CIT Plant Sale this weekend

The annual CIT Plant Sale is on again and CIT Horticulture and Floristry staff and students are excited to take part in this great event.

Horticulture teacher Jacqueline Jenkins said over 2,600 plants are available for sale. "The Plant Sale gives students a taste of retail horticulture. We all work together as a team. The aim is for students to expand their knowledge and rise to the challenge of a busy, sometimes demanding, situation."

"I want students to feel a sense of accomplishment as they watch plants they have propagated during the year being sold and heading off to people’s gardens," Jacqueline said.

The Plant Sale is a very popular event on CIT's calendar, with hundreds of eager gardeners expected to attend, even with current COVID-19 restrictions.

Part of the Plant Sale's popularity is the quality of plants available Jacqueline said. 'We have various staples such as Correas, Choisyas, Rock Roses, assorted trees, tomatoes, and herbs. In addition, we try to incorporate more unusual plants. Keen gardeners relish the opportunity to come to our sale and buy up big for their gardens."

Horticulture Certificate III (AHC30716) student Michelle Zirkzee has been busy preparing. "It is a lot more than just sticking plants on tables. The plants need to be a certain minimum size, in good health and with no weeds. Propagation of the plants starts a year before the sale. Some of the trees were grafted a year ago." Michelle's favourite part of the process has been seeing the plants at different stages of growth, and the explosion of flowers in Spring. "So many plants are in bloom at this time of the year. The sights and the smells are just delicious."

The CIT Plant Sale will be held at CIT Bruce from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm Saturday 14 November.