Artisan Seeds launches - Page 8

Fred Hempel · January 21, 2013

We had a customer with a US address being told that he could not complete his order, because he was "outside our servicable area".

We have done a bunch of dummy orders, and this hasn't happened to us, the but customer repeatedly ran into this issue.

Has it happened to anyone else trying to order seeds from us?

Farmette · January 23, 2013

Fred:
Does the Highland Kale grow the same as other kale; a stalk with many edible leaves or does it grow similar to leaf lettuce where often the whole plant is cut for harvesting. And in WI climate, I would assume one would start these seeds indoors for a spring planting. Thanks Chris

Fred Hempel · January 23, 2013

Hi Chris,

Highland Kale is described a bit more here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...table-all-star

We sell kale "tops" which include the upper portion of a stem with young tender leaves. Everything is edible, and the stems are soft. Besides the flavor, the best thing about the Highland Kale (really more a mustard, but the flavor is similar to Lacinato Kale) is that once the top is cut, secondary buds grow into new main shoots. We typically take cuttings at 3-4 times (of 8-10 shoots) for each plant.

You can start Highland Kale indoors, but it grows quickly, making it a good candidate for direct seeding, and sometimes difficult to transplant before bolting. It is pretty freeze tolerant, so I would try seeding well before the last freeze (or potentially overwintering it as a small seedling).

Farmette · January 23, 2013

Thanks for all the information, Fred. Will be ordering soon.

Fred Hempel · January 23, 2013

If you end up liking it, it is easy to harvest bulk seed for yourself. The plants bolt readily and the pods do not shatter early. They hold the seed well, but shatter easily when you want them to during harvesting (with light rubbing).

charley · January 23, 2013

i just ordered captian lucky also looking foward to both looking at and tasting it

Fred Hempel · January 23, 2013

You'll love Captain Lucky. It is one of those tomatoes at Tomatoville that has a strong positive consensus -- from people all over the country.

Millard Murdock really came up with a winner with Captain Lucky. It is the only large tomato we are growing a significant amount of for farm production. The few restaurants that did get ahold of some from us last year were very unhappy that we didn't have more. But, we needed to focus on seed production.

Fred Hempel · January 29, 2013

Our supply of Purple Bumble Bee is dwindling -- in case anyone was thinking of ordering.

Farmette · January 29, 2013

Got 'em...thanks for reminding me, Fred! Got caught up in the garden planning and almost forgot.

Thawley · January 29, 2013

Just ordered.

sicily · January 29, 2013

Just received my seeds, thanks!

Fred Hempel · January 29, 2013

You're welcome. Let us know if you ever have any issues with the seeds.

charley · January 29, 2013

fred thanks i just got my seeds.thanks for the free bee.cant wait to try the captian lucky and pink bumble bee.i hear the bumble bee is from the blush.if so i bet its good ,blush was one of the best tasting in my garden last year.

quote
it takes a wise person to understand wisdom.what good is beautiful music to a def adeance.

Fred Hempel · January 29, 2013

You're welcome, Charley.

Please let us know how they do -- good or bad. We're always trying to improve things.

Farmette · February 8, 2013

Got my seeds and am really looking forward to the...tried Blush and Maglia Rosa last year and loved them. And thanks for the tea sample...great unique flavor!

January 23, 2013	#111
charley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: copperas cove TEXAS Posts: 637	captain lucky i just ordered captian lucky also looking foward to both looking at and tasting it

February 8, 2013	#120
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	Got my seeds and am really looking forward to the...tried Blush and Maglia Rosa last year and loved them. And thanks for the tea sample...great unique flavor! Last edited by Farmette; February 8, 2013 at 01:25 PM.

January 21, 2013	#106
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	We had a customer with a US address being told that he could not complete his order, because he was "outside our servicable area". We have done a bunch of dummy orders, and this hasn't happened to us, the but customer repeatedly ran into this issue. Has it happened to anyone else trying to order seeds from us?

January 23, 2013	#107
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	Fred: Does the Highland Kale grow the same as other kale; a stalk with many edible leaves or does it grow similar to leaf lettuce where often the whole plant is cut for harvesting. And in WI climate, I would assume one would start these seeds indoors for a spring planting. Thanks Chris

January 23, 2013	#108
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Hi Chris, Highland Kale is described a bit more here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...table-all-star We sell kale "tops" which include the upper portion of a stem with young tender leaves. Everything is edible, and the stems are soft. Besides the flavor, the best thing about the Highland Kale (really more a mustard, but the flavor is similar to Lacinato Kale) is that once the top is cut, secondary buds grow into new main shoots. We typically take cuttings at 3-4 times (of 8-10 shoots) for each plant. You can start Highland Kale indoors, but it grows quickly, making it a good candidate for direct seeding, and sometimes difficult to transplant before bolting. It is pretty freeze tolerant, so I would try seeding well before the last freeze (or potentially overwintering it as a small seedling).

January 23, 2013	#109
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	Thanks for all the information, Fred. Will be ordering soon.

January 23, 2013	#110
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	If you end up liking it, it is easy to harvest bulk seed for yourself. The plants bolt readily and the pods do not shatter early. They hold the seed well, but shatter easily when you want them to during harvesting (with light rubbing).

January 23, 2013	#112
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	You'll love Captain Lucky. It is one of those tomatoes at Tomatoville that has a strong positive consensus -- from people all over the country. Millard Murdock really came up with a winner with Captain Lucky. It is the only large tomato we are growing a significant amount of for farm production. The few restaurants that did get ahold of some from us last year were very unhappy that we didn't have more. But, we needed to focus on seed production.

January 29, 2013	#113
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Our supply of Purple Bumble Bee is dwindling -- in case anyone was thinking of ordering.

January 29, 2013	#114
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	Got 'em...thanks for reminding me, Fred! Got caught up in the garden planning and almost forgot.

January 29, 2013	#115
Thawley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: SoCal - Zone 10 Posts: 106	Just ordered.

January 29, 2013	#116
sicily Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 192	Just received my seeds, thanks!

January 29, 2013	#117
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	You're welcome. Let us know if you ever have any issues with the seeds.

January 29, 2013	#118
charley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: copperas cove TEXAS Posts: 637	fred thanks i just got my seeds.thanks for the free bee.cant wait to try the captian lucky and pink bumble bee.i hear the bumble bee is from the blush.if so i bet its good ,blush was one of the best tasting in my garden last year. quote it takes a wise person to understand wisdom.what good is beautiful music to a def adeance.

January 29, 2013	#119
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	You're welcome, Charley. Please let us know how they do -- good or bad. We're always trying to improve things.