Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business

by T.M. Taylor

Book Overview

According to the author, there are not enough greenhouse growers in the country to be anywhere near the saturation point—making it an excellent business venture for those who love working with plants.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0962867810
• ISBN13: 9780962867811
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Green Earth Publishing Inc.
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Plan to Succeed

Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business is written for the beginner or serious home gardener who wants to start a profitable home-based business growing plants in a greenhouse, or for educators looking for specialized classroom projects. It is also valuable text for existing commercial growers, if only to revisit some of the basics from time to time. Divided into 11 sections, Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business will tell you everything you want to know to get started in a greenhouse business. The book covers all major growing systems including hydroponics, organics, and good old-fashioned soil cultivation. It includes a basic plan to build a solar greenhouse, and information on soil and fertilizer mixes, insect and disease control, marketing, and guidelines to organize your greenhouse business. The section on 'Selling, Marketing, and Economics' is especially useful for new comers to greenhouse production. Gone are the days of growing plants on speculation and hoping to find a market before the crop is harvested. The first step in any successful horticulture business is to identify your market, and to grow what the market wants. This section offers some valuable insights into how to go about that. The text explores the marketing process and includes developing sales concepts and marketing strategies, as well as establishing a realistic budget. I can't think of another text that says it better. There are also special treatments for marketing hydroponic and organic products, as opposed to soil-grown products. The section on 'Greenhouses' is succinct. The author leaves no stone unturned in his endeavor to cover every aspect of greenhouse production. Topics include environmental control, choosing the right greenhouse covering, operating costs and cash flow, ideas to improve your greenhouse, and much, much more. This section also includes a basic solar greenhouse plan, including a detailed inventory of materials (imperial measurements). The section on 'Specialized Projects with Excellent Profit Potential' examines the major soil-less culture growing systems that are used in today's modern greenhouse, with a focus on greenhouse tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, tropical fruits, and ornamental plants. There is also a special treatment for school greenhouse programs. There are few greenhouse texts that go beyond the hardware of a greenhouse business. This text does. The section on 'Guidelines to Organizing Your Business' is about turning into actions. According to the author, people don't plan to fail they just fail to plan. In this section, apart from highlighting the need for good planning, the author explains the basic steps for organizing your greenhouse business. These include on sight considerations such as obtaining zoning ordinances and building permits, and types of financing, right down to Workers Compensation. Another section on 'Delivery, Collecting, & Using Computers', is a practical guide for those processes. The author cov

Lots of secrets revealed!

I found this to be the best book on the subject. The most complete information source on buyers and materials I could find. Its very obvious that the author has had a greenhouse business and gives ideas (secrets) that can save years of time. I wonder about the 2 star reviews here that sound as they are from someone whos worried about this valuable info getting out. From the beginning it tells you that all info on every subject can not be given, and when you have dozens of types of poinsetta's that have dozens of growing conditions it is better to get a book on that subject. With all the great bits of info, how can anyone not love this book. My favorite area is how to get buyers. The process is so simple when you know the right way. I only found two typing errors and who cares! Each page is full of money saving and making projects. The way the author shows you how to decide what types of crops to grow is worth the price of the book alone. The buyer list is unbelievable... real buyers who want plants of all kinds, where else can you find that? I found the info on the size of pots to use, and prices to charge, very helpful. I have called and emailed Mr. Taylor many times and ask him all kinds of greenhouse growing questions and he has always been very helpful and inspiring. Have had been the largest spiderplant grower in the USA for many years and had dealt with over 1400 stores Mr. Taylor knows his business better that most. A couple of my friends have bought this book and are all excited about starting there greenhouse business growing tropical plants.

Plan to Succeed

Secrets to a successful Greenhouse and Business is written for the beginner or serious home gardener who wants to start a profitable home-based business growing plants in a greenhouse, or for educators looking for specialized classroom projects. It is also valuable text for existing commercial growers, if only to revisit some of the basics from time to time. Divided into 11 sections, Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business will tell you everything you want to know to get started in a greenhouse business. The book covers all major growing systems including hydroponics, organics, and good old-fashioned soil cultivation. It includes a basic plan to build a solar greenhouse, and information on soil and fertilizer mixes, insect and disease control, marketing, and guidelines to organize your greenhouse business. The section on ?Selling, Marketing, and Economics? is especially useful for new comers to greenhouse production. Gone are the days of growing plants on speculation and hoping to find a market before the crop is harvested. The first step in any successful horticulture business is to identify your market, and to grow what the market wants. This section offers some valuable insights into how to go about that. The text explores the marketing process and includes developing sales concepts and marketing strategies, as well as establishing a realistic budget. I can?t think of another text that says it better. There are also special treatments for marketing hydroponic and organic products, as opposed to soil-grown products. The section on ?Greenhouses? is succinct. The author leaves no stone unturned in his endeavor to cover every aspect of greenhouse production. Topics include environmental control, choosing the right greenhouse covering, operating costs and cash flow, ideas to improve your greenhouse, and much, much more. This section also includes a basic solar greenhouse plan, including a detailed inventory of materials (imperial measurements). The section on ?Specialized Projects with Excellent Profit Potential? examines the major soil-less culture growing systems that are used in today?s modern greenhouse, with a focus on greenhouse tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, tropical fruits, and ornamental plants. There is also a special treatment for school greenhouse programs. There are few greenhouse texts that go beyond the hardware of a greenhouse business. This text does. The section on ?Guidelines to Organizing Your Business? is about turning into actions. According to the author, people don?t plan to fail they just fail to plan. In this section, apart from highlighting the need for good planning, the author explains the basic steps for organizing your greenhouse business. These include on sight considerations such as obtaining zoning ordinances and building permits, and types of financing, right down to Workers Compensation. Another section on ?Delivery, Collecting, & Using Computers?, is a pr

This book is Great!

You won't belive all the secrets in this pramatic book.Its so easy to find buyers using their method. Some really good money saving tips about everthing. Not a lot of the same old info on how to grow but the secrets on how to produce top quality plants.

This book saved me ten years!

If you want the best info on greenhouses that was written in this country and is very up to date, this book is for you. Info on hydroponic tomatoes was the latest available (very important). The info on getting customers is the best that I have read. Real good ideas on building a greenhouse and the many extras you can get for this wonderful business. Suggestions on what to grow first for new growers and how many. Even what to say to prospect buyers. A buyers list that has real buyers! Just a great book and will save you many years.