Plant nurseries are differentiated by the periods they are used for and by plantation layout.
Based on Period Used
- Temporary Nursery – Seeds are planted in a covered area, and once they germinate, the saplings are transferred to the main field. After planting operation in the main field, this nursery is disassembled.
- Permanent Nursery – These nurseries have permanent systems like office space, irrigation systems, fencing, etc.
Based on Plantation Layout
- Horizontal Nursery – Covers the whole land area.
- Vertical Nursery – Plant beds covered in a greenhouse.
Types of Plants and Their Production
While most nursery-grown plants are ornamental, the nursery business also encompasses fruit plants and certain perennial vegetables used in home gardens (e.g., asparagus, rhubarb).
In open fields, nurseries grow decorative trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. On a container field nurseries grow small trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, usually destined for sales in garden centers. Plants may be grown from seeds or plant cuttings.
A nursery is a center for seedling production where seedlings are produced and taken care of until transplantation. The main types of plant nurseries include retail, wholesale, and private nurseries. Retail nurseries sell to the general public; wholesale nurseries sell only to businesses such as other nurseries and commercial gardeners; and private nurries supply the needs of institutions or private estates.
Nursery Bed Utilization
A nursery bed is helpful for vegetable gardeners practicing succession planting, which ensures a steady supply of fresh produce by staggering the planting of seeds. Nursery beds are used for raising stock through vegetative propagation like cuttings of popular, sissoo, and willows.
Types of Nurseries and Their Roles
There are four nursery types:
- Retail nurseries that sell plants and gardening supplies to the public.
- Wholesale nurseries that sell plants in bulk to large clients or businesses.
- Private nurseries that supply plants to a single institutional or private client.
- Propagation nurries that grow plants from cuttings and plant breeding.
Nurseries nurture plants in controlled environments equipped with systems for irrigation and temperature control, and are traditionally built near mountains and water reserves.
Nursery Management
Nursery management involves planning and executing plant cultivation, covering demand analysis, provision of mother blocks, land area and input requirements. Propagation techniques include seeds, cuttings, tissue culture, grafting, and division. Nursies also play a critical role in providing young seedlings that are better equipped to withstand harsh field conditions, leading to improved survival rates and yields. Major nursery diseases include damping off, root rot and leaf spot.
Retail nurseries supply plants ready for landscaping or use in homes or businesses. Wholesale nurseries produce on a contractual basis or offer plants on a first-come, first-served basis. Nurseries ensure optimum conditions for germination, which saves time when raising the next crops, and provide a consistent stock of flowers by maintaining seasonal varieties.