Start a Six-Figure, Small-Scale Nursery

[@opreapetru404]

your book about Asimina triloba Pawpaw is probably the most complete today. Heartiest congratulations.

[@PacificGardening]

Drop the link for those pots ❤

[@zprince4120]

I like the slant fence idea. I would put a hook and eye on the posts at a height where I can flip the panels all the way up and out of the way for trimming. Which is a big reason why I like the idea so much

[@amyb5339]

An interesting "in the wild" observation from central Ohio are that the pawpaws I find next to a state scenic river are in groves or groupings ALWAYS with a buckeye tree. Thanks for an informative vlog

[@willbass2869]

Maybe because buckeyes are a "trash" tree with no commercial value, thus there are simply a LOT of them left in woodlands

[@amyb5339]

@@willbass2869 not that I have seen. It just seems to be an uncanny thing. They have pretty fall foliage and their spring blooms are pretty boss.

[@YouareasheepX]

Paw paws are deer food

[@dwinnerishere]

I've purchased several different items from your nursery. The quality of your seed and rooted product has been far superior to any other purchased from other online sources. Worth every penny. Thank you for the Tips and Tricks. Sharing your experience, books, and videos, connects people with your nursery.

[@opreapetru404]

well done ! mr. Blake Cothorn, bravissimo from Romania OP

[@abydosianchulac2]

The slant fence looks interesting. I wonder if you could mess with the deer's depth perception further by replacing the upper/inner third or so of the cattle panels with a smaller mesh, say 2" or 1" square compared to the fencing used here. It could cause a bit of forced perspective that, while crude, might be enough to trick their eyes into thinking it's even deeper than it is.

[@bmilhansen]

Look up 3d fencing for deer. Much cheaper and better aesthetics if done right.

[@MrJimtheRooster]

That's actually exactly the concept with the cattle panels. I was at Blake's a month or so ago. Good friend of mine. Definitely a cool little ingenious trick

[@johnrosier1686]

Good stuff here. Do what works for your operation. Sometimes growers feel like they need to only use certain products or do things a certain way but being innovative to meet the needs of your operation can help to make you profitable.

[@donreinier7281]

For deer I use concrete string with solar insulator posts. I set them randomly with different heights. Just create a zig zag pattern and have never had deer eat/ destroy trees. Easy up and down also

[@lulajohns1883]

Congrats on your sponsor!! Your hard work shows. Thanks for the informative videos. Love them

[@ah-64apache84]

six figure revenue or six figure profit? :-) in farming thats a huge difference!

[@PHNursery]

Both

[@NAndJHomesteading]

@@dungeonmaster6292it is possible to have both…

[@maverick9300]

So 100,000 profit, 900,000 revenue? These things are important. Can we have more specific numbers?

[@Omegawerewolfx]

Milk crates are awesome! People who do not use them simply do not know! I love using milk crates. It makes my life so much easier.

[@nicholasadams6938]

THANK YOU FOREVER. YOU HAVE THE BEST CONTENT AND CHANNEL ON KZbin 🌱🍀🙏🏻🙌🏻

[@whelsdon]

Thankyou Jesse and Blake ! That video was informative and interesting. Keep up the great work !

[@brokenmeats5928]

I love ALL No-Till Growers videos!

[@joydavis4087]

Thank you so much for the Toro drip tape recommendation. I didn’t know they made drip tape.

[@MegaSnail1]

I love your thrifty well thought out tips! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@nicholasbaker8158]

Be careful with cinderblocks, I worked in a greenhouse with this setup and depending on the height of your plants, this can be way too low! If your plants are too low or you need to reach to access them (e.g., watering), you will blow your back out in a season or two from bending over too low and far. Think about the height of a cinderblock turned upright, it is likely less than the height of your knee, and I am relatively short. Despite longevity, saw horses and 2x4s are a much better option and comparable price. However, professional nursery benches that roll help save on a space, last decades, and are easier to clean/store stuff under... although more expensive. Customers also demand pots larger than 2.5"x2.5"x10" in fear of plants being root bound. For such a small pot, they might as well be sold as bareroot. Also, there is markup with using larger pots. However, if you are not selling directly to the consumer, this method does love some meat on the bone for another nursery to repot them.

[@PHNursery]

Yes, I mention that cinderblocks can be stacked up to your height preference. It works well for me how I have it setup. Also, there is almost no weeding or watering work in the nursery so bending over is def minimized. We sell thousands of plants this size every season in the 2.5 x 10 size. Our customers are quite satisfied with the quality and we do measures to prevent root bound plants. We also DO bare-root them in the winter with some orders. Then we can reuse the pot, and this saves money and resources. And yes, they could be sold and repotted to grow out larger. Think of these like giant plugs (horticultural term). Once planted, they explode with growth. I've planted hundreds of these on our farm and can attest to the results. In fact, the entire pawpaw orchard pictured around 2:24 was ALL pawpaws started in this manner in similar sized pots. I can understand concerns, but once you see it in action, this system works awesome.

[@brianbarnicle8052]

Happy to see you getting sponsors on the videos!

[@mcanultymichelle]

Great interview would love to see more like this on these little nurseries

[@ren2ski]

Thanks so much for the video - I love growing trees so perhaps I can venture into this new space on the side and try it out :)

[@CatherineandRob]

Great analysis of the square pots! Especially useful are dimensions you gave (2 and a half inch by 10 inch) which I can translate to metric.

[@cptnd3851]

the deer fence is crazy cool

[@greenmandan]

Heck yeah I'm around lake Cumberland area and would love to order some trees,,thanks for the video my man

[@curtis7044]

This is very inspiring one of my main goals since starting a garden/greenhouse is starting a small scale nursery this is a great system looking forward to the ebook thank you for sharing ❤

[@luzgiraldo2468]

I have found out that applying coffee grounds on top of the planting medium eliminates snails completely. I don´t know why, but snails don´t like the coffee grounds.

[@erinkendallbraun1459]

I am dealing with way too many slugs. Any idea if slugs are repelled by coffee grounds too?

[@luzgiraldo2468]

@@erinkendallbraun1459 Yes they are repelled by coffee grounds. I had an infestation in my nursery and tried a bunch of things. Then I read that coffee grounds could help and tried it. Worked really well. No more slugs and snails.

[@Alex-qf2lb]

As typically low energy creatures, the coffee is hyper stimulating and sends them speed crawling to the next town.

[@h.sinclair]

This was awesome - thanks - I'm ordering things from Blake (figs!) very cool operation what with the cinder block, cattle panel, milk crate setup - genius!! 🔥

[@originalwoolydragon8387]

The pawpaw books is awesome! So much information!

[@opreapetru404]

bravo mr. Blake

[@rachellemazar7374]

Very cool, how he uses the cinder blocks and cattle panels for tables. That deer fence is inspired

[@Sidneybeach875]

That slime is here in SC at my shop. I have no clue what it is, but i know it loves water

[@michaelkidd1065]

"Angel snot"

[@cliffpalermo]

Kentucky slime looks interesting, love the cattle panel table def going to use that idea.

[@deborahfalker5150]

I have that same looking slime in Central Alabama

[@naefaren3515]

Slime molds/fungi are really cool and interesting to me.

[@michaelkidd1065]

This is the cyanobacteria Nostoc aka "Angel snot"

[@ardenthebibliophile]

Great video. @blake what's your favorite variety of fig, blackberry, and raspberry? @jesse, in the case you have a film subject with a handsy talking method please move the microphone a little higher on the collar. I was distracted by his hand slapping noise. I only say this because I know you guys put a ton of effort in and you have a high quality of videos; this is meant to only be the gentlest of constructive criticisms on a well produced and shot video series

[@PHNursery]

Thanks for the question. Hard to say just one, but Fig: Chicago Hardy, Florea, LSU Tiger have done really well for us. Blackberry: Ponca, Prime Ark Traveler, Caddo, Chester. Raspberry: Niwot (Black) and Caroline red have done great!

[@PHNursery]

And sorry for the slapping noise!!! Not used to having a mic on my shirt.

[@ardenthebibliophile]

@@PHNursery all good dude. It'd come off totally natural in regular conversation, just was unfortunate mic placement. Looking forward to the book!

[@katipohl2431]

Highly interesting book, sounds like a must-have.

[@naterussell6025]

another awesome video. blake does have a very interesting operation and i'm definitely intrigued.

[@PHNursery]

Thanks, I appreciate that.

[@michellewelch6013]

Oh my goodness I learned so much! ❤

[@jameshenderson8146]

Great Video! Would love to know where to get those great square pots from?

[@BroadShouldersFarm]

GREAT content! Off to order plants from the website!

[@PHNursery]

Appreciate that!

[@shawneegrows]

Loved this. Full of good information

[@MorningLoud760]

Would you happen to have a video on how you installed your irrigation?

[@simxcenter]

might i recommend tweetmint by safe solutions? first of its kind. labeled as a "pestisafe" trademark pending lol. can be mixed at a strength to not kill beneficials. its enzyme based and works by eating the chitin shell off the insect... desiccating it. works very well. smells amazing too. plus enzymes in the soil help speed up release of nutrients. works better as a preventative as with all things organic, but it will kill on contact major problems if used at a higher strength. id recommend spraying every couple of weeks during the problem months as a preventative to avoid all future issues. just my two cents.

[@GeraldBlack1]

Green slime stuff is Nostoc, has amino acids, vitamin C, and antioxidants yum yum!

[@Roma_Wild]

gratitude

[@TheHoney_Badger]

Thank you for sharing! Blessings!

[@walkaboutjesusradio]

What kind of fertilizer do you use that is organic for root production?

[@PuraVidaFlowerFarm]

So good! Do you have a link for the pots?

[@michaelkidd1065]

Where are the Maypop vines? One of the best tasting Passion fruits in my opinion, and Hardy to our zone 6.

[@craigmatheson2736]

My pest problems are rabbits, mice, nocturnal prairie dogs (voles), and cattle (I live in an open range area). Hummingbirds take care of the aphids (100% IPM).

[@derekmorris7128]

Is this going to be a physical book?

[@sovereignsoul]

Very informative! Thanks!!!

[@MovingBlanketStudio]

So cool.

[@bobg5362]

Do y'all have a recommendation on a place to order those long tree pots? The ones on Evilzon all seem to be poor quality.

[@ethankaufman8577]

I have looked quite a bit and been wholly unable to find Treepots with your described dimensions of 2.5x10" do you mind sharing your supplier?

[@roxmarshall2766]

where do you get these milk crates?

[@zenrockgardens]

How does someone find the markets to sell a specific product(S) such as your figs, if you don't want to sell at roadside places or farmers markets?

[@christopherd.winnan8701]

Do you fatten your own mud crabs in order to have a good supply of crab shells?

[@PHNursery]

Sluggo is a purchased product that works very well

[@christopherd.winnan8701]

@@PHNursery - Are you answering my comment?

[@PHNursery]

@@christopherd.winnan8701 Yes, we do not use crab shells, we use Sluggo for slug control. I though that's what you were referring to.

[@christopherd.winnan8701]

@@PHNursery - Yes, we do not?

[@kytreefarmer]

That's pretty crazy I showed up here in South Central Kentucky with this exact same idea in 2019 and I made it public in 2021 I am an organically certified tree nursery this channel Kentucky tree farmer demonstrates my farm deepwood Glade and the challenges we've had with the local economy and government

[@billyyesreally]

I'm in southern Ohio, where would someone find brown rice hulls in NKY/Southern OH?

[@catejordan7244]

Re the deer fencing. On another channel they build two fences only 4’ high but with a 4’ alley between them. They run there chickens through the alley. For the same depth perception the deer don’t jump in.

[@PHNursery]

Yes, similar concept.

[@steveabell8946]

excellent vid

[@rogercarroll1663]

Did you say nerdery? Cool word.

[@T_157-40]

Blake, I went to your website to subscribe. I entered email etc. but it did NOT confirm if you got my subscription or not??

[@lambsquartersfarm]

Exposure to pyrethroids may interact with genetics via the immune system to increase Parkinson's risk.

[@PHNursery]

Those are the synthetic version of pyrethrins. Not what we use here on the farm, and yes, dangerous.

[@joshua511]

Seems like high quality products, but Holy StarkBros pricing, Batman!

[@PHNursery]

My system is artisan quality hand grown plants with living wage pricing for me and my family.

[@yoyoyohihihidude]

Yeah no one buys greenhouse tables on small scale because it’s way cheaper to build them yourself

[@GSBMxyz]

Peat moss, hopefully you consider using something different in the future.

[@daniellatanswell3990]

FYI that slime is not a plant, it's Nostoc, one of the oldest organism and cyano-bacteria.

[@PHNursery]

Far out

[@michaelkidd1065]

​@@PHNursery"Angel snot"😂

[@patrickcalhoon3512]

That slime looks like “subwassertang”

[@michaelkidd1065]

Things fish keepers say LOL

[@michaellinnebur7694]

Certfied organic means government control. Not always mean safe.

[@ottoihccus]

6:45 they must not be spraying Pyganic because they should be wearing pants and chemical resistant gloves :)

[@PHNursery]

That was not footage from our farm. Not sure what that was.

[@goatsofwar7181]

lost me at sterile.

[@willbass2869]

Peat moss 🥺

[@metasamsara]

That 30% 6x concentrate vinegar got me rofl. That's just 2x concentrate.

[@Blynn-md4dx]

Most vinegar is 5% acidity.

[@metasamsara]

@@Blynn-md4dx 5% * 6 = 30% / 3 = 10% 10% = 5% * 2, it's not complicated.

[@f.demascio1857]

​@@metasamsara They buy 30 - 40% vinegar in that concentration. It exists, but not at your grocery store.

[@joyfool1225]

Where and who buys trees this small for 50bucks?😂 I would guess you get 10 bucks for this size. That's what I've been paying for years.

[@michellellewellyn9971]

That's about what I used to pay, but I tried to buy apple trees last year and they were 30-40 bucks a piece. The ones I wanted were 60 because they're getting hard to find.

[@danphillips4590]

You can buy figs online $15. This guy $60.

[@lagoya]

The important thing is, people are willing to pay $60 (and I’ve seen figs for twice as much) for the right fig. There are so many varieties and unique/unusual ones can be priced quite high.

[@danphillips4590]

@@lagoya yes true. Many ppl dont shop around.

[@lagoya]

I buy cuttings myself… I have time to wait for a plant to grow. And I can happily sell rooted cuttings for $5 all day long. But my retired friend is happy to spend $$$ for a high-quality, mature plant. People like her would be the target demographic for a nursery like this

[@eightysixcommunism2827]

Greed is ugly.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Buy one of each & see which one does better in growth, hardness & longevity. May be surprised a couple years out (get quality).

[@danphillips4590]

Pyganic $185/qt at Arbico, works very well, but $$

[@annekec4666]

At minute 5: That's a mat of cyanobacteria, looks similar to Nostoc. At minute 7: sowbugs will launch themselves into used catfood cans a half full of beer. No need for chemicals.

[@PHNursery]

Thanks for the tips.

[@annekec4666]

@@PHNursery I culled my sowbugs like that 2 years ago, and the population is a lot lower now. My compost has a lot of woody material in it. I also noticed that if I left the sowbugs in the cans for a few days, I started catching millipedes too.

[@erinkendallbraun1459]

Admittedly, I am living in Brooklyn and just growing in a community garden plot, but I grew up in Wisconsin with two grandfathers who were enthusiastic gardeners and consequently have some experience with deer. I have never seen the slant method before (will definitely be passing the idea along to some friends), but I have seen another method that exploits deer's weird sense of what is jump-over-able work well (basically this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX2Xp4tqg8SXr8k). Combining the two methods is likely to provide a relatively cheap, but effective way to keep deer out. Thought I would pass the idea along in case it was helpful. And thank you for sharing your expertise.