WHITEVILLE, NC — Southeastern Community College will host its second annual Spring Plant Sale on April 1–2, offering a wide variety of student‑grown vegetables, flowers, and hanging baskets at the campus greenhouse. The sale runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days, with all proceeds supporting students in SCC’s Agribusiness Technology program.
Agribusiness instructor Dawn Hinshaw said every plant available at the sale has been grown and cared for by SCC students. Preparations began in the fall, when students started cuttings, divided ferns, and planted seeds for the varieties that will be ready for purchase on April 1.
This year’s inventory includes petunias, begonias, dahlias, hanging baskets, squash, peppers, cantaloupe, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, and more—similar to what shoppers would find at traditional garden centers, but at prices Hinshaw says are hard to beat. Hanging baskets will be $12, and geraniums will be $5, with all funds reinvested into student learning.
Hinshaw said the sale is one of her favorite times of year because of the visible growth in the greenhouse and the excitement from the community. She also encouraged early‑season buyers to be mindful of weather conditions, noting that frost is still possible in early April. Buying directly from SCC’s greenhouse gives customers the chance to ask questions and receive guidance from knowledgeable students and staff.
She also shared a practical tip from last year’s shoppers: line your trunk or back seat with inexpensive shower curtains to catch loose soil or water. Students and staff will be available to help load purchases into vehicles.
Hands‑On Learning for Students
Working in the greenhouse provides Agribusiness Technology students with hands‑on experience in plant production, teamwork, and problem‑solving. Hinshaw said this year’s class also discussed how tariffs and policy changes affect agriculture. Typically, she purchases plant plugs from a Canadian supplier, but this year she sourced materials from a North Carolina company instead—an adjustment that became a real‑world lesson for students.
More Sale Dates Coming
After the April 1–2 event, the greenhouse will reopen on April 21 from 3–5 p.m., with additional sale dates announced on SCC’s social media as long as inventory remains available through the end of the semester.
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