because we have so many volunteers coming up around the yard. But I'm very interested in getting Japanese Maples going. Let me know how it goes for you!
I have a lot to learn, didn't know July is the best for rooting, thanks digger
I stumbled upon that McG info a few days ago, too. I did a lot of online research, and not all of what you read about him is good. Google Mike McG scam... I didn't add that last word, it popped up in google as I was typing his name! Seems others have googled that very subject. One thing I found is that the price of the package fluctuates. I read of prices over $250...hmmm. I agree that he's marketing his system. There are a lot of industries where people make money selling "the dream" to others who want to start their own business. And, I bet he makes a lot of money doing just that. In fact, I'd be surprised if he actually ran a nursery business at all now, or possibly ever.
Play , July is about when new growth is hardened enough to root instead of rot , it would be a little earlier the further south you go . I'm in zone 7-a
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I am in zone 8 and July works here too.
I'm still unsure as to how to take Mike McG. because the part I left out on the previous post is that he sent the informational packet to a DG'er who was having a hard time financially in his life... Mike sent him the info for FREE as a means to help him.
None of it really matters to me as I don't know Mike and don't expect to ever meet him. I am only interested in good methods of propagation. I ordered his book several months before I posted my initial request for input on others using his method. I believe Mike has all the experience he claims to have in nursery business as his guides on softwood and hardwood cuttings and growing from seeds are very thorough. Although as rucky pointed out since he is in Ohio most of his methods will probably have to be adapted to Texas climate. Our humidity and hot summers are going to be the biggest challenges.
I am starting to research more about propagation here on DG in the forums.
If any of you know of other websites or threads here that deal with propagation in Texas I would appreciate the links!
thanks digger and kenboy. I'm in 7b so I will be giving it a go in July!
I e-mailed him once to ask a question and got a responce but not from him I think it was from his daughter. I think she is the one marketing his I methods. As I said before I just get the emails and Last year I started from cuttings in April some Althea "rose of Sharon" planted them this year. Also I started some Chinese fringe flower, one cutting from a beutiful Verigated Hibiscus I have two more of them started this year I also have taken some cuttings from a Catalpa tree that have roots and I'll pot them soon. I have Mimosa and sour orange cuttings that look like they're going to make it.
I don't have a green thumb I just love to experiment. I have found that early spring is the best time to take cutting when they are getting new growth. Believe me I have wasted more seeds then I have gotten started. There is a lot of valuable information here. But don't write off ol Mike McG I have watched numerous vidieos by him and quite a few have turned on a light for me. I plan to start next year trying to start plants in volume I am putting a new floor in the greenhouse right now (working mostly mornings) so I don't have much out there right now. But one thing to remember having abunch of plants is like having a pet. You have to do something with them when you go on vacation I set up sprinklers last year while I was away and it worked fine but the ground in the GH was soggy hence the remodel this year. and I plan to install a drip irrigation system this year. I want to travel next month but I am afraid to because of my gardens. I guess I'll set up automatic sprinklers before I go and tell the neighbors to come pick some veggies. .....I'm sorry I got off the subject. I just wanted to pass on a little information .......................rucky
I may have been misunderstood in my earlier post . Mike has a good thing going with his backyard system . There just isn't much he can offer, for pay, that you can't find out for free .
If you have a heat controlled greenhouse , You can root most anything from it at any time of the year . I had roses blooming in January , from cuttings .
I studied his website and contributed answers to several questions on his forum . Thought I might take his system , then it dawned on me , The answers are here on DG to most any thing you want to know and the membership is far less expensive than buying his system .
Buying wholesale Japanese maples to grow and sell later is a good deal , IF you have a market for them . But not only the heat in Tex. but the soil , isn't suited for JP in most areas . JP's need an acid soil and people buying them and planting them will usually be disappointed in most areas .They can do ok in east Texas , with a lot of watching , the soil is more acid and you have the pine trees for a canopy . But they are understory and need protection from the afternoon sun. That leaves plenty of plants that can sell from the driveway and do great most anywhere .
It's kind of like growing banana trees in Lubbock and expecting them to sell and survive . Just do lots of research .
Growing JP's and dogwood from seeds will starve you to death waiting for them to come up and get big enough to sell .
Karen, the main adaptation for propagation is going to be the heat. High humidity should not be an issue, you actually want high humidity in propagating that's the reason for covering with plastic or using a misting system. As far as heat is concerned I have been having pretty good luck just putting my cuttings in the shade under an oak. You could also use shade cloth. This web page show a propagating box made with pvc pipe and shade cloth.
http://plantpropagationmistingsystem.com/
The other thing thing that probably to be adapted from mikes system is the choice of plants. As you and others have pointed out he is in Ohio so he recommends plants that do well for his area. Another thing is that he is a landscaper and his suggestions are mostly traditional landscaping shrubs and trees, maples, forsythias, boxwoods etc. You may want to look into other types of plants. The important thing is finding a nich that works in your area.
Jay
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This message was edited May 25, 2010 7:28 AM
I appreciate the link AJN! All of you guys are great and so full of useful information! Thanks to all of you for your replies.
I LOVE DAVE'S GARDEN!!
Karen....Did you ever get Mike's system? Report, please....LOL Jo