Paul Kennett was just 14 when he started as a Saturday boy at the Meadow Grange Nursery at Blean.
But he went on to take over the business and run it for the next 53 years.
Paul and his team grow about a million bedding plants a year for the local authority and other customers.
Now at the ages of 73 and 72 respectively, Paul and his wife Jacky have decided to retire and have handed over the 10-acre site to new owners to continue to grow and develop.
Those taking the reins are Christine Buchan and her two sons, Wayne and Ross, who are a local farming family.
And Christine is already very familiar with the business having worked for Paul as his plant production manager for 11 years.