GARDENARIUM has reported record sales of its edible varieties in recent weeks with vegetable seedlings and fruit trees flying off the Mount Gambier nursery’s shelves.
While global uncertainty fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact businesses and residents alike, Gardenarium owner and landscape designer Calum Haygarth believes the nursery sector has been hit with its busiest peak season in 25 years.
“For us, it has been like three pre-Christmas periods in one,” Mr Haygarth said.
“In the 25 years I have been in business, I can not think of a time we have been this busy, especially when narrowing it down to the high demand in edible produce.
“We ordered our usual packets of seeds and seedlings for the whole of winter and it was all sold in just a few days.”
Entering their fourth week of “madness”, Mr Haygarth said he thought the seedling saga had overtaken the toilet paper crisis.
“It is business as usual for us, but even people who are non-gardeners are getting into it now so it has been absolutely crazy,” he said.
“It is the regular time for planting vegetables for gardeners, but we now have another wave of people who would not usually garden but are panicking about the cost of vegetables and shortages.
“I actually do not think the whole industry can keep up.”
Mr Haygarth said fortunately Gardenarium had access to an Australian supplier which had adapted and distributed adequate amounts of seedlings and seeds.
“I know a lot of other nurseries have started to dwindle in supplies, but we have been receiving rationed supply through masses of orders,” he said.
“We had 65 pallets of broccoli this week and 60-odd last week and have established a fantastic pre-ordering distribution system which works well with our clients.
“We have also been able to implement deliveries across the region and for those who do not or cannot come into the store, we have been able to organise a click-and-collect option.”
Located on the outskirts of town and based in an open-aired space, Mr Haygarth said the storefront had several advantages compared to an enclosed shop.
“We have not got hundreds of people crammed into the one area of space and are following social distancing restrictions without a problem,” he said.
“People can wander around to look with no problem and in a way, we are one of the few businesses which can still keep going.”
Mr Haygarth said he was pleased to see more people out gardening as it brought many benefits.
“Gardening can be calming, positive and therapeutic which might be exactly what people need during these uncertain times,” he said.
“People seem to be at home more and are looking around at their areas to see what they can do.
“We have also been selling a lot of do-it-yourself items too, so when people are coming in for their seedlings they are picking up three or four other things they have seen along the way.”
Although a challenge at the beginning, Mr Haygarth said he believed Gardenarium was now in a comfortable position to handle the chaos.
“I would imagine it is just going to keep going until things start to settle down,” he said.
“It sounds like South Australia is doing better than some states which gives up hope, but I do not want to speak too soon.
“We are happy for people to continue to support us as we are not like a regular store where we can not switch the lights off and leave.”
