Starting purely as an amateur, Roger Crompton Notcutt began by growing vegetables. He subsequently devoted himself to the breeding and production of Chrysanthemums for which he became well known in the 1890s. He was a successful exhibitor at the summer and autumn shows of the Ipswich Horticultural Society, with much of the interest in these shows traced to his influence, as his skill attracted other leading horticulturists to compete with him. He first experienced show success in 1889 at the Ipswich Society Show when he received the National Chrysanthemum Society Silver Medal for the Premier Bloom of the show. This encouraged him further and in 1895 he received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Merit for Chrysanthemum 'Edith Tabor', said to be "the best large yellow Chrysanthemum yet produced."

Broughton Road Nursery was composed mainly of glasshouses and frames, and during the 1890's approximately 45 staff were employed on the nursery.

Specimen palms and other plants were often hired out to decorate large country houses for balls and other events.

Floristry (in particular wreath making) was also a significant activity; ideal for a chrysanthemum grower, as important funerals required an enormous number of wreaths.

RCN produced two Chrysanthemum catalogues per year, in January and November. The catalogue of January 1893 lists 307 varieties, split into early flowering varieties for August to October, and other varieties, flowering September to November.

Catalogues were also produced for hardy perennials and herbaceous plants as well as for bedding plants, dahlias, begonias and geraniums and subsequently for general nursery stock. In 1900, hints on the culture of dahlias were included at the back of the catalogue. This tradition of useful and informative pages continues to the present day, as can be seen at the back of the Notcutts Book of Plants.

At the age of 28, RCN realized the business was outgrowing the Broughton Road Nursery, and was ready for expansion. The auction of Woods nursery in Woodbridge on 11th February 1897, came at a most opportune time.