It’s also called the Georgia State Farmers Market, the Atlanta Farmers Market or just the Farmers Market. While it’s not exactly in Buckhead, the 20 minute drive is close enough. You’ll see it has some of the best prices and selection of gardening and landscaping plants in the metro Atlanta area. The Atlanta Farmers market is located right by Hartsfield-Jackson Airport at 16 Forest Pkwy, Forest Park, GA 30297. Just take I-75 south from Buckhead. It’s the second exit south of I-285 and the exit is labeled “Forest Park / Farmer’s Market”. You’ll see the ratty, maroon sign high up in the air. When you get off the exit, make a left on Frontage Rd and an quick right into the garden area of the Farmers Market.
The official website to the Atlanta State Farmer’s Market is really bad. It offers virtually no help to a typical person wanting information about this hidden gem. My goal is to provide information on the landscaping / garden / nursery area. There is a much larger portion dedicated to locally grown food and fresh produce, but it won’t be a focus on this webpage. I also recommend the farmers market for it’s great selection of Christmas trees, garland, etc.. during the Christmas season.
The state Farmers Market is almost always open, so the hours depend on the individual stands. During the Spring and Summer any given stand is usually open around 9-5, but you might want to call down there if you are going at an odd hour or traveling a long distance.
If you would like to mention any of your experiences at the Georgia State Farmers Market or have a stand there, please feel free to make a comment below, or email me. I hoping gardeners can share their experiences as a benefit to the metro Atlanta gardening community, since the official website provides very little information.
If you’re looking for a combination of selection and value for flowers, sod, bushes, plants, trees and other gardening materials, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place than the state farmers market.
The two main reasons I shop at the Farmers Market are selection and price. That doesn’t mean there won’t be occasions you’ll find something at the same price, or cheaper, in Buckhead, but by and large, the Market has a better selection and value than the Buckhead garden and landscape stores.
The employees’ and owners’ landscape and garden knowledge is generally far better than the big box stores, which is almost non-existent, and about the same or less than the Buckhead speciality garden shops such as Hastings or Habersham Gardens. I frequent the speciality gardens shops, the big box stores and the Atlanta Farmers market – all three serve a purpose. When I get valuable information from a speciality garden shop I’ll buy the product there, since I think it’s unfair to utilize their knowledge and then runoff to a cheaper store. A lot of times, you’re just talking about a couple of dollars. I use the Farmers Market when it’s time to install my border mass plantings. If you’re buying a lot of flats, the folks at the Farmers Market will usually give you a discount.
The prices and inventory I have below were from a trip I made on May 12, 2008. Here is a list of the nurseries, florists, landscape and plant markets:
Cooks Pinestraw (404)363-6350 – They were not open the day of my trip. 
Debbies Flowers (Shed 31)- Specializing in tropical plants. She had a great selection and the employee was very helpful. The gallon Hibiscus was $12 and a 10″ hanging fern was $12. For comparison I noticed a gallon Hibiscus at Home Depot was $15 and a 10″ hanging fern at Pikes was $18.00
Bob’s Market & Gardens (Shed 32)- Great general selection of flowers. Specifically very good for petunias, marigolds and begonias. They keep a very large selection, that gives you far more options if you plan on a mass planting of one or two colors for your beds. If you’re buying multiple flats, they’ll negotiate. Most of their bedding flowers were selling for $13 a flat, with 32 plants per flat, which is about $0.41 a plant. I don’t remember the prices at Pikes, I think it was in the same range per plant, but the Famers Market selection will blow the selection of the Buckhead garden supply stores away. Home Depot only had a few petunia colors and barely enough flats for a mailbox planting.
Cut Flowers (Shed 33)- This stand specializes in cut flowers – kept in a walk-in refrigerator. Two-dozen roses were $10.
Silvers-Elbert Nursery (Shed 34)- 404-402-6452 They specialize in Hostas, ferns, daylilies and other ground covers. A great selection of hostas. The owner is knowledgeable and always very helpful. He told me the hours he keeps are generally Tues-Sat 9-5 and Sun-Mon 10-5. There is no point in quoting the hosta prices, since there are so many varieties, but they were selling one gallon Leyland Cypresses for $20.
Fayes (Shed 35)- Lots of shrubs, flowers, and ground covers. A good selection and some knowledgeable folks work here. They were advertising gallon Encore Azaleas for $16, which is not much better than Buckhead, but her selection was very good. Also had a good selection of knock-out roses.
Rivers Plants & Shrubs (Shed 36) 404-361-6952- Diverse selection of plants. Flower, ground covers and some substantial bushes and trees. If you’re interested in fairly large trees and bushes, then this is probably the best stand at the State Farmers Market. The employee wasn’t that helpful, maybe I just caught her on a bad day. They were selling “Steppables”, which is a unique groundcover, for $5. This is not a great price as Pikes was selling them for $5 with a better selection. They were selling 18″ pot, Japanese Maples for $200, which is a great price compared to Pikes at $299.
Super-Sod / Patten Seed (Shed 39)- Lawn Sod, grass seed, fertilizer, trees, shrubs, mulch and pine straw. They will deliver. Very helpful staff that specializes in all kinds of grass like emerald zoysia, bermuda, centipede and fescue. The employees can discuss the type of grass that will best suit your yard and landscaping needs.
The Farmers Market is an easy trip and it’s a great place to explore. You’ll get a lot of great ideas and it’s the best spot for volume plantings. As I mentioned before, in addition to the landscaping, there are all kinds of food and produce items.
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