When to quit?

huntoften · May 12, 2009

I had an amazing year...way beyond my expectations. I still have about 150 tomato plants and maybe 50 pepper plants left. I am getting a few customers a week in the evenings, but not a lot.

Besides the obvious...running out of plants completely (I've done that the past 3 years), when should I just give the rest of the plants away or toss them in the compost if no one wants them? Before I toss them, I'll see if any local schools or churches want them for sure.

Sherry_AK · May 14, 2009

I'd say quit when you don't feel the investment of your time is paying off. Lucky you to have a great season already! I hope you can find homes for the orphans.

Sherry

Barbee · May 14, 2009

Congrats on a successful year!
I suppose you quit when you get tired of messing with it

Wi-sunflower · May 15, 2009

Depends on how you are doing it.

If you expect to be there and help each customer, then you will need to stop soon or you will cut into the time you have for doing other garden chores.

We have a "self-serve" stand set up in our driveway. Plenty of times there is no one around to help customers. We try to have decent signs all over the place and they can always look around for help as we are usually nearby.

Frankly we leave things out there too long. But we keep it watered as often we will plant out more than we first intended if we still have room. Eventually we just get to busy with other stuff and let the small stuff die.

We also will pick the small tomatoes that mature on the root bound plants. They help bridge the gap we have between the "plant season" and the "field crops" for a bit of income.

Carol

huntoften · May 15, 2009

I just got an offer on the remaining 250-270 plants. I told him to bring $50 and plenty of boxes!

newatthiskat · May 15, 2009

Boy what a great deal!!!
Kat

huntoften · May 22, 2009

Well that guy fell through, so I decided just to donate them. I posted an ad in craigslist offering free plants to school or church gardens, I gave about 40 toms and 40 peppers to a girl scout troop, a dozen or so to a local school, about 50 to a local church, and the salvation army picked up the rest this evening for their new garden that they will have to provide fresh produce to local pantries and needy families.

All in all I grew over 2,000 plants, made a decent profit, filled my garden, my mom;s garden and my grandparent's garden and donated some plants to some good causes. It was a year far beyond my expectations! Now to focus on fishing!

Raymondo · July 21, 2009

Fishing well deserved! Congrats on a great season.

May 12, 2009	#1
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	When to quit? I had an amazing year...way beyond my expectations. I still have about 150 tomato plants and maybe 50 pepper plants left. I am getting a few customers a week in the evenings, but not a lot. Besides the obvious...running out of plants completely (I've done that the past 3 years), when should I just give the rest of the plants away or toss them in the compost if no one wants them? Before I toss them, I'll see if any local schools or churches want them for sure. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

May 14, 2009	#3
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	Congrats on a successful year! I suppose you quit when you get tired of messing with it __________________ *Barbee*

May 15, 2009	#5
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	I just got an offer on the remaining 250-270 plants. I told him to bring $50 and plenty of boxes! __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

May 15, 2009	#6
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	reply Boy what a great deal!!! Kat

May 22, 2009	#7
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	Well that guy fell through, so I decided just to donate them. I posted an ad in craigslist offering free plants to school or church gardens, I gave about 40 toms and 40 peppers to a girl scout troop, a dozen or so to a local school, about 50 to a local church, and the salvation army picked up the rest this evening for their new garden that they will have to provide fresh produce to local pantries and needy families. All in all I grew over 2,000 plants, made a decent profit, filled my garden, my mom;s garden and my grandparent's garden and donated some plants to some good causes. It was a year far beyond my expectations! Now to focus on fishing! __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

May 14, 2009	#2
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	I'd say quit when you don't feel the investment of your time is paying off. Lucky you to have a great season already! I hope you can find homes for the orphans. Sherry

May 15, 2009	#4
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Depends on how you are doing it. If you expect to be there and help each customer, then you will need to stop soon or you will cut into the time you have for doing other garden chores. We have a "self-serve" stand set up in our driveway. Plenty of times there is no one around to help customers. We try to have decent signs all over the place and they can always look around for help as we are usually nearby. Frankly we leave things out there too long. But we keep it watered as often we will plant out more than we first intended if we still have room. Eventually we just get to busy with other stuff and let the small stuff die. We also will pick the small tomatoes that mature on the root bound plants. They help bridge the gap we have between the "plant season" and the "field crops" for a bit of income. Carol

July 21, 2009	#8
Raymondo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Saumarez Ponds, NSW, Australia Posts: 946	Fishing well deserved! Congrats on a great season. __________________ Ray