Tomatoville® Gardening Forums


Notices

Discuss your tips, tricks and experiences growing and selling vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants and herbs.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old February 2, 2018   #61
clkeiper
Tomatovillian™
 
clkeiper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
Default

I haven't thought much about it. I just hate seeing an empty structure for the season. I think it is a waste of growing space.
__________________
carolyn k
clkeiper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 2, 2018   #62
FourOaks
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 511
Default

So, Zinnias, specifically the dwarfs. How many per pot? Im thinking about using 5 inch Azalea pots. Im thinking 5 or 6 to a pot? I think they prefer having a little room, so I dont want to over do it.

I havent decided for certain, but thinking of getting some 96 cells to start them in and transplant, vs. direct sowing.
FourOaks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 2, 2018   #63
FourOaks
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 511
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by clkeiper View Post
I haven't thought much about it. I just hate seeing an empty structure for the season. I think it is a waste of growing space.
Understandable. Any garden crops that you can grow there that would benefit, based on your climate?
FourOaks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 2, 2018   #64
Cole_Robbie
Tomatovillian™
 
Cole_Robbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FourOaks View Post
So, Zinnias, specifically the dwarfs. How many per pot? Im thinking about using 5 inch Azalea pots. Im thinking 5 or 6 to a pot? I think they prefer having a little room, so I dont want to over do it.
I grow Short Stuff and Zinnitia dwarf zinnias one to a pot, usually trade-size gallon pots. Some other varieties might be smaller and lend themselves better to multiple plants per pot, but I'm happy with mine just one plant per pot.

Here's a pic, zinnias on the left, you can see the yellow one on the corner has slightly smaller flowers - that's a Zinnitia:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Resized_20170729_080824222222222222.jpg (384.6 KB, 84 views)
Cole_Robbie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 2, 2018   #65
FourOaks
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 511
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie View Post
I grow Short Stuff and Zinnitia dwarf zinnias one to a pot, usually trade-size gallon pots. Some other varieties might be smaller and lend themselves better to multiple plants per pot, but I'm happy with mine just one plant per pot.

Here's a pic, zinnias on the left, you can see the yellow one on the corner has slightly smaller flowers - that's a Zinnitia:
Hmmmm.....

I have Thumbelina Zinnias. I was thinking that Dwarfs were single stem??

I guess not. I guess they branch out.

Excellent.


Nice display by the way.
FourOaks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 2, 2018   #66
clkeiper
Tomatovillian™
 
clkeiper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
Default

I would lean towards veg. Crops if anything. I do farmers markets and it is far easier to get nice produce undercover.
Lettuce would be my first try. I hate picking dirty lettuce.
__________________
carolyn k

Last edited by clkeiper; February 2, 2018 at 05:41 PM.
clkeiper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 2, 2018   #67
FourOaks
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 511
Default

Not to beat a dead horse, but I dont know why I was thinking multiple Zs per container. I guess it helps when you read the description..

Quote:
Description

(6-8”) Thumbelina Mix Zinnia features a unique, bushy, compact and extra dwarf habit with fully matured plants. A colorful mixture of 1-1/4” flower blooms.
FourOaks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 2, 2018   #68
FourOaks
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 511
Default

Since we have been discussing Flowers for all seasons, heres another potential Fall offering

Cool Wave Pansies. I did not know these existed. These are pansies that are destined for hanging baskets. They were developed by the breeders of Wave Petunias. My understand, like regular pansies, they enjoy the cooler weather.

A perfect addition for fall sales.

https://parkseed.com/images/xxl/51488-pk-p1.jpg
FourOaks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 3, 2018   #69
FourOaks
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 511
Default

Well, my list is getting longer.

Somehow I forgot about Geraniums for Spring and Summer. Heres an excellent pdf curtesy of Alabama A&M and Auburn on care and maintence.

http://faculty.caes.uga.edu/pthomas/...b/ANR-1106.pdf

According to them, Red is the overwhelmingly preferred color. White the least.

They are easy to care for, and if you dont sell them, just upgrade to a larger pot or basket. If I recall, they overwinter fairly easy, and you can take cuttings easily as well.

The last time I took some to market (couple years ago), they sold like hot cakes, in 4 inch pots (if I recall). I believe $5 each? I only had an 8 count or 12 count tray? I bought them on a whim from my wholesaler. I swiped a few out of the tray to plant in our Mailbox Planter.

