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[SG] Hostas

>From:    MS ROBERTA M BROOKS <ZDST49A@PRODIGY.COM>
>Subject: HOSTAS

Hi Bobbi

>I just got a catalog with tissue culture hostas offered at wholesale.
>
>Good Older varieties - say about 3.50 to 5 dollars a piece offered at
>10 to 25 of each kind

For older plants (older than 5 years) $2.75 would be more appropriate,
older species such as H. sieboldiana ssp etc, the cost should be more in
line with $1.50 or less for things like 'Lancifolia' and 'Gold Standard'.

>QUESTION.... if I were to look for the best buy - would I try to
>purchase a clump of an established, up to size hosta and divide down

Yes. Your business will probably not be that big over night. Divide up some
multiple crown divisions to root and always leave a mother plant. Don't
sell your mother plant below 3 100% divisions. You'll regret it if you run
out. Are you set on selling potted? Did bareroot not enter the equation?

>would I buy the tissue culture, plant this fall
>and dig and pot next spring, summer etc, or would they take yet
>another year to get ready to sell?

Depends on variety. Some are great the first season like 'Tambourine',
'Savannah' and others. The tc nursery also needs to supply health quality
and vigorous roots. I've lost many tc just because they don't grow
well...not anyone's fault really, just attrition -- 'Ming Treasure' and
'Aphrodite' come to mind as more difficult. We did experience some weird
weather, so that is also a factor. If you buy this fall and mulch them over
winter, they should be (most anyway) sellable next spring.

>what would the comparison costs be?

Comparing what to what?

Stephen Nyikos, Shadow Gardens --> Hosta Specialists in Zone  5
Northern Indiana's best corn-fed retail perennials for the shade.
h*@kconline.com
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