Should I buy an existing cut flower farm or start one?

Perennials, shrubs and bulbs take time to establish, and customers take time to trust a new grower. That is the heart of the buy-or-start question. This page sets out the trade-offs for a cut flower farm and leaves the decision to you, because it depends on your skills, savings and goals.

What an existing farm may bring

A running farm can come with mature beds, perennial and bulb stock, a cooler, season extension such as tunnels, and tools that already suit the site. It may also bring florist accounts, market stalls and subscribers. Ask what truly transfers. Relationships may follow the person, so find out whether the owner will introduce you and for how long.

What starting on bare ground involves

A new farm lets you choose the layout, varieties, methods and name. It also asks you to prepare soil, build beds, source plants and create a customer base from nothing. Several seasons may pass before the farm settles into a rhythm. Many people work other jobs meanwhile, so consider how long you can wait.

Questions to settle before choosing

• How much growing experience do you have, and how much do you want to learn on the job?
• Can you cover the gap between spending and sales while you wait?
• Do you want to inherit someone else’s methods, brand and customers?
• Is the land available, and on what terms?

The same question for a shop is covered in buying an existing flower shop or opening a new one.