Everyone Needs Bamboo!
The demand for bamboo is continuing to grow every year. You’d like to take advantage of that, to see your bamboo business make the profits you’ve always dreamed of. So how can you do that? Here are some tips that will turn you into a profitable bamboo grower:
First of all, you need to grow healthy bamboo plants. Make sure your climate is one that bamboo can thrive in. You don’t have to live in the southern part of the United States to be a success, but do be advised that if winter temperatures frequently drop below zero F. then you should consider growing something else. If your winter temperatures consistently stay above zero F. then you should be able to grow healthy bamboo plants. To protect your plants from winter temperatures and wind, consider planting them on a slightly-sloping hillside that faces south, or planting them in a sheltered area.
Now think about your soil. Is it healthy enough for growing bamboo? Most bamboo prefers a neutral pH. Also, be sure your plants have plenty of room to grow as underground runners can often spread out as far as the plant’s height, so don’t plant your plants too close together. Also, only use organic fertilizers. This is very important to ensure your plants grow at the proper rate.
Okay, now you’re ready to pick out which varieties of bamboo you’d like to grow. Simply put, you need to grow what sells. Any business that sells a product people want stands a much better chance at making a good profit. Do some research. Visit your local garden center, and see just what varieties they are stocking. Also pay attention to the prices. Next, talk to landscapers and commercial growers, and see what bamboo plants they’re typically using.
Once your plants are ready to be sold, how can you make the maximum profit? First, if your town allows it, you might want to sell right out of your backyard nursery. This is a great way to make a nice profit, while interacting with your customers. Put out a sign-up sheet for a mailing list, so you can keep in contact with your customers, letting them know bamboo tips and when and where you’ll be selling next. Many towns and regions print a map of local farmers, growers and farmer’s markets. If so, make sure you’re on that map.
You also might want to sell directly to landscapers and garden centers. If you can grow what they are looking for, and sell your plants at a better price than what they’ve paid in the past, you could see a lot of business. Repeat business too.
Mail-order sales are becoming another popular way to sell bamboo plants. Place an ad in a gardening magazine, and those calls will soon be coming in.
If you’d like to get creative with bamboo, then consider making bamboo products. There are many popular products, such as privacy screens, vases, water pipes, fencing and parrot stands. Making and selling bamboo products is a great way to have fun and make even more money.
You can become a profitable grower in no time. Just remember: make sure your plants are growing up healthy and strong and that you’re growing what people want to buy. Once you’re ready to sell, you have a variety of options, such as selling right out of your backyard nursery, selling directly to landscapers and garden centers, mail-order sales and selling bamboo products. Try just one or try them all. You could soon be making great profits with your bamboo business. To learn more, read Golden Harvest.