2015 Garden Journal - Page 13

gggeek · March 2, 2017

Will keep an eye on your 2017 progress. Also in Greenville SC and can relate to your tomato disease and squash vine borer experience. Without the snow and freezing temps like the northern states its a challenge to keep pest and disease at bay!

For squash I've found it best to plant early and then keep succession plantings going to replace plants as the borers get them. Yellow sticky traps are great to help you know when the buggers are around.

Gin3ll · March 7, 2017

Thanks for posting your experiences. I love your garden, you are a real source of information.

BigVanVader · April 1, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin3ll

Thanks for posting your experiences. I love your garden, you are a real source of information.

Thanks! I enjoy sharing it, most people dont get the whole farming obsession.

BigVanVader · April 1, 2017

First market was today. Pretty day but windy. Even after losing 160 something plants to frost we had a decent amount to bring and the only others selling tomatoes had little tiny ones. Was a great day and we doubled our first day sales from last year and got lots of good feedback. Here some pics.

creeker · April 1, 2017

Way to go guys. I also sold tomato plants today at a farmers market sponsored craft sale. Got about the same prices (actually $4.00 each or 3 for $10). The price break for quantity made for more than half of the sales. Dwarfs were quite popular. Most people had never heard of them. Will do it again tomorrow.

MissS · April 1, 2017

I'm glad to hear that you had such a great first day! A 50% increase is terrific.

P.S. The family looks healthy and happy this year. A true blessing.

efisakov · April 2, 2017

Great job, BVV. Your family looks happy and healthy.

BigVanVader · April 2, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by creeker

Way to go guys. I also sold tomato plants today at a farmers market sponsored craft sale. Got about the same prices (actually $4.00 each or 3 for $10). The price break for quantity made for more than half of the sales. Dwarfs were quite popular. Most people had never heard of them. Will do it again tomorrow.

We sell the small ones for 3$ and the medium for 5$ and 3/4 gallon for 8$. We also do the discount on a purchase of 5. It took me awhile to figure out the best price for our market. We're going back to the smaller market this year and will have to sell at different prices there. The bulk discounts definitely motivate people to buy more.

Our best improvement this year has been advertising. I really focused on it this winter and it appears to be paying off big time. We built a website, blog, flyers, business cards, Facebook page, and got our website in the market weekly newsletter. Once we develop a stronger customer base and if I can get a high tunnel I feel like I could make enough to quit my day job and go full time in another year or 2.

AKmark · April 2, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

We sell the small ones for 3$ and the medium for 5$ and 3/4 gallon for 8$. We also do the discount on a purchase of 5. It took me awhile to figure out the best price for our market. We're going back to the smaller market this year and will have to sell at different prices there. The bulk discounts definitely motivate people to buy more.

Our best improvement this year has been advertising. I really focused on it this winter and it appears to be paying off big time. We built a website, blog, flyers, business cards, Facebook page, and got our website in the market weekly newsletter. Once we develop a stronger customer base and if I can get a high tunnel I feel like I could make enough to quit my day job and go full time in another year or 2.

Good times at the market. You have that springtime happy face pasted on.

BigVanVader · April 2, 2017

Lol yeah, come July I'll be wondering wth I was thinking wanting to try farming in this climate. Then over winter I'll get recharged and do it again.

gggeek · April 12, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

First market was today. Pretty day but windy. Even after losing 160 something plants to frost we had a decent amount to bring and the only others selling tomatoes had little tiny ones. Was a great day and we doubled our first day sales from last year and got lots of good feedback. Here some pics.

Are you still selling pepper starts? Lost my entire pepper tray to a bird! Not sure what markets you sell at here in Greenville.

BigVanVader · April 12, 2017

Yes, we have early jalapenos, banana peppers, carolina reaper, and I have a few extra chocolate habanero and white bullet hab left. We only sell at Hub City Farmers Market right now, or you can pick up at our house by appointment. Just pm me if you want to try and work something out.

BigVanVader · April 13, 2017

Oh and Ancho.

wildcat62 · April 13, 2017

Great family pics. Sounds like you are off to a good start.

BigVanVader · May 28, 2017

Things are moving along. Markets have all been good and a few were great. I'm in the black already and have finished all the paperwork for the EQUIP high tunnel program. I'm really stoked about how much this could help me get to the profits I need to go full time.

The process has been really simple and all they people I've dealt with are really good folks. It almost seems to good to be true. Here are some garden pics.

March 2, 2017	#181
gggeek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SC Posts: 64	Will keep an eye on your 2017 progress. Also in Greenville SC and can relate to your tomato disease and squash vine borer experience. Without the snow and freezing temps like the northern states its a challenge to keep pest and disease at bay! For squash I've found it best to plant early and then keep succession plantings going to replace plants as the borers get them. Yellow sticky traps are great to help you know when the buggers are around. __________________ http://myfolia.com/gardener/thisweekinmygarden/

April 1, 2017	#186
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,146	I'm glad to hear that you had such a great first day! A 50% increase is terrific. P.S. The family looks healthy and happy this year. A true blessing. __________________ ~ Patti ~

April 2, 2017	#187
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	Great job, BVV. Your family looks happy and healthy. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

March 7, 2017	#182
Gin3ll Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Romania Posts: 83	Thanks for posting your experiences. I love your garden, you are a real source of information.

April 1, 2017	#185
creeker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 106	Way to go guys. I also sold tomato plants today at a farmers market sponsored craft sale. Got about the same prices (actually $4.00 each or 3 for $10). The price break for quantity made for more than half of the sales. Dwarfs were quite popular. Most people had never heard of them. Will do it again tomorrow.

April 2, 2017	#190
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Lol yeah, come July I'll be wondering wth I was thinking wanting to try farming in this climate. Then over winter I'll get recharged and do it again.

April 12, 2017	#192
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Yes, we have early jalapenos, banana peppers, carolina reaper, and I have a few extra chocolate habanero and white bullet hab left. We only sell at Hub City Farmers Market right now, or you can pick up at our house by appointment. Just pm me if you want to try and work something out.

April 13, 2017	#193
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Oh and Ancho.

April 13, 2017	#194
wildcat62 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky Posts: 1,094	Great family pics. Sounds like you are off to a good start.