UMass Extension
Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture

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Fact Sheets

Business Management

Resources for Starting a Massachusetts Greenhouse Business

UMass Extension frequently receives inquiries from people interested in starting a greenhouse business. Many people have found that growing plants in a greenhouse provides them with an interesting, rewarding career. However, as in starting any business, the decision to start a greenhouse should be made after you have carefully investigated the potential for successfully starting a greenhouse business in your area. The following information should serve as a guide in helping you make that decision. The information provided is by no means meant to be all-inclusive, but it will, we hope, provide some useful guidelines to help in your decision making.

Deciding Whether To Start A Greenhouse Business

Greenhouse Production Experience

Do you have experience growing plants on a commercial scale? If the answer is no, we strongly urge you first to acquire some experience by working for a commercial grower. Actual field experience will prove invaluable in learning about some of the subtleties of commercial production that cannot be learned by taking courses or reading. It will also help you determine whether you wish to make the additional commitment of time and financial resources that will be required if you decide to start your own business.

Business Experience

Do you have any experience in business management? If not, you should consult local agencies (listed below) that work with small business owners. These agencies can inform you of local regulations for small businesses and provide information on small business accounting and other information needed to start a business in your area.

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center
205 Isenberg School of Management
Amherst, MA 01003-4935
(413) 545-6301

http://msbdc.som.umass.edu/
(In addition, the MSBDC is affiliated with fambiz.com, formerly known as the NetMarquee Family Business NetCenter. Their web page at http://fambiz.com/ includes a library of 300 family business articles.)

Family Business Center
Division of Continuing Education
University of Massachusetts
358 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01003-1650
(413) 545-1537

Labor

What is the current availability of labor in your area? Local greenhouse businesses or the Massachusetts Flower Growers Association are good sources of information on the availability of labor and alternative sources of local labor.

Choice of Crop and Marketing

Once you have a greenhouse structure, you must develop a detailed cropping schedule that you will use. One way of deciding what to grow is by determining what types of crops are currently being grown in the area. Another is to talk with wholesale buyers to get a feeling for the market. Many factors will determine your choice of crop inventory and how you should most effectively market your crops. These factors may include: The radius of your market (how far you wish to sell your materials), your market clientele and local supply and demand for specific crops.

Sources Of Information From UMass Extension

The following Extension Specialists, services and educational resource materials are provided to you by University of Massachusetts Extension’s Floriculture Program. This program is supported by a network of faculty at the University and nationwide to provide research results and information on environmentally safe production practices. Educational activities include newsletters, training programs, diagnostic services, research, and partnership with the Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association.

The Floriculture Staff

The Floriculture Staff consists of two Extension field staff with University support staff in production, post-harvest physiology, plant nutrition, pathology, entomology, biological control, and integrated pest management. For names, addresses and responsibilities of the Extension Floriculture Staff, click on the following link: Meet the Floriculture Team!

Greenhouse Publications

The following titles are available from the UMass Extension Bulletin Distribution Center:

  • Energy Conservation for Commercial Greenhouses
  • Greenhouse Engineering
  • Water and Nutrient Management for Greenhouses
  • On-Farm Composting Handbook
  • A Guide to Insects and Related Pests of Floriculture Crops in New England
  • New England Greenhouse Floricultural Recommendations; A Management Guide for Insects, Diseases, Weeds and Growth Regulators 2004-2005

For descriptions of these and other floriculture publications, prices, order numbers and a printable order form, click here for a link to the UMass Extension Bookstore.

Web Site

This Web Site is an educational resource provided by the University of Massachusetts Extension’s Floriculture Program. For more information, return to our Home Page. There you will find links to:

  • Fact Sheets on Topics of Interest to Commercial Flower Growers: Production of Specific Crops, Greenhouse Management, Insects and Diseases (and their control)
  • Educational Programs/Calendar of Events
  • Links to other Web Sites of interest to growersGuidelines for sending soil samples for soil testing
  • Guidelines for sending plant samples for disease diagnosis
  • Floral Notes, a bimonthly newsletter for commercial flower growers which provides research-based information pertinent to Massachusetts.

