Vegetable Seed Ordering

[dmccarty]

I was impressed with some of the aquaponic systems that are out there now. The loop system where you grow fish, and use plants to filter the water and then use the plants to feed the fish is a nice concept. I am just not sure how to do it in zone 5. I have a feeling I would need a hardy fish which may mean also growing bait fish.
http://www.growingpower.org/aquaponics.htm
backyardaquaponics.com
Portable Farms Aquaponics Systems

I bought a text book on hydroponics back in the early 90's trying to figure out how to grow fresh veggies most of the year. If I just had the time and money to build a green house. I do have a plan though. :laughing:

At Disney there is a tour at EPCOT called Behind the Seeds. We went on the tour in the late 90s and we went again a few years back. They grow quite a few things with various hydroponic techniques. On our last tour there was a couple who had an organic farm near Asheville who wanted to start using hydroponics. They were growing quite a bit of food in a small space. Well they had a setup that looked like it spanned a couple of buildings but the actual growing areas were small and producing quite a bit of food. They were doing a bit of aquaculture as well but I think it was more for the tour than actual use. I think they were raising catfish which are pretty hearty critters. They had a couple big bushes of Ghost Peppers. I asked for some seed but they no giveth.

Later,
Dan

 

[charlz]

Yup!! I might be a little paranoid, but I suspect the police watch hydroponic sales pretty closely.

I have wondered if it is a sting operation when seeing hydroponic systems with high power grow lights and 'everything you need' for sale on Craigslist.

 

[charlz]

We have good luck blanching, where we have trouble is longevity in the freezer.
Up to a couple of months they're great, after that it's a guessing game.

With summer squash blanching didn't do much, still very soft when you take it out. My understanding is you need to freeze the way the commercial operations do, with a freezer that can 'fast freeze' at like -32. This way the ice crystals don't 'grow' and rupture the cells during the freezing process. Unfortunately those types of freezers are very expensive.

I forgot about blaching with this winter squash. Not sure if it would be a negative or not, they have to sit about a month after harvest for the flavor to develope anyway.

 

[Duffster]

I would think growing veggies would be the perfect cover for growing weed.

 

[Western]

I would think growing veggies would be the perfect cover for growing weed.

I can grow the He$$ out of weed (s) Not the MM kind, but good at the invasive kind that is for sure..

If you ever get a chance to have some Olathe Sweet corn, you'll be hooked. I 1st had it when we moved to Colorado for 3 years. It was developed in Olathe CO. White and Yellow kernals and is simply amazing. Some grocers here in Texas have started to sell it, but it is hard to find.

Corn is King in Colorado

Living The Grand Life: Olathe Sweet! Corn

 

[forgeblast]

We ate the scarlett runnerners as a green been when young, and then as a dried bean later on in the year.
We also grow jacobs cattle beans, I really like the look of them.
I fogot a great place for seeds is my local hardware store. The have now on sale 10c a pack for last years seeds. I buy as many of the flower seed packs as i can and throw them on the one hill i hate to mow. I had it covered in flowers last year, I have a coffee can full of seed now to replant for the spring.
(for any berries i cannot stress again how good nourse farms is, excellent product.)

 

[Duffster]

We ate the scarlett runnerners as a green been when young, and then as a dried bean later on in the year.
We also grow jacobs cattle beans, I really like the look of them.
I fogot a great place for seeds is my local hardware store. The have now on sale 10c a pack for last years seeds. I buy as many of the flower seed packs as i can and throw them on the one hill i hate to mow. I had it covered in flowers last year, I have a coffee can full of seed now to replant for the spring.
(for any berries i cannot stress again how good nourse farms is, excellent product.)

If you like jacobs cattle you'd like painted pony as well.

 

[veresjwv]

We buy from a couple of local farm stores. One has been in business since the late 1800s. The place is as much a history museum as a store. :thumbsup:

One of the more interesting seed supplier is a "gardening" store. The store is a small chain and they sell outdoor gardening stuff that is really aimed at houses in the city, home brewing/wine making supplies, and hydroponic systems/parts.

The have a good selection of heritage seeds.

Not so sure that the heritage seeds are really being used in the hydroponic systems. :laughing: At least heritage tomato seeds. Building a "garden" in a closet to raise tomatoes strikes me as a bit odd.... :laughing:

Later,
Dan

Dan, I live close to Winston. Can you tell me where this place is located. Would love to see it.
Thanks, Joe

 

[Car Doc]

I went in with a buddy on onions again this year to save freight and its his favorite company I cant remember the name they do only onions and do them good.

I am pretty well sold on gurneys gottahaveit corn thats the only corn I will buy now so its Gurneys again this year for everything else too and I am taking advantage of the half off again this year special me and a buddy are going in together on our orders.

I am trying a short season sh2 northern variety this year that they sell so I can get first corn in a bit earlier and then finish the year with the mid season gottahavit its good stuff.

 

[dmccarty]

Dan, I live close to Winston. Can you tell me where this place is located. Would love to see it.
Thanks, Joe

They are The Fifth Season Gardening company. :: Fifth Season Gardening Co. ::

Looks like the Greensboro store would be the closest to you.

Sorry. I thought you meant the Fifth Season.

Looks like you wanted the other store. That is in Siler City. For those of you outside of NC, there really is a Siler City mentioned in Andy Griffith. The actress who played Aunt Bea ended up retiring to Siler City.

The store in Siler City is Farmers Alliance, Farmers' Alliance. They have a small selection of gardening tools, Ace has a better/bigger selection, but in the spring they sell seed by weight. The also have onions, potatoes, etc. One side of the store is mostly women's clothes. Down stairs, watch your head, the beams and ceiling is low, they have mens clothes, shoes and boots. Some of the clothes may have been down there for awhile. :laughing: The pair of rubber boots I bought at Farmers Alliance have lasted years compared to the scat I bought at WallyWorld that got holes within weeks.

I try to buy honey from the store since it is better than what I can get in the grocery. They also have older candy's that are not found in local convenience stores.

I think the owner was related to one of the founding owners. She is up there in years and I wonder what will happen to the place when she can no longer work.

There are photos all over the place, including with the cast of Andy Griffith. I always wander around looking at the photos. Just watch your head going down the stairs to the basement and while down in the basement.

Later,
Dan