How to Find Spring Plant Sales

In all likelihood there are wonderful, inexpensive plant sales happening near you this spring. Good places to check are your Native Plant Society, Master Gardeners Association, local botanical garden, farmers market, nurseries, and local farms.

If you live in the Greenville, SC area, here are some of the great places you can get plants this season (apologies that the Upstate SC Native Plant Society sale has passed, but they host another one in the fall). I’ve posted them chronologically:

Photo Caption: Master Gardeners pot up specimens from their own yards so you never know what you'll find at their plant sale. Prices start at $1.00!

 

225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29607
Saturday, April 16th, 8am – 11am

Want to do some landscaping on a shoestring budget or snap up a rare specimen? Master Gardeners pot up extras from their own gardens so the selection is unpredictable and delightful. The prices are right too — they start at $1.00! All the proceeds from this event go to fund MG projects such as the Roper Mountain Science Center Butterfly & Heritage gardens, the Project Host vegetable garden connected to the soup kitchen, and the downtown Linky Stone Park Children’s Garden.

Photo Caption: Greenbrier Farms has the best selection of organic heirloom veggie transplants

 

772 Hester Store Rd, Easley, SC 29640
Saturday, April 23rd 9am – 2pm

I don’t know of another public source for organic veggie transplants in the upstate and this one has a great selection (of healthy, ample-sized seedlings)… if you get there early! They’re almost guaranteed to sell out so make sure you’re an early bird. Even if you get there late the farm tour and hayrides are well worth the trip.

Photo Caption: A booth at the Greenville State Farmers Market Plant & Flower Festival

 

Piedmont Plant & Flower Festival
Greenville State Farmers Market
1354 Rutherford Rd., Greenville, S.C. 29609
April 28 – May 1, 2011
Thursday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

I like the farmers market plant sale because there are so many different vendor booths and types of plants sold. You can get everything from heirloom veggie transplants to the latest hybrid bedding petunia. I particularly like the selection of herbs and native plants — the prices are very competitive!

Note: Whichever sale you visit, it helps to have your own rolling cart or wagon. Some places provide a few but the demand for them exceeds supply. Otherwise, you’ll be that person juggling an armful of pots all the way to your car. Bring cash & checks, they rarely take plastic!

Eliza Lord

I'm a Greenville, SC native (the Appalachian foothills) who wears the hats of Greenville Master Gardener & Upstate Master Naturalist. I love to write about food and sustainability.

15 thoughts on “How to Find Spring Plant Sales”

  1. Joyce @friendsdriftinn
    Twitter: friendsdriftinn
    - April 14, 2011 10:24 am

    Lexington KY Farmers Market is open on Saturday downtown, and Sundays at Southland. Southland had wonderful selection of garden plants and herbs this weekend…including many heirloom varieties.

    1. Sustainahillbilly
      Twitter: appalachianfeet
      - May 8, 2011 7:48 pm

      Thanks for passing this info along!
      Sustainahillbilly´s last blog post ..How to Feel Inspired by an Urban Farm

  2. Curbstone Valley Farm - April 14, 2011 10:26 am

    It’s funny, I have a problem this time of year where the plant sales seem to find me! The greatest challenge is finding the time for them all! 😉
    Curbstone Valley Farm´s last blog post ..Living as Guests in Nature’s Garden

    1. Sustainahillbilly
      Twitter: appalachianfeet
      - May 8, 2011 8:04 pm

      I have discovered the trick is to be too busy for any of them! But I really love plant sales — I did go to the farmer’s market one this year (and a lot of nurseries). I can’t find any lemon verbena or Vietnamese coriander. Also, herbs sure are more expensive now than when I first started gardening.
      Sustainahillbilly´s last blog post ..How to Feel Inspired by an Urban Farm

  3. Patricia - April 14, 2011 11:57 am

    OHHHHH, plant sales. Be still my beating heart. Walking into them is like walking into a candy store. I like to try at least one new vegetable each summer. This time of year also brings gift plants from fellow gardeners who got carried away with their seed purchases and are looking for home to adopt all their germinating seeds. Maybe we need rescue shelters for seedlings??
    Patricia´s last blog post ..I Am a Recipient – Gifts from Friends

    1. Sustainahillbilly
      Twitter: appalachianfeet
      - April 14, 2011 12:16 pm

      I think I need an entire rescue warehouse for mine… :)
      Sustainahillbilly´s last blog post ..How to Find Spring Plant Sales

  4. Karin/Southern Meadows - April 14, 2011 4:38 pm

    Heading over to Clemson tomorrow for the plant sale put on by the Horticulture students (my daughter being one of them). It is a fundraiser for their department. It is a dangerous time of year with all the plants sales. I just planted 35 new (mostly native) plants in my garden Sunday that I purchased at my Master Gardner Spring Expo. Happy planting!
    Karin/Southern Meadows´s last blog post ..Callaway Gardens Part IV- Birds of Prey

    1. Sustainahillbilly
      Twitter: appalachianfeet
      - May 8, 2011 8:05 pm

      Wish I could have gone to that one, maybe I’ll get over there next year!

  5. Mark Willis
    Twitter: marksvegplot
    - April 14, 2011 4:43 pm

    I wish these were near me…
    Mark Willis´s last blog post ..Peas and Beans

    1. Sustainahillbilly
      Twitter: appalachianfeet
      - May 8, 2011 8:05 pm

      Me too, because then you’d live near me and I could invite myself over for dinner…
      Sustainahillbilly´s last blog post ..How to Feel Inspired by an Urban Farm

  6. Donn - April 14, 2011 6:26 pm

    I am jealous. Our garden stores are not even open yet and it will be a while before the plant sales. LOL.
    Donn´s last blog post ..Eying Up the Iris – April GBBD Magazine Pg 35-38

    1. Sustainahillbilly
      Twitter: appalachianfeet
      - May 8, 2011 8:06 pm

      How about now? I’m so sorry you have to wait!

  7. FreshGreenKim
    Twitter: FreshGreenKim
    - April 18, 2011 10:02 am

    Congratulations! I’ve awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award, pick up the badge at this post!

    http://ourdailygreenlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/versatile-blogger-award.html

    1. Sustainahillbilly
      Twitter: appalachianfeet
      - May 8, 2011 8:06 pm

      Thanks! That is super duper. :) I hope you award it to yourself as well. :)
      Sustainahillbilly´s last blog post ..How to Feel Inspired by an Urban Farm

  8. Haley - June 2, 2011 10:23 pm

    I wish I have time to do this.I’m so busy now
    Haley´s last blog post ..HDB refinancing home loans

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