I know last year a vendor had baskets, that sold VERY well.
FourOaks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 3, 2018   #70
Cole_Robbie
Tomatovillian™
 
Cole_Robbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
Default

I did ok with my fall mums and Montauk (Nippon) Daisies, but not as well as I had hoped. Customers are simply less excited about buying fall flowers than they are spring flowers.

For late summer flowers, these Dahlias took a long time to grow, but lasted all summer in just a trade size gallon pot. The plant would bloom, then the blooms would die off, and then it would bloom again. I left one plant out in the frost. It looked dead when I brought it inside, but now I have green sprouts coming up out of the base of it.

https://www.harrisseeds.com/collecti...-harlequin-mix

Pic was taken in late October. This was my last spring flower left that still looked good:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Resized_20171026_115301222222222222222.jpg (356.3 KB, 71 views)
Cole_Robbie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 3, 2018   #71
FourOaks
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NC
Posts: 511
Default

Those are nice looking Cole.

Looking at Harris, they state 16 weeks. That is a lengthy period. Looks like they are similar to germinating and growing out of Pansies, in regards to needing cool temps and darkness.

And that actually brings up experiments that I have been running this season. I have a seed starting rack located in a "Mud Room" that has very little heat. The rack can accommodate 16 flats under lights. By simply placing painters plastic (drop cloth) over the rack, it completely changes the environment.

With out plastic, under the lights its right around 65 degrees. I currently have some tomato seedlings along with Stock and Eucalyptus there. Thats toward the bottom of the unit.

With plastic covering, under the lights, its about 78 and crazy humid. Thats the upper section. I have my pepper seedlings there, and the results are promising.

If you place the flats on top of the T8 Ballasts, under the plastic section, its closer to 85-90 degrees and nearly 100 % humidity.

I also have another rack, in a heated room.

This all came about because of needing different environments to start different seeds. I would much rather do this for as long as I can, then to heat a greenhouse.
FourOaks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 23, 2018   #72
BigVanVader
Tomatovillian™
 
BigVanVader's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
Default

Has anyone tried Black eyed susan vine for HB's? I saw they have multiple colors now and figured they would be a great easy addition to my wave petunias and calibrachoa. https://www.harrisseeds.com/collecti...blushing-susie
BigVanVader is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 23, 2018   #73
clkeiper
Tomatovillian™
 
clkeiper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: ohio
Posts: 4,350
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by clkeiper View Post
I run the injector for the whole season. on occasion I turn it off. I usually run 200ppm give or take a few... I don't measure with a scale.... usually ~ 1# to 5 gallon water and change fertilizers throughout the life cycle of the produce. I use Millers fertilizer for most of the vegetables.

and Jacks petunia (w/iron) food for the hanging baskets house for the whole season.
oh my. I need to make a correction here. I use 1 pound of fertilizer per 1 gallon of water and make a 5 gallon bucket at a time. I then inject that at 200 ppm. (DO NOT use this concentration for straight fertilizing. you will kill your plants. )
__________________
carolyn k
clkeiper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 23, 2018   #74
My Foot Smells
Tomatovillian™
 
My Foot Smells's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas
Posts: 1,239
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by clkeiper View Post
oh my. I need to make a correction here. I use 1 pound of fertilizer per 1 gallon of water and make a 5 gallon bucket at a time. I then inject that at 200 ppm. (DO NOT use this concentration for straight fertilizing. you will kill your plants. )
As a consumer, I love the "drop & bloom" mixed containers. They have a variety of different flowers and work great in hanging baskets, pots, etc...

Just an fyi for market growers looking for a $ maker. Figure a lot of ppl are lazy like me and just want to chunk something in a pot and not buy a bunch of different to mix and match, etc...
My Foot Smells is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 23, 2018   #75
Cole_Robbie
Tomatovillian™
 
Cole_Robbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
Default

Speaking of flower plans, I am just about to pull the trigger on dahlia tubers and plant my high tunnel in them. I have read that the larger-bloomed varieties do much better under plastic, away from storms and wind.

https://www.edenbrothers.com/store/dahlia_bulbs.html?

I'm thinking I will try 3 mixes - the dinner plate, the giant bloom and the cactus. I literally rolled my pennies and the rest of my change, and I am going to use that money. I have heard the expression of 'rolling pennies to buy gas' as a metaphor for being broke. Perhaps rolling pennies to buy flowers to plant is one step above that.
Cole_Robbie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:52 AM.


★ Tomatoville® is a registered trademark of Commerce Holdings, LLC ★ All Content ©2022 Commerce Holdings, LLC ★