For 2011, garden centers hail the kale

Based on a survey of some 100 garden centers nationwide, the lion’s share of retailers plan to maintain a status quo with regards to fall plant purchasing. However, there should be a spike in spending on two plant groups in particular.

Ornamental cabbage/kale should take the largest upward tick, as 43.1 percent of the retailers responding said they would increase spending on these plants by 10 percent over their 2010 purchases.

Garden mums also drew a big green thumb’s up from the retailers, as 41.1 percent of those responding noted they plan to increase buying by 10 percent over their 2010 purchasing numbers.

Meanwhile, the same retailers noted their biggest spending cuts will be on ornamental peppers and poinsettias, as 37.5 percent and 34.6 percent, repectively, said they plan to curtail spending by 10 percent on those plants. Cyclamen sales also could take a hit, as 28.6 percent of the respondents said they plan to decrease their purchases of the plants by 10 percent.

Curiously, peppers made both lists, as did mums., suggesting some plants’ success might  be regionally driven.

Yale Youngblood is editor and publisher of Garden Center Magazine, yyoungblood@giemedia.com.