Successful New Plant Variety Sales: Expert Advice for Gardeners

If you have a passion for breeding plants and experimenting with their features, then you must be dreaming of creating a new variety that could bring you recognition and, possibly, a fortune. It is a long way to go though, which is why you may be in need of tips from veteran gardeners.

About patenting

Patenting is the first and most important part of new plant marketing – in fact, it is compulsory if you ever want to get to that stage. Patenting or licensing will get you the recognition you deserve and draw the public's attention to what you are selling. Know your plant – its different features and its strengths especially; you will be promoting these. But first of all, you need to be able to constantly produce plants to exhibit the same features, because a new variety needs uniformity and consistence. Only then you can attempt to have it recognized as such. Professional plant breeders may know all about patenting and help you out in order to protect and promote your variety.

Using plant trials and nurseries

This is another essential part. Your own garden may not be enough to develop and observe the traits in a new plant variety, especially if it happens to be a season with unpredictable or unusual weather. Ask horticulturists about plant trials and benefit of the controlled environment of a plant nursery, where variety uniformity is obtained far easier.

Tips for plant sales and other events

People are mostly looking for plants that will beautify their garden, something that is different from what usually grows in the area but looks well next to it. Everyone wants to bring at home something unique or special. If you are producing vegetables or herbs, a different criterion applies. Then you need find out which are the species of interest in your community. You may have a look at what the locals are growing in their gardens – perhaps they want improved plants that can offer them a better harvest.

Join a community organisation or a garden club. These usually have sponsors and it will be a lot easier to get into plant sales events. Once you start participating at such events, bring plants that are not yet in bloom. This is an important aspect. Customers may like to see flowers in bloom, but once these are transplanted into their garden, they will suffer a 'shock' and the petals will wilt. The client will thus be disappointed.