plant sale help

I want to have a plant sale. I need help. Is the weekend of May 25-26 too late? I promised out the weekend of the 18th and the 12th is Mother's Day. I don't think I could be ready on the 4th, that's only 2 weeks ( I could if I had to, but...) I am worried about having to keep them going that long in pots, thinking of the well.
What about the Fri and Sat before Mother's Day? would you go if there was one near you?
I need your best tips, and anything you've seen at one that you didn't like.

I always did mine the last weekend of May - but our zones are quite different. I think people will come which ever weekend you choose. Everyone is thinking SPRING!

One thing that really helped with mine - the first year I made up little cards explaining the plants. I snipped pictures out of catalogs and pasted them on recipe cards with the name, height, soil, and light requirements. It's a lot of work but worth it in the end when you realize how many people don't have a clue about plants. They ask you a bazillion questions! It helps to have the basics right there for them to read.

tig I would think it perfect timing to have it just before Mothers Day. What could be better!!! People love these sales of Spring and plants make for the best gifts!! Go for it and good luck!!

louisa, that weekend is really perfect for me and the plants. They will have enough growth from where they are now I think. I'm also going to put an ad in the Market bulletin, but I want to do this. Life has been so [deleted] lately, I need something fun to look forward to. I have angel trumpets, heirloom tomatoes and pond plants to pull them in. Poppy, I had already planned to make the cards, you had mentioned before that you did this at yours.

tiG are you gonna have help? I'll bet you'll be mobbed!

no help, maybe Saturday. Not too many on our side of town do much of anything to their yard, so what we do stands out. For those that have been here, it's wayyyy improved over fall!! We have great traffic, so that will help.

I always had my two step boys to help me. They took the money and helped lug plants to peoples cars. You may want to stalk up on boxes if you can. Hope you have a great time! I'm sure it will be fun for you and the people that go. Wish I could go!

thought about boxes, I don't want to give away my trays. I have used various and sundry containers, that won't matter will it? like a 3 liter plastic coke bottle is the same size as a one gallon pot. would it stop you?

Nope! I even put some plants thet were too big in plastic bags.

Tig: I don't know about your area. But here Memorial weekend is a no no to sales. People are traveling that weekend and we don't have to many buyers at garage sales and such. Mother's Day weekend is much better. As far as the container the plant is growing in, it shouldn't make any difference as long as the plant is healthy looking as I am sure they are.

okay, would you have it Sunday too? just thinking out loud.

You could leave it up in the air... & decide when you see what you have left for plants. You might not have enough left to bother on Sunday.

tiG, for my plants, I'm using the frozen food bags from WalMart (supposed to keep your frozen stuff cold for 45 minutes). I have been saving them all winter, and when I cut off the tops, they hold six potted plants just perfect. Another thought is to see if your grocery store has extra flats from cases of beer and coke; they're a nice size for several plant pots and/or cell packs.

Tig - good luck - I have had them on several different weekends. I have found that one day of it at a time is about all I can take. No, May 24-25th is not too late. Folk's come about anytime just out of couriosity, how hard is it for YOU to pass up a "PLANTS FOR SALE" sign?? They usually quit coming about 1:30 or 2:00, they think everything will be gone!! Even it it rains, one of the best sales I ever had was in the rain!! I sat in my truck in the cul-de-sac with a couple of umbrellas, one for me & one to share!! Many had their own.

I rarely know far ahead of time when I might do it, life is so full of surprises. So I just prepare everything in advance, be done by the night before - Have all your plants out front so they can be seen from the road and you won't have people roaming all over your yard. You don't want to be dragging things out when they are asking you questions. Have everything labled & priced.

Then I put signs out either the night before or about 7:00 am. If you do it too early, they will come when you are not ready and it can get chaotic. I made my signs on the computer so they are plain to read. Then I stapled them onto a piece of heavy cardboard and tacked them onto a stake so I can drive them in the ground. I have about a dozen signs and put them at intersections with a big arrow directing them to you. I have used the same ones many times. I hate to see those flimsy signs made on poster board and a crayon or magic marker. They usually get bent double with the night dampness or a little breeze. I usually just do it on a Saturday. I have some signs that say PLANT SALE TODAY 8:00-2:00. Some say Sat. If I decide to quit early, I just go take the signs down!

