Greenhouse growing is an intensive form of plant production and has the potential for high returns, but crops grown in greenhouses have exacting requirements and the markets have very high quality demand. Most new businesses fail because of a failure to manage the business end of the operation, not the production end. So, if business management experience is an individual weakness, outside assistance should be sought. The technical details necessary for greenhouse growing can be acquired by trial and error, but there is nothing like firsthand experience in greenhouse production to make the venture more successful. Prospective growers with no firsthand experience are encouraged to start small and learn the technical details first, and then expand as experience increases.
Opportunities exist in both retail and wholesale growing.
Generally, retail growing works best if you enjoy working with people and helping them satisfy their needs and wants. Wholesale growing is more feasible if a suitable retail location is unavailable or if you have figured out some way of providing a needed wholesale product and delivering it to your customers. Retail growing and selling directly to the customer is the easiest area to break into at present because growers can obtain higher prices for their products at the retail level. Retail growing requires an area on a paved road which is easy to find and within a reasonably large population center. On average, a population base of about 6,500 people will marginally support one retail greenhouse outlet.