Other Resources

Partial List of Greenhouse Supply Companies

Partial List of Suppliers of IPM/Biological Control Products

Trade Magazines

  • GM PRO/Greenhouse Management and Production, (Subscription Dept., PO Box 1869, Fort Worth, TX 76101) Tel: 800-434-6776
  • Greenhouse Grower, Meister Publishing Company,
    37841 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094-5992
  • Grower Talks/ Green Profit, Subscription Dept., PO Box 9,
    335 North River St. Batavia, IL 60510-0099

Reference Books of Interest to Commercial Flower Growers

Ball Culture Guide, The Encyclopedia of Seed Germination. Jim Nau. 1993.
Ball Field Guide to Diseases of Greenhouse Ornamentals. Margery Daughtrey and A.R. Chase. 1992
Ball Guide to Identification of Greenhouse Pests and Beneficials. Stanton Gill and John Sanderson. 1998.
Ball Perennial Manual: Propagation and Production. Jim Nau. 1996.
Ball Pest and Disease Manual, 2nd edition Charles C. Powell and Richard K. Lindquist. 1997.
Ball Redbook, 16th edition. 1998.
(All publications listed above available from Ball Publishing, 1 North River Lane, Suite 206, Geneva, IL 60134-0532 )

Bedding Plants IV, A Manual on the Culture of Bedding Plants as a Greenhouse Crop. E. Jay Holcomb. 1994. Sponsored by Pennsylvania Flower Growers, Grower Talks Bookshelf, 335 North River Street, Box 9, Batavia, IL 60510 Tel: 800-456-0132

The Biology of Glasshouse Pests and Their Natural Enemies-Knowing and Recognizing. M. Malais and W.J. Ravensberg.1992. Koppert Biological Systems, PO Box 155, 2650 AD Berkel In Rodenrijs, The Netherlands

Biological Pest Management for Interior Plantscapes, 2nd edition. 1987. Alberta Public Affairs Bureau, Publications Services, 11510 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton AB Canada T5G 2Y5

The Commercial Greenhouse, 1998. 2nd edition, James W. Boodley. Delmar Publishing, 3 Columbia Circle, PO Box 15015, Albany, NY 12212-5015

Compendium of Flowering Potted Plant Diseases. 1995. APS Press, The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097 Tel: 800-328-7560

Compendium of Rose Diseases. APS Press, The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097 Tel: 800-328-7560

C02 Enrichment in the Greenhouse. Peter R. Hicklenton. 1988, Timber Press, Inc., 9999 S.W. Wilshire, Portland, OR 97225

Diseases of Annuals and Perennials, A Ball Guide. A.R. Chase, Margery Daughtrey and Gary W. Simone. 1995. Ball Publishing, 1 North River Lane, Suite 206, Geneva, IL 60134-0532

Diseases of Floral Crops, Vol. 1&2. 1985. David L. Strider. Praeger Publishers, 521 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10175

Easter and Hybrid Lily Production William B. Miller. Timber Press, Inc., 9999 S.W. Wilshire, Portland, OR 97225

Foliage Plant Diseases - Diagnosis and Control. 1997. A.R. Chase, APS Press, The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097 Tel: 800-328-7560 

Field Grown Cut Flowers: A Practical Guide and Sourcebook. Alan Stevens 1997. Grower Talks Bookshelf, 335 North River Street, Box 9 Batavia, IL 60510 Tel: 800-456-0132

Fundamentals of Pesticides, A Self-Instruction Guide 3rd edition, George W. Ware. Thompson Publications, PO Box 9335, Fresno, CA 93791

Geraniums IV. John W. White. 1993, Ball Publishing, 1 North River Lane, Suite 206, Geneva, IL 60134-0532

Gerbera Production Douglas A. Bailey. Timber Press, Inc., 9999 S.W. Wilshire, Portland, OR 97225

Greenhouse Engineering. NRAE-33 John W. Bartok and Robert A. Aldrich. 1994. NRAES,152 Riley Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-5701 Tel: 607-255-7654