I hope you will have some help, it can be very tiring all by yourself, you will need to take a break now & then. Call me if you need any more tips - keep it as simple as you can, make it fun!! I have lots of helpful ideas from experience!! You can even have a cooler of cold drinks to sell, I have had people stop just to buy a Coke!!

I had a plant sale last year, and came up with a catchy idea to set my signs apart from the usual garage sale. I stapled a bunch of plastic flowers to the top corner of the sign, and wrote PLANT SALE in huge letters, it made them really recognizable. I plan doing it again this year, alot of work, but it's so much fun, you get a chance to talk plants for a whole day! L

tig another form of free advertizing!! Stick a notice in the back of your car window. I did this (with photos) when I was selling my house. I think carboard boxes are always a good thing to have!! It's so much easier to transport plants that way!!

tiG Id go on friday or sunday not on saturday-but thats because of my religion! So thats something to think about!
Id go on mothersday-cuz thats something this mother luvs to do!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!! have fun

dori, good point!!! and I'd go on mother's day too, if my kids would let me! I appreciate all the input, don't stop now:)
now if anyone can get my waterlilies to bloom real fast so I can tell what color they are and divide, that's a neat trick too!!! LOL!

Having a plant sale that late in the month may just work in your favor. So many places here stop selling tomato plants in early May - the procrastinators will be thrilled!

good point Carol, theirs are really leggy if they do have any left!. thanks!

TiG,
I would suggest to have the sale before Mother's Day. Many people order flower bouquets and such for Mom then. Besides, if you have to compete with nurseries its a good idea to have the sale early so people can put plants into the ground. Judge your sale by the last frost date or for when people are anxious to get things into the ground. The earlier you start you can continue the following weekends until you are sold out.

Joydie

Tig - Jodyie is right - the sooner the better. I have had flea mkt booths too, you never know about Holiday week-ends - they can be great or really dead!! If you can, have one sooner, just do it, and another one later. You don't really have to advertize in advance - just get some GOOD signs out when ever the mood strikes you!!

I only had one one Sunday - it was a flop! Another tip, have a chair & if possible a beach umbrella out, you might get too hot & there will probably be some down time.

This message was edited Monday, Apr 22nd 12:15 PM

I want to come !!!!!! Wahhhhhhhh...vic is whining!!! One thing I haven't seen mentioned. You might want to wear something like a carpenters apron for your change. Dh has several if you want me to send you one. They only have three pockets but you could sew down the middle of each for six if you want. I sure wish you had help though. It could get pretty scary by yourself if all of a sudden you have 30 people to wait on and with your gardens that could happen really easy. Good Luck!!!

This message was edited Monday, Apr 22nd 8:47 PM

The apron's an excellent idea - I have a gardener's apron I strap on, and it held the cordless phone, money, pruners, extra plant tags, Sharpie marker, etc. Definitely came in handy :)

Also - if you have it your garden people will try to talk you into digging plants up for them. If you don't want to - stand firm! Anything blooming people will want!! If you dig for one person there will be others that want you to dig too.

hey, I'll dig for money!!! LOL!! the apron is a great idea. I also bought 3 clay azalea pots ($1.50 each) and 3 6 packs of annuals to make some containers for sale. I saw some just like them at WalMart and thought, too cheap too easy not to do!!! if they don't sell, I'll have them :)

Yes TIG, you want to keep your cash on you. I always wear an apron and I have an extra that I got from working at the flower show that I will loan you. They have nice deep pockets for a change purse. I wear socks too, so I stick my "Big Money" in them, like $20's & 50's. Once I had a man hand me a $100. early in the day for a $2.00 plant. People are so inconsiderste, he finally scrounged up the $2.00. Lol!

what would I do without all of you?

Tig - I can't stand it anymore - I am going to invite myself to come and help you at least on Friday. OK??

