Dreaminofthetropics

You'll have to keep us updated on how you do. I've been trying to get to the market to sell plants but have had too much going on! BAHIA HONDA I'M SOOO JEALOUS!!! I haven't been in about a year and a half and used to go there and camp twice a year! Take some pictures for me! Have you thought of making a small handout that just describes the different bananas and tastes/uses? I don't think it would be that expensive and people could read/learn/educate themselves at your booth and then possibly buy more!

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Kat

Check out my website
http://www.ilovemyplants.com

Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.
Bill Gates

Nicolas Naranja

At a market what would be a good price to sell potted bananas.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

oakshadows

Check the local nurseries and see what they charge for similar plants. We hope to expand our income a bit with potted plants, both fruiting and ornamental. If you can afford to keep the price 20% lower you may enjoy a jump in sales. Of course, I believe if you can get them to try your fruit the sale of potted will probably increase. As mentioned it is good to educate your buyers since many think that they can't grow and harvest fruit. Good luck and hope to get down your way sometime.

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"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

Nicolas Naranja

I figure before the farm comes to an end I might want to harvest a whole bunch of small suckers and peepers. With 2000 mats I obviously have a pile of them.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

Dreaminofthetropics

Well here they go from 7.00 up to 20.00 normally for a 3 gallon plant between 2ft and 5ft. These are of course unnamed varieties and I have learned selling here locally that 90% of people don't care what named variety it is all they want to know is will it make "bananas" Just my experience. However when selling online you find more collectors who will pay more for named varieties.

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Kat

Check out my website
http://www.ilovemyplants.com

Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana.
Bill Gates

momoese

I sell rooted potted pups here in LA on Craigslist for $20 each.

trebor

Home Depot and Lowes as well as WallMart sell DC on a regular basis for as low as 6.99 . I just this week went to all three stores and looked at prices . I’ve seen other varieties in these retailers but not to often. There are a few nursery’s here locally Ft Lauderdale area that sell Musa. I saw a 8 foot plant being sold for $135.00. When I asked about the name I was told “it’s a banana” I think there is a industry standard as far as pricing goes and Going Bananas has a great price list online.. But who am I amyway!
Ive worked retail shows for well over 30 years . Yes Im an old guy .. What you do at a temporary retail show is different than a concrete store or a online store. Mostly people just shop for price! And when some one at your plants, your rather large price tag will tell them the amount it is selling for . YES LABLE YOUR ITEMS Use a stake in the pot that you can remove but make sure the price is visible .
Remember
“these plants grow fast”
“Best in full sun but not necessary”
“All living things need water”
“Buy this one and a year from now you will have up to $40 dollars worth of bananas”
Use your hand and show them how tall the plant gets “smile”

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If ya can't eat it, it ain't growing in my back yard !

oakshadows

And potting them at site using that good soil you enriched should be super for the pups and not having to pay for potting soil works out good also. As with any business, honesty is paramount. Build your business on trust and it could become of great value to you. Good luck.

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"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

Nicolas Naranja

I'd need more than my hands to describe Kandrian. I guess I could just point to a nearby power pole

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

trebor

LIGHT POLL !Well guess I never thought of that
But I’d bet that the reason the retail stores sell small plants is because thats what the buying public want’s …OR… that’s the one that produces lots of pups …or…. some one is pumping out the TC at alarming cheap rates

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If ya can't eat it, it ain't growing in my back yard !

Nicolas Naranja

So, I've gotten a little more involved in marketing. From left to right
Plantain, Hua Moa, Fwang Tung Carambola, Nam Wah, Goldfingers. I had a group of 10 white tweenage girls buy 2 Hua Moas each from me. Most unusual group of customers I had all day.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

Nicolas Naranja

This past week was good. I sold many plantains. This was at 8:30AM and I had already sold 20 bunches.



By 11:45 things had definitely thinned out. By the end at 1 I had sold out completely.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

bigdog

Well, I might have a couple of suggestions for you as far as the marketing aspect goes. My girlfriend and I attend arts and craft fairs on a regular basis (my girlfriend makes wire jewelry) as vendors. Obviously you are selling them pretty well now, so you probably don't NEED to market your tent/display much better than you are now, but here's what I would do:

Full length tableskirts looks awesome. We bought some royal blue fabric from a fabric store, and hired a seamstress to make them for us. They are a real eye-catcher!

Upgrade (eventually) to a better-quality tent. What you have now works fine, but you're going to want a better-quality tent one day soon. Also, you're going to definitely want some anchors for that tent in the event of a very windy day! We bought four buckets from Lowes and filled them half full with concrete and sunk an eye hook into the concrete. Then just bungee them to the tent frame. Watch everybody else's tent blow away while you sit there and smile, knowing yours is going nowhere.

Place some of your bananas on an elevated pedestal. It just gives your presentation some depth.

I like the free samples. So does everyone else!

It looks like this is something that you are serious about. Presentation and marketing are very important to attract people to your tent! Think about getting a sign company to make a nice banner for you. Nothing wrong with the one you have now, but maybe consider a logo, some script writing, some secondary smaller writing underneath the company name stating where you are located, etc.

Most of all, have fun with it! It looks like you really are already, so congratulations!

Nicolas Naranja

The sign is actually a requirement of the market. Business name with green letters on a yellow background. Everyone has the same sign. You can't see in the picture, but the tent does actually have 25lb leg weights. We've had some strong winds and it didn't budge. I'd actually like to get something better for the table covers because my number one problem is the wind blowing the cover up and covering up my product. The tent itself sucks bad, but it works fine. A friend of mine owes me some graphic design work for doing a bunch of translation so things may look different next year.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

oakshadows

Looking good Nick, not sure if we will do any selling of bananas but intend to sell plants of different sizes. Walmart just got in some potted bananas, about 10 to 12 inches and are going for $8 each. I picked up an Ice Cream and it is going good so far. They had several other varities also. Good luck with your venture and your new spot looks great also.

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"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

Nicolas Naranja

I had some diversity this past week. FHIA 18, Nam Wah, Mysore, Raja Puri, Morado and though it can't be seen Hua Moa and Platano Macho.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

GreenFin

That's just awesome

I daydream about someday having a homegrown selection like that on my kitchen counter

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Set out runnin', but I'll take my time; a friend of bananas is a friend of mine.

www.GreenFinGardens.com

oakshadows

Nice looking variety. Do your customers buy by the variety or just by what is available? If only I were closer. We are hoping to have a nice harvest this season and forever after. Wish me luck as we are just one zone above you the temps make the difference. Hoping all goes as you want and business increases.

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"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

Nicolas Naranja

The Nam Wahs and the Hawaiians have a dedicated following. The goldfinger types have a following as well, but not as dedicated.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

john_ny

Thought it might be good if you posted the address of the market, and the days/hours of operation, in case any members were in the area, and would like to stop by.

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John