Trying to make some money for my kids

@cpefley (1926)
San Jose, California
July 12, 2018 6:58pm CST
So after all my rent and bills are paid, I don't have much left. That can be tough when you have 6 children (4 at home). Even though my older two are gone, my daughter is headed to Stanford and I still need to help her with expenses. Right now I'm sweating my 5 year old daughter's birthday and back to school expenses. My daughter will be 6 next Friday, and I have kids going to school next month so I'm looking for ways to make money. I have tons of apps on my phone that make small amounts of money, but I'm trying something else that doesn't involve the internet: plants. I never had much of a green thumb until recently. I guess patience comes with age and I realize that there is a lot that goes into gardening besides just planting seeds and watering them. I have grown a bunch of seedlings and was thinking about selling them for $1-$2 on Facebook. What do you think? Is $1 or $2 for a cucumber or watermelon seedling fair?
18 people like this
16 responses
@1hopefulman (45125)
• Canada
13 Jul 18
Since the quality of your plants is unknown to the buyers, much would depend on prices of competitors. Once people come to appreciate the quality of your plants then they would be wiling to pay more. That is my opinion.
4 people like this
@1hopefulman (45125)
• Canada
13 Jul 18
@kepweng Yes, I change things from time to time.
2 people like this
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 18
Very useful information. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you! :)
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45125)
• Canada
15 Jul 18
@cpefley You are most welcome. I hope you do well!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
13 Jul 18
The best thing to do is probably to research prices of such things at your local garden centres, convenience stores, gas stations, roadside stalls - anywhere which might be selling seedlings such as you have. Judging by prices here in the UK, I'd say that a dollar or two would be reasonable. Your biggest expense is probably going to be the individual pots to grow and sell the seedlings in but you can make these out of newspaper (see the link below) and they can be planted right in the ground in the pots. Let the seedlings get to their first or second leaf stage before selling them and, of course, keep them well watered and healthy looking.
Instead of buying expensive peat pots to plant your seeds in, make these spiffy planting pots by rolling recycled newspaper around a glass or jar. The finish...
3 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
14 Jul 18
@cpefley There are several different methods of making pots out of newspaper. I suggest that you watch a bunch of them and find the one which suits you best. $1 for 10 plants seems very cheap to me. I think you might want to charge at least two or three dollars for 10 plants, especially if you're buying the seeds, but, as I said, its a good idea to research your market. I see a lot of tomato seedlings here (grown to about 4" to 6" tall) and I guess that eggplants, capsicums and chili peppers would do well out of doors in California. I've never seen an eggplant in the stores that has seed in, so I guess you'd have to buy those, but chili peppers can certainly be grown from last year's ripe pods. Don't forget herbs, too! Who doesn't need a little pot of fresh parsley, thyme, chives or basil on their kitchen windowsill?
1 person likes this
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 18
I bought about 10 little biodegradable pots of seedlings for about $1. I think that is cheaper than buying permanent posts since they will need to be re-potted anyway. I am going to try that newspaper pot though! That is so cool! Thank you!
3 people like this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
13 Jul 18
Look, whatever you can do to make some extra money, go for it. I know nothing about planting. I get my vegetables at the supermarket. LOL. I am slo looking for ways to earn some extra bucks offline. It is not easy in this climate right now.
3 people like this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
16 Jul 18
@cpefley Well, I am sorry to hear that. I thought about doing videos on Youtube. But then I think why should I. There has to be something else I can do to make ends meet.
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 18
It is very hot where I live. It has killed some plants. I have a big bell pepper plant that a bunch of caterpillars feasted on too. It isn't easy. I wish I had a huge backyard and I could plant hundreds of plants.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36189)
• Toccoa, Georgia
13 Jul 18
I think that is a fair price. Good luck with it.
1 person likes this
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 18
Thank you!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
13 Jul 18
I don’t know much about the pricing of small plants, nor the climate where you live. It would be too late in the season to plant them here. I wish you good luck!
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
14 Jul 18
@cpefley Connecticut
1 person likes this
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 18
Where are you at? I am in California.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (93280)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13 Jul 18
The price of $1 or $2 to sell cucumber is a good deal since most of us are looking for bargains.
2 people like this
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 18
Thank you! :)
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (93280)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
14 Jul 18
@cpefley You are welcome.
@GardenGerty (156813)
• United States
13 Jul 18
I have heard of people being successful with this. I just wonder if the garden season is long enough.
1 person likes this
@maezee (42003)
• United States
17 Jul 18
I think the Facebook sales is a good idea. I have been in a couple of selling groups where I have gotten rid of clothes, books, dvds and other things that way. Best of luck to you.
• United States
13 Jul 18
I see these for sale, people do buy them. Have you had a garage sale? My neighbor has one a lot, she sells clothes , shoes and other things does quite well. Her kids collect cans for recycling. The kids who can work have fast food jobs, to help with expensive.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
13 Jul 18
I have no idea about the pricing of seedlings, but I wish you well.
@responsiveme (22932)
• India
13 Jul 18
I do not know the usual cost but I hope you do get to sell your plants fast
1 person likes this
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
14 Jul 18
Thank you!
1 person likes this
@Icydoll (36725)
• India
13 Jul 18
Selling plants is good idea..good luck with that... Happy birthday to your daughter
@Courage7 (19635)
• United States
13 Jul 18
Ugh money..there is never enough. I wish you the best Colene.
@Jessabuma (31706)
• Baguio, Philippines
13 Jul 18
I think it's a good deal. Good luck to you..
@marguicha (213823)
• Chile
13 Jul 18
I don´t know th price in the US. But I think that if you can sell plants, then it is a good idea.
@simplfred (20614)
• Philippines
13 Jul 18
Happy birthdays to your daughter! Yah, even me don't know what to do sometimes with expenses.