This message was edited Tuesday, Apr 23rd 9:06 PM

LOL!! of course you're welcome to come, but I hate putting that on you, Friday will probably be really slow and easy to handle. maybe that will be a good thing?
I am thinking now about doing it the 5th and the 12th, two Saturdays, and DH would be here to help. I'll have to see how this weekend goes and how much of the rest of the weeding I can get done before I commit! We'll have all the mulch down by Sunday, that will help my confidence a lot! Things are so crazy with the rest of my life right now, I'm just immersing myself into planting and potting up. will know more by the end of the week where I stand. But I do stand better having such a great friend close by!

There you are there tig!! A helping hand - a friend indeed!! I can just picture the fun you would both have!!

My neighbor and I have set the date, May 11 for our plant sale. Now a question came up at Master Gardeners last night, about trademarked or registered plants. How careful do we need to be about that? Never worried about it before, I have never had to sign anything for mailorder, but some folks said they did. Say for example Miss Kim Lilac, can I say it's Miss Kim?? Thanks, L

I don't think there would be any problems selling tardemarked plants at yard-type plant sale. The owners of patented plants are concerned with big business propagating them on a large scale. A few rooted cuttings shouldn't be a big deal.

I agree whole heartedly with the large and clear signs. I have done this with tag sales and i've gotten huge responses. my girlfriend took my advice for her second tag sale and she had the same results, her first sale, she had hardly anyone stop.
I tried to make them so they can be seen before someone gets to the intersection and has gone through already. Big arrows and something splashy to get there attention, wether the flowers as suggested or a saying. I used "Three Pack Rats" for one of mine. People loved it. I also used the classified section of the local newspaper. Starting the ad with the catchy saying. It is a minimal investment and worked for me.
Just some safety issues. Lock your doors and windows. Be ready for "early birds". People will show up before the time you say, so start early.
For the novice....that's me. I find it nice to have the plants grouped in categories like, shade, part sun, perennials, annuals. Maybe you could mark the different areas with a balloon with "shade plants" written on it.

Make the boxes etc... easy for people to get so they can "fill it up" as they are shopping. Other than that how many plants can you carry about.

I think the containers are a great idea. especially if the sale is before mother's day. you can put up a sign to that effect.

Have a good time. I wish i could come too. :( but massachusetts to georgia for a plant sale is even a bit much for me. :)
debi z

ah, come on debi!! LOL!! just a short day trip ! thanks everyone for the input, can't wait!

I just remembered something that a local group that has had plant sales regularly for years does..... they provide all of the little red wagons, wheelbarrows, etc that they can muster to make it easier for folks to fill up and wheel around, it works great!! L

TiG, just thought I'd share this, the weekend of Mother's Day is our busiest weekend always.

I've been wanting to do both of the next two Saturdays, but now DH has hurt his back and I just wonder if I can do it this Sat without killing myself. I have everything potted up, more plants than I will ever sell. But the pond has to have the rocks set around it, finally got rocks, but that's always been his job and now he can't. Buying mulch tomorrow and have to get it all out. Will have to cut the grass Friday and move the picnic tables up to the yard by myself. But I'll probably have to do this by myself even if I only have it once, so why not twice, right?? there's pricing and signs, and so much to do. Glad I did get things potted up, but will do more when I get pots from Azalea, there's tons more I have that I can dig. things i haven't even touched yet. I did limit myself when I was digging, I mean how many pots of bee balm or whatever do you need? :) I've got to find a good place to dig a hole and get clay for the waterlilies which are determined not to bloom yet!!!!!
sad to note, my newest front bed had more briars coming up, so I resprayed with Roundup and it won't have anything in it:(
DH says it's not a garden contest, but it's very important to me that it looks really good. I've near bout killed myself trying to get it together, and if people are here, I want some of what I've done to show!
so long story even longer, I'm not sure if I'm having one or two :)

A sale is a great idea. Before Mother's Day is great. I usually buy my mom some type of plants for Mother's Day. She would love stuff from a plant sale. Great idea.

I had almost backed out just due to the stress!!! but it's a full go for this weekend now. Just found out the garden club is having a big one at the fairgrounds :( and Lowes is having a huge blowout next weekend. it's now or never and just think of all the cool stuff I'll have to bring to Carla's plant swap!