The Coastal Gardener:

Last week, two young ladies met me at the nursery. They wanted to pick my brain about the garden industry. They were considering starting a retail garden center and growing some plants as well — a sort of retail-wholesale business.

One was interested in plants and horticulture. Although having no formal education, she clearly loved gardening. The other was interested in finance and business management.

As I smiled and listened, I thought to myself, “Why would anyone want to open a nursery? A typewriter store or a record store might make more sense.”

I recalled some recent nursery industry headlines:

•Aug. 21, 2008: Hines Nurseries declares bankruptcy. Founded in 1920, it operates seven nurseries, including a well-known location in Irvine, on more than 4,000 acres in four states.

•Dec. 23, 2008: Bordier’s Nursery declares bankruptcy. Founded in 1924, it grows plants on 800 acres, including a large facility over the fence from Hines, on Irvine Boulevard.

•Jan. 22, 2009: Orange County Nursery declares bankruptcy. Founded in 1887, it grows plants on more than 800 acres.

•April 2: Park Seed Co. and Jackson & Perkins declare bankruptcy. Park Seed was founded in 1868, Jackson & Perkins in 1872.

Even though these are all wholesale nurseries, almost every gardener will recognize at least one or two of these once-venerable companies. Each are large, well managed, multi-generation companies, with impeccable reputations and are considered industry leaders.

How many companies do you know, in any industry, that have been in business since 1924 or 1920? Not many. How about since 1887, 1872 or 1868?

Just 10 years ago, Jackson & Perkins was the most-recognized plant brand in the United States. Now, it is struggling to survive, with declining revenues and huge debt.

So why would two smart young women want to start a nursery? In my observation, those who want to get into the garden center business can be divided into four groups:

 Dreamers: This is a big group. They love plants and love the atmosphere at a well-run, well-merchandised garden center. They want serenity in their lives and figure growing and selling plants would be a great way to get it. But almost none of the “dreamers“ ever follow through on their nursery ambition. The reality of operating a garden center eventually becomes known, and the “dreamers“ move on to something else.

 Escapists: The nursery business tends to attract a good number of “escapists.” These are accountants and ex-bankers and the like who buy garden centers they wouldn’t advise anyone else to buy. But, because they know what they are doing, they think they can make it work. Surprisingly, sometimes they do succeed.

 Hobbyists: They get into the industry for a little while, until the work-to-pay ratio takes the fun out of it. Then, their support network of friends and family check out and go back to their real lives. Invariably, they make lots of bad business decisions. Nurseries run by hobbyists can make a big splash for two or three years, but seldom last.

 Landscape contractors: By far the most frequent visitors to the garden center business is this group. Tiring of the hard physical work and boom-or-bust insecurity of contracting, they figure a nice stable garden center might be a good way to go. But because most contractors aren’t good at executing the intricate details and multitasking needed to run a retail business, they usually quickly lose interest, especially when they underestimate such things as capital needs, inventory complexities and most of all, employees.

So my advice to anyone wanting to start a nursery, including the two eager your women last week, is usually the same.

First, get a job at a nursery, even if it’s part time.

Second, spend as much or more time on your business skills and education as on your gardening skills. Gardening skills will get you into the business, but business skills will keep you there.

Third, write a detailed business plan, then have it reviewed critically by an impartial consultant or business expert, not a family friend.

If you decide not to open a nursery, maybe you can open a typewriter or record store instead.

Ask Ron

Question: Being a novice in growing tomatoes, a friend informed me that I could get at least two harvests from one tomato plant by simply removing the old stalks and continuing with watering and feeding. Is this so, and if so, would the second crop be as good as the first?

Lu

Newport Beach

Answer: I don’t understand your friend’s advice. Tomatoes are ever-bearing plants. Once they begin bearing fruit, they continue to do so until the die, usually either of cold weather, disease or pests, or a combination of all three. If a tomato is planted at the right time, watered and fertilized, and given reasonable care, it should produce tomatoes for months. Eventually though it will begin to decline. When this is obvious, it is time to get rid of it rather than attempts to nurse it back to health — it will seldom happen. If there’s still time in the season, you’re better off shelling out the $2 or $3 for a new plant.

ASK RON

your toughest gardening questions, and the expert nursery staff at Roger’s Gardens will come up with an answer. Please include your name, phone number and city, and limit queries to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener@rogersgardens.com, or write to Plant Talk at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.

RON VANDERHOFF is the Nursery Manager at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar.