Time to start picking out seed varieties

[catman529]

I need to start making a list, buying, and trading. There are a few staples that I will grow for sure-

Tomatoes:
-Brandywine Sudduth
-Sungold F1
-Opalka
-Black Krim
-Indian Stripe or Cherokee Purple

Peppers:
-Habanero
-Cayenne
-Black Pearl

Cucumbers:
Spacemaster 80

Cantaloupe:
Gurney Giant

I also want to grow butternut squash again as I didn't get the seeds in time last year.

I'll spend the most time picking out the tomato varieties and grow 66 plants from seed as usual. And a couple dozen peppers and probably eggplant as well. I have to start the peppers in Feb and tomatoes in very early March.

Anyone else growing from seed?

 

[Wobblyshot1]

Struggling with the idea of not growing a garden this year. Just don't have the time to tend one.

Maybe just a few tomato plants from some seed I already have.....Giant Belgium, German Red Strawberry, and Kellogg's Breakfast.

 

[Deck78]

Seeds are already purchased and wife is currently working out our planting schedule for the year. We are doing over 70 different heirlooms this year(stretched out over the seasons of course) and are looking forward to trying some new varieties especially in the tomato category. We try to do everything from seed.

 

[catman529]

Seeds are already purchased and wife is currently working out our planting schedule for the year. We are doing over 70 different heirlooms this year(stretched out over the seasons of course) and are looking forward to trying some new varieties especially in the tomato category. We try to do everything from seed.

that's how it's done! Wish I had room to grow that much.

 

[Sako]

Was looking last night with the wife.... Will be ordering soon. We are looking at mostly the same stuf from last year but in the tradition of planting something new every year we are going to give a few new Egg plant varieties a try this year... looking for one good for grilling.

 

[BowGuy84]

Im going to have to downsize this year as I just don't have the time.

I'll grow:
Okra (thanks Sako for the seed they were good last year!)
tomatoes(with spaced out planting this year in 3 bunches-better boy and big bow will be my main 2)
cabbage (high yield weight lower focus needed)
peppers (jalapenos, habanaro, caynnee)
field peas (purple hulls)
cucumbers for pickles
squash


I may try to grow a few from seed in basement with heat lamp but will probably buy starts or plant seeds in garden around May.

 

[TX300mag]

I think I've found a place to order almost all of my seeds from at once, free shipping too.

I have a lady who grows my tomato and pepper transplants for me VERY reasonably.

I've got 600 mater plants and 300 pepper plants in the greenhouse right now. :O

 

[Deck78]

I think I've found a place to order almost all of my seeds from at once, free shipping too.

I have a lady who grows my tomato and pepper transplants for me VERY reasonably.

I've got 600 mater plants and 300 pepper plants in the greenhouse right now. :O

That's a good way to justify the large greenhouse. Does she charge you a flat per plant cost and include all the containers and soil or are you providing everything and just using her growing space?

 

[TX300mag]

I think I've found a place to order almost all of my seeds from at once, free shipping too.

I have a lady who grows my tomato and pepper transplants for me VERY reasonably.

I've got 600 mater plants and 300 pepper plants in the greenhouse right now. :O

That's a good way to justify the large greenhouse. Does she charge you a flat per plant cost and include all the containers and soil or are you providing everything and just using her growing space?

I've got enough to do without having to build a greenhouse and start seeds. Timing is everything here. The summers get too hot to produce tomatoes steady, so I put all my effort into prepping for planting. Hopefully half mid-Feb and the other half mid-March.

She charges a flat rate of .30/plant and grows whatever varieties I ask her to. She provides everything.

 

[Deck78]

That's a good deal man. I am about to buy a bunch of flats and containers and get them going in the next month or so

 

[TX300mag]

For market: ( I'm scaling back to what I actually sell best.)

Top Pick purplehull
Attribute sweet corn (probably just one variaty since it's so expensive)
Incredible sweet corn
Silver Queen sweet corn
Attribute sweet corn (probably just one variaty since it's so expensive)
Incredible sweet corn
Silver Queen sweet corn
One ball squash
Eight ball zuchini
Dixie crookneck
Early prolific straightneck
Scallop squash
Butternut squash
Buttercup squash
Spaghetti squash
Canteloupe (haven't decided which variaty this year)
Black diamond watermelon
Sugar Baby watermelon
Clemson spineless okra (MIGHT try Cajun Delight)

For us:

Top Pick crowder
Top Pick cream pea
Roma II green beans
Fife okra
Purpletop white globe turnips

 

[fishboy1]

TX300
Wife wants to dabble in taking produce to the farmers market this year.

Any suggestions on what to plant? What sells best?
We heard that strange varieties of "normal" veggies sell very well.

What are the high profit items?

Thanks

 

[TX300mag]

I'm not sure about the Nashville markets, but I'll look into it.

If possible, go to the markets with strict regulations. You don't want to compete against Florida and Mexico produce. The ones I go to only allow vendors who grow themselves (NO wholesalers) and local (with 150 mile radius).

I've done best off of:

Tomatoes (I'm planting 600 this year, if that gives you any idea of how much people want them)
Purplehull peas
Colored peppers
Squash (I sold EVERY 8-ball zuchini I took for $1 each)
Sweet corn
Okra (not necessarily on fire, but consistent)

If Nashville is ANYTHING like Houston, the time is NOW.

I'll PM you some more info that I think would help and give you a BIG advantage over most other vendors.

 

[pressfit]

I used to grow some big pumpkins.. wellIi thought they were big.. lol.. this one was about 300 pounds when the picture was taken..

 

[fishboy1]

Thanks TX.

I think I am in trouble. The wife has been on Baker Creek Heirloom Seed's website for an hour.

She has 2 pages of notes and just got a fresh pen. :O

 

[catman529]

I ordered tomatoes yesterday from Victory Seeds -

Brandywine (Sudduth strain)
Kosovo
Bradley
Kellogg's Breakfast
Brandywine Red (Landis Valley strain)

Still need a couple more but I will probably do a seed trade or two on a gardening forum.

pressfit - good looking pumpkin. I tried once and had a good seed stock but failed miserably when those stupid caterpillars decided to bore into the middle of the vines and kill the plants. I have the book on how to grow giant ones organically and it's got a lot of useful info. I'd have been happy with 250 pounds.

 

[Deck78]

Here's a snapshot at our tomato seed list - We order from Baker Creek and are trying a few new ones this year. I am real interested to see how the icicles turn out.

-Green Zebra
-Orange Icicle
-Orange Strawberry
-Ozark Pink
-Pink Icicle
-Black Icicle
-Cherokee Purple
-Amish Paste
-Jersey Giant
-Hillbilly or Flame

 

[fishboy1]

You will love the Amish paste tomatoes !

Picture a giant roma without the difficulty of getting romas to ripen before rotting or bird pecked.

 

[catman529]

I haven't tried Amish Paste but I sure do love my Opalkas.