vegetable gardening boom

cavemandoom30 · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:48 am Post subject: vegetable gardening boom

Hey all, I just wanted to pass all this along..

I'm a grower by trade, I grow bedding plants and potted plants, and vegetable transplants as well. I have been insisiting for the past 3-5 years that my company grow ever more vegetables, which we have been doing, to great effect...that may be the area of fastest growth. Well, we doubled our production numbers for 2008, and, I thought you all might be interested to hear that our first crop of tomatoes sold out in 2.5 days. That was about 30,000 plants, with 3 more crops that size. Not that toms. will save anybody from starving, but, at least people are moving in the right direction...I now hear people constantly asking me for plants and advice on starting gardening, non-gardening people that is. Us professionals, well, we are talking about putting in beds of potatoes, wheat, beans, beets, etc..things that actually make a difference in terms of calories. The demand for veg. this year has just been crazy, and I see a lot of new gardens popping up around me. The old farmers are planting potatoes, while the suburbanites are planting tomatoes..oh well, I can keep my job for a few more years it seems, selling vegetables to the newly interested masses.

Anybody else seeing things like this?

BigTex · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:28 am Post subject: Re: vegetable gardening boom

I think this is one of the most obvious and common sense responses to high food prices and I'm glad to hear what you are reporting.

Hopefully people will get in the habit and stick with it.

It's a lot of fun in addition to being necessary for survival.
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bobaloo · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 14, 2004 Posts: 447

I saw a report the other day that many hatcheries are sold out of chicks until some time in June, orders are way up. Our local feed store said he'd never sold so many seeds as this Spring.

Here in my little town of 1500 we just opened up a second community garden area and it's filling up quickly, the farmer's market just started up and lots of veggie starts moving.

Lots of evidence that more people are thinking about food production this year. Like you said, the newbies are thinking about tomatoes, I'm doubling the size of my potato, kale and bean patches this year.

Ainan · Heavy Crude Joined: Feb 18, 2008 Posts: 189

Great post. This is somewhat spooky for me as i have had a similar experience here in the UK.

Both my grandmothers grow vegetable gardens, but my mother never took to it. For the last 4 years except last, i got myself and her to grow various veg in our garden, lots of good old tatters too. Last year i was at University and she grew nothing, this year i am at University again and she called me last week asking what she should try and plant! In our garden its as simple as plopping in some seedlings and occasionally watering them. She said she wanted to save some money and grow something nice, since it's so simple.

The sheep are learning...

Ludi · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: vegetable gardening boom

'Taters are the best crop to grow for calories in the smallest amount of space. For those in hot climates, sweet potatoes (aka "yams"). Parsley is a very good crop to grow for the most nutrients per square foot and is almost indestructible (I grow Italian Flat Leaf Parsley). Collards have as much protein per pound as milk. They are also extremely easy to grow and will grow almost year 'round.
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kjmclark · Heavy Crude Joined: Dec 09, 2005 Posts: 301

Ludi · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: vegetable gardening boom

Pops · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: vegetable gardening boom

A really encouraging report caveman.

I just wonder about what happens when people [start] getting used to what homegrown tastes like after a lifetime of eating off season produce?

It could be one more straw on the transportation industry camel.

Another example of unforeseen consequences I guess.
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Legless_Marine · Coal Joined: Apr 30, 2008 Posts: 18

energycity · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 22, 2008 Posts: 113 Location: UK

Pops · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 10:17 am Post subject: Re: vegetable gardening boom

oowolf · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: vegetable gardening boom

(Relocalization in action)
A neighbor gave me a ride into town. I told him I just planted 100,000 onion seeds. Astonished, he asked: "Why so many?" His next statement was: "If you have some extra this fall, I'd like some."
<<It's called "thinking ahead".>>

strider3700 · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: vegetable gardening boom