The Greenhouse Environment: The Effect of Environmental Factors on Flower Crops. W. J. Mastalerz. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY 10016

Greenhouses-Advanced Technology for Protected Horticulture. Joe J. Hanan. 1997. CRC Press, 2000 Corporate Blvd., N.W., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Greenhouse Management: A Guide to Structures, Environmental Control, Materials Handling, Crop Programming and Business Analysis. Robert W. Langhans. Halcyon Press of Ithaca, 111 Halcyon Hill Road, Ithaca, NY 14850

Greenhouse Operation and Management. Paul Nelson. 1998. Grower Talks Bookshelf, 335 North River Street, Box 9, Batavia, IL 60510 Tel: 800-456-0132

Grower Talks on Plugs II, 1996. Ball Publishing, 1 North River Lane, Geneva, IL 60134-0532

A Guide to Insects and Related Pests of Floricultural Crops in New England. A.G. Gentile and Donna T. Scanlon. Revised by Tina M. Smith, 1992. Extension Bookstore

Holland Bulb Forcer’s Guide, 5th edition. August A. De Hertogh.1996. Ball Publishing, 1 North River Lane, Suite 206, Geneva, IL 60134

Hydrangea Production Douglas A. Bailey. Timber Press, Inc., 9999 S.W. Wilshire, Portland, OR 97225

Introduction to Floriculture, 2nd edition. Roy A. Larson. 1992. Grower Talks Bookshelf, 335 North River Street, Box 9, Batavia, IL 60510 Tel: 800-456-0132

Managing Diseases in Greenhouse Crops. William R. Jarvis, 1992. APS Press, The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097 Tel: 800-328-7560

New Guinea Impatiens. Warren Banneer and Michael Klopmeyer. Ball Publishing,1 North River Lane, Suite 206, Geneva, IL 60134-0532

The Ohio State University Series: Tips on Growing Poinsettias, Potted Easter Lilies, Potted Perennials and Biennials, Potted Chrysanthemums, Zonal Geraniums, Growing and Marketing Hanging Baskets, Use of Chemical Growth Regulators, Specialty Potted Crops. Ohio Florist Association Services, Inc., 2130 Stella Court, Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43215-1033 Tel: 614-487-1117

The Peony. A. Harding 1993. Timber Press, Inc., 9999 S.W. Wilshire, Portland, OR 97225

The Physiology of Flower Bulbs. 1993. Elsevier Science Publishers, B.V. Molenwerf 1, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amersterdam, The Netherlands

Poinsettias, New England Integrated Pest Management Scouting Guide. Leanne Pundt 1997. University of Connecticut, Office of Communications, U-35, 1376 Storrs Rd., Storrs, CT 06269-4035

The Poinsettia Manual, 3rd edition. Paul Ecke Jr., O.A. Matkin, and David E. Hartley 1990. Ecke Poinsettia Ranch, PO Box 230488, Encinitas CA 92023-0488 Tel: 800-468-3253

Production of Florist Azaleas. Roy A. Larson. Timber Press, Inc., 9999 S.W. Wilshire, Portland, OR 97225

Specialty Cut Flowers: The Production of Annuals,Perennials, Bulbs and Woody Plants. A.M. Armitage 1993. Timber Press/Varsity Press,133 SW Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204

Suppliers of Beneficial Organisms in North America. C. D. Hunter. 1997. One free copy per request from: California EPA, Department of Pesticide Regulation,Environmental Monitoring and Pest Managment Branch, 1020 North Street, Room 161, Sacramento, CA 95814-5624

Professional Organizations

Pesticide Application Education/Training
Pesticide Education Program
Natalia Clifton, UMass Extension
Tel: 413-545-1044

Licensing/Exam Information
Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture
Pesticide Bureau,
100 Cambridge Street, 21st Floor
Boston, MA 02202
Tel: 617-626-1785

Web Sites of Interest

_________________________

Prepared by Tina M. Smith &
Paul Lopes,
Extension Floriculture Program
Dept. of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences,
University of Massachusetts

Updated 10/08

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