You want your garlic business to be a successful one. You’d like your backyard nursery to be full of profitable plants. So how can you do just that? Here’s a blueprint that will get you started on your way to a successful garlic-growing business:
The first thing you need to do is some research. Find out what garlic varieties people are looking for. If you can grow what sells, then you could see a lot of business. It’s true for any business, and it’s certainly true for a garlic business: you need to sell what people want to buy. The varieties that are hard to find at supermarkets, such as rocambole, are always in demand, and bring premium prices.
Next, think about your soil. Is it healthy? You want soil with a Ph level between 6.2 and 6.8. You also need well-drained soil. Soil that is loaded with too much water will reduce yields due to the lack of oxygen. Raised beds are a good way to avoid this problem. The best size is six inches high and 30 inches wide. Try to plant as many garlic bulbs per square foot as possible. Deeply-dug soil will help make this happen.
You’ll need to keep the soil healthy by only using organic products, such as organic fertilizer. A fertilizer that’s high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen will produce a healthy root system rather than leafy top growth. Before planting, apply 40-60 pounds of nitrogen per acre. During the springtime, add another 20 pounds to promote vigorous growth.
Plant your seed cloves in the fall time, about six weeks before the ground normally freezes. Planting too early could lead to disease and pest problems. Remember to keep your cloves and bulbs separated. When starting out, it’s a good idea to plant your cloves four to six inches apart. After you’ve used raised beds for a few years, then you might be ready to try planting your cloves three inches apart.
Remember to water your plants as they grow, and watch for weeds and other pest and disease problems. Don’t water too often, though. May through July is the most important time for watering. When harvest time is about two to three weeks away, stop watering.
When you’re ready to sell your garlic plants, you have many options. Try some of these, and see what works best for you:
Farmers’ markets – These events continue to draw big crowds eager to buy from the top local growers. Setup a booth or stand and get selling!
Produce brokers – These people buy garlic from growers and resell it to grocery stores and other retail outlets. They often buy in large quantities too.
Mail-order sales – More and more people are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, so that’s why they’re turning to organic garlic and all the benefits it has. Place an ad in a gardening or health magazine, and get ready for all the orders to come in.
You can have a successful garlic-growing business before you know it. Make sure you’re growing what people want, have healthy soil, take good care of the plants as they grow, and try selling them at some of the places mentioned above. Soon you could be making the type of money you’ve always wanted. To learn more, read Golden Harvest.
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