klorentz
Pro Member
Posts: 213
Joined: January 2011
|
Post by klorentz on Feb 16, 2011 13:58:24 GMT -5
As many know my options are extremely limited on choices of making a little money while I battle the Government for my disability.So I have decided the only option open to me with certainty is my garden.Since I have a lot of room to work with I am going to ramp up what I am growing in order to do it going with my best producers and researching others. The whole idea is to make money to pay for my doctors visits ,scrips and gas. With what's left over toward garden and other expenses. Using my best producing heirlooms and maybe one hybrid I thought perhaps this would work to meet my goal.
The for sure varieties that I know do well here are
Rose.Huge pink slicer with great production and flavor
Al-Kuffa. Great compact plant with Campari size fruits and fantastic production and flavor.Good early tomato potential.
Thessaloníki. Celebrity size tomato with great production and flavor.Did very well here in 09.
Cosmonaut Volkov. This Ukraine heirloom does very well here.It earned its place in my garden with very good production of nice tasty med red tomatoes right up till frost.
Abe Lincoln.I have not grown it here but know it's production potential from growing it in Cali. Med to Large red slicers which would have a number of uses.
Ace 55. Ditto with this one.It has some good potential for production.
Black Krim.I have been thinking of this one to see how well folks around here would except blacks.It produces very well here with great tasting fruit.
I know some folks here will have several recommendations and would really like to hear from everyone.Btw also thinking of Dana's Dusky Rose.
Kevin
|
|
tomakers
Junior Member
Fisherman and Tomato Lover
Posts: 24
Joined: February 2011
|
Post by tomakers on Feb 17, 2011 8:55:34 GMT -5
I'm thinking there must be a better cash crop than tomatoes, but maybe not?? If I understand your situation correctly, your customers will have to come to you.
|
|
okiedrifter
Pro Member
Posts: 127
Joined: February 2011
|
Post by okiedrifter on Feb 17, 2011 20:20:07 GMT -5
I made better money on squash,cukes and greenbeans and easier to take to market....however if you are able to talk to a couple of small cafes and make arrangements to supply them with fresh salad fixings at a reasonable price...bigger restaraunts arent interested they need to many.good luck.....try also making relishes and selling at farmers markets..squash relish is reasonable to make and yummy and if you dont sell it this week its even better next market day and if worst comes to worst you get to eat it and its awesome with beans fried potatos and cornbread
|
|
klorentz
Pro Member
Posts: 213
Joined: January 2011
|
Post by klorentz on Feb 17, 2011 20:46:00 GMT -5
Nah not looking at stores.They are the competition.And nothing I have had from the stores in recent memory can beat what you or I can grow .Hybrid or Heirloom.No I am going to look at farmers markets and a few other venues to sell at.
Kevin
|
|
|
Post by daylilydude on Feb 18, 2011 4:05:07 GMT -5
Kevin, I would add some different types of cherry tomatoes to the mix! And, just don't stick to tomatoes, add some yellow summer squash, onions and ect.
|
|
rintintin
Pro Member
Posts: 150
Joined: December 2010
|
Post by rintintin on Feb 18, 2011 8:25:14 GMT -5
For a little 'side money', consider a "Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch". Once those kids show up, they are NOT going home without one! Around here, the store bought ones are getting pretty pricey these days.
|
|
klorentz
Pro Member
Posts: 213
Joined: January 2011
|
Post by klorentz on Feb 18, 2011 10:03:20 GMT -5
Kevin, I would add some different types of cherry tomatoes to the mix! And, just don't stick to tomatoes, add some yellow summer squash, onions and ect. Yep Cherry tomatoes are a part of the plan.And the summer squash is a good idea too.Was planing on some other things too.Do not know if I will be able to do onions though.I have no seeds and no money right now to get plants which I would get from Dixodale.Not sure about sets because the darn things like to try and go to seed shortly after they get growing good.Scallions would be good. I grew on variety from Park that is very productive and does not bulb.Also Kitazawa has some nice Asian varieties. Kevin
|
|
klorentz
Pro Member
Posts: 213
Joined: January 2011
|
Post by klorentz on Feb 18, 2011 10:13:50 GMT -5
For a little 'side money', consider a "Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin Patch". Once those kids show up, they are NOT going home without one! Around here, the store bought ones are getting pretty pricey these days. Pumpkins will be a big part of the garden.Along with some winter squash. I have Howden and some other good ones.New England Pie would be good for younger kids like my 4 year old niece and they could be painted for some extra fun. I know what you mean about prices for pumpkins.Regular ones are bad enough but the French heirlooms are way up there. Last time I saw them at Wally world they where running 15 bucks up. Kevin
|
|
rintintin
Pro Member
Posts: 150
Joined: December 2010
|
Post by rintintin on Feb 19, 2011 22:41:52 GMT -5
The nice thing about "Pick your own" is that if mom goes to the store, she will buy1. If she takes 3 kids to your place, each kid will pick their own favorite, and she buys 3.
|
|
paulr
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: February 2011
|
Post by paulr on Feb 27, 2011 10:40:39 GMT -5
klorentz, you and I are in the same boat. After 30 + years in the Industrial boiler business my body (back&hands) are shot. I have been doing some selling the past several years and this is what I have learned.
As for tomatoes, plants sell better than the fruits. I will be starting some Rutgers In the next week or two, our last frost date here is May 15 but most wont plant until Memorial weekend.
By the middle of May the Rutgers are 15-20 inches tall in 1/2 gallon pots, many people will return the pots if you ask for them. Depending where I sell at I get 3-5 dollars each, at that price they sell quick and I still make a profit.
My top fruit sellers are, muskmelon, cucumbers, zucchini, onions, watermelon, cabbage, bell peppers and yellow wax beans.
I sell at my home, a once a month flea market and a trip to town (pop. 1500) twice a week with a small trailer in tow. I stop by the American Legion, a little pizza shop, Dollar General and the town park. People have learned that I will be in town on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
People will see the produce in the trailer and wave me down.
Giving tomato samples with your sales will start tomato sells.
Sweet corn is a big seller around here, but living in hilly land my corn is usually blown over.
Any extras I have started for my garden sell for a buck a plant, they are in news paper pots, cheap and surprisingly sturdy.
Farmers Markets around here charge $ for a permit or someone is selling so low its not worth going.
What ever you do, I hope the best for ya!
paulr
|
|
klorentz
Pro Member
Posts: 213
Joined: January 2011
|
Post by klorentz on Feb 27, 2011 16:40:18 GMT -5
Thanks Paul for the tips and well wishes.
Kevin
|
|
|
Post by josef on Mar 1, 2011 2:43:23 GMT -5
Around here green beans and peas fetch higher prices than tomatoes per pound, but they are much harder to pick. Just about anyone will buy a tomato though. I can never take enough onions to market: green onions, dry onions, it doesn't matter which.
|
|
|
Post by redneckplanter on Mar 2, 2011 20:33:06 GMT -5
don't forget mellons........they have been pricey down here in texas.surprisingly..like 10.00 and up..........
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 2, 2011 23:13:45 GMT -5
don't forget mellons........they have been pricey down here in texas.surprisingly..like 10.00 and up.......... $10?? in TX?? OMG, for that price I'd want the Honeydew melons to be filled with Uvalde Honey! ;D
|
|
|
Post by redneckplanter on Mar 5, 2011 22:19:04 GMT -5
lol lace of red..................
|
|