Would you like to make $40,000 in your backyard nursery? Growing garlic for profit could make it happen. It’s the perfect way to cash in on the growing demand for gourmet garlic and garlic products. So, how can you make $40,000 farming garlic? Here’s how:
It’s important to know that growing garlic will not make you a nice income overnight. Like most plants, garlic takes several months to grow and harvest. But don’t let that deter you. With a little hard work and smart choices, you could make good money growing garlic before you know it. Just remember that a good grower is a patient grower.
Your first question might be, why garlic? Many profitable plants are out there, but here’s why garlic might be the perfect fit for you. Not only is garlic reasonably easy to grow, but it can grow in many different types of soils, environments, and climates. Plus, according to the Fresh Garlic Association, garlic is the second most-used spice in the world, right behind pepper. Over 300 million pounds of garlic was consumed in America last year. That garlic has to come from somewhere, so why not your backyard nursery?
Growing what people want to buy is the key to success as a garlic grower. This principle is true for any business. Let’s think about this for a second. Honda must make a car that meets people’s needs, such as high fuel efficiency, great design, fun features, and a safe ride. Nabisco wants to make the tastiest snacks. So you, as a garlic grower, need to do the same thing. You want to grow the varieties of garlic that people want. That’s how you’ll be a successful grower.
So, how do you learn what people want? Check the websites of garlic seed growers to find out which varieties are popular. The “hardneck” gourmet varieties such as Porcelain, Rocambole, and Purple Stripe have been strong sellers for several years. If you check with suppliers too late, you’ll find they are sold out of bulbs for the season! Do your research, and the garlic you grow will be in demand and bring the best profits.
So, how can you make $40,000 growing garlic? Here are some examples to show you how. Gourmet garlic varieties and elephant garlic (the cloves on these look and smell like regular garlic but are twice as big and have a milder flavor) are some you should consider. Elephant garlic, for example, routinely sells for about $15 a pound. You can produce about $8 per square foot of growing area with gourmet garlic. So, let’s do the math. If you’d like to make $40,000 and sell your garlic for $15 a pound, you need enough room to produce around 2700 pounds of garlic. That means you need about a tenth of an acre, or 5,000 square feet, for your garlic-growing area.
Where do you sell garlic? There are many proven places to do that, such as farmers’ markets, produce brokers who buy garlic in bulk and then resell it to supermarkets and other retail outlets, mail-order sales, restaurants, supermarkets, roadside stands, food co-ops, and many more.
With as little as one-tenth of an acre of land, you could build a thriving garlic business in very little time. It certainly won’t happen overnight, but in a few months, you could be making the type of money you’ve always wanted.
In this book, you’ll discover:
- Best garlic types for market growers.
- Top 8 soft-neck garlic varieties.
- Top 30 hard-neck garlic varieties.
- Best garlic varieties for producing large bulbs.
- How to double yields with intensive planting.
- Best places for new growers to get full retail prices.
- 16 Best value-added garlic products.
- How to pick the best varieties for your climate.
- Wholesale sources for seed garlic, growing and packaging supplies.