Discuss your tips, tricks and experiences growing and selling vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants and herbs.
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March 5, 2013 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 9
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Selling transplants
I already have many customers that have requested transplants for heirloom tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. If anyone has any experience growing and caring for transplants that will be sold tips are appreciated. I was wondering if seed starting mix will be a suitable medium for growing the transplants and if lights are nessacary or not.
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March 5, 2013 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allen Park, MI
Posts: 178
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I'm greenhouse chairman of our Master Gardener group. We grow out about 1000 transplants each year for our sale.
Sell them in 4 inch pots for $3 each. Have about 30 varieties Start the seeds around march 1st, first sale is Mothers day wekend so they are nice size.
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A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~ |
March 5, 2013 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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How much space and other resources do you have? Do you have a greenhouse?
Just about any mix will work, but you'll need to fertilize at some point. I use Osmocote because it's easy and hard to mess up. It's a time release pelleted fertilizer that you mix in the soil. If you want to avoid chemical fertilizers, you could add some compost/manure to the media and then add organic fertilizers to the water you give the plant as it needs them. |
March 5, 2013 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allen Park, MI
Posts: 178
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Fish emulsion is also a good choice if you want to go organic.
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A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~ |
March 7, 2013 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 9
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I have about 100 sq. ft that can be covered with a low tunnel. Is this method suitable for growing transplants? Fish emulsion is a favorite of mine . I use it on anything from tomatoes to citrus.
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March 7, 2013 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allen Park, MI
Posts: 178
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Low tunnels are becoming very popular here in Michigan.
They should work fine down there for transplants. I went to a seminar at Michigan Stae on how to build them; very easy. Paul
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A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~ |
March 8, 2013 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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That's not very much space. Is it possible to build a small greenhouse? Transplants can be stacked in layers on shelves, so even a very small greenhouse can give you a lot of useable surface area. If your area is a strip of land next to a house, you can build a lean-to greenhouse. You'd want automatic vent openers so that you don't work yourself to death. Ventilating by hand is a lot of work for not much reward when you're working with a smaller square footage.
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March 11, 2013 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 9
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I know it's not that big of a space but for what I do which is mainly sell to friends and family, I always have enough transplants to sell and some to keep to grow in my garden.
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March 11, 2013 | #9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
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Quote:
I am starting a garden group, and want to do the same thing, but just thought about collecting excess seedlings and selling whatever happens to come in. |
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March 14, 2013 | #10 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Zone 6
Posts: 365
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Quote:
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March 14, 2013 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a
Posts: 1,109
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There is usually a state 'seedsman' license required and you have to maintain records as to seed lots, germination percentages, etc. It's not expensive here, but there is paperwork involved. I don't know if there is an exemption for small farmers market type sales or not.
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March 14, 2013 | #12 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 985
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Quote:
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March 14, 2013 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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I noticed that Sam's sells the cardboard carriers that hold 4 cups for about 25 cents each in bulk. My plants are four for $5, so that will work out well. It's hard for customers to hold more than two plants with a tray, so I think those carrier boxes will work out well.
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March 14, 2013 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
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Very useful information, Farmette. thanks.
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March 14, 2013 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 985
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No problem Scott. Forgive me for rambling about the gardens; as you can see I really love the project and the way everyone works together. Good luck on yours and keep us posted.
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