High-Value Plants That Build a Loyal Customer Base

Certain plants guarantee repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. Focus on these proven sellers to establish a profitable niche.

Spring Stars

• Sweet Peas: Fragrant, early, cool-weather lovers. Soak seeds overnight, pot February. Heat-resistant Cuthbertson varieties extend season. Spencer/Zvolanek strains reliable.
• Zinnias: Improved forms for every need—dwarfs, bedders, giants, cactus types. April sowing, cool greenhouse. Cold frame transition frees space for succession crops.

Terrace & Container Specialists

• Anemones: Poppy-like blooms in red/purple/white. March corm starting in cold greenhouse. Imported corms more economical than seed.
• Astilbe: Feathery plumes, graceful foliage. Spring division, warm house, forces for late winter/early spring bloom.
• Baby's Breath: Lacy filler for arrangements, dries for winter bouquets.
• Balloon Flower: Hardy perennial, bud swelling resembles balloons. Blue/purple/pink/white. Rooted cuttings more profitable than seed.
• Passiflora (Passion Flower): Exotic vine with incredible demand. Spring cuttings at 70°F in 2-3 inch pots. Sell pre-bloom—name recognition drives sales. Unrooted cuttings fetch $0.35-$1.00.

Passiflora Production Scale

Minnesota growers propagate hundreds yet can't meet demand. Seed propagation possible (2-6 weeks germination with overnight soak). Summer garden planting, fall repotting to 8-10 inch pots yields hundreds of cuttings from mature vines.

Additional Terrace Favorites

• Candytuft: Hyacinth-like spikes in white/pink/orchid. Mid-January sowing for May sales.
• Carpet Phlox: Spring-flowering perennial, buy divisions rather than seed. Cool greenhouse.
• Fuchsia: Drooping bell flowers for pots, planters, cool windows.

Sweet peas transplant early—market them to impatient gardeners eager to start before May.