Where do you buy your plants?

[Bill G]

I couldn't find any links to any auctions near you Bill. My guess is most of the auctions won't have any vegetable plants other than cole crops and lettuce till early April. Ours usually starts out with flowers like pansies and such.

Well I called the Amish auctions in Kalona Iowa and Platteville Wisconsin and neither called back. It is early but the Amish are generally good on checking voice mails.

 

[Bill G]

I dont believe that crap its to late to start peppers. Its two months away from planting after frost. Maybe even longer in Ill. Any ways, I just started my peppers and tomatos yesterday. Mine are inside a closed building under lights. Most around havent even started yet. As for buying bulk plants, you havent said what kind or how many you are looking for. Kind of makes it hard to search for something when you dont know what you are looking for. Most of the green houses around here are small. Bonnie on the other hand has large green houses stuck in every valley. One small green house can handle a 1000 plants, my suggestion is to find a small grower and make a deal for every how many plants you want and see if they will be able to accomidate your request. If you want enough plants to fill a small green house, I am sure someone would be willing to start your plants for you.

I guess you missed my first post.

I am looking for a new source of plants. We raised tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and cabbage commercially until the mid/late 1980's. Most of the time we bought from Evans Plant company in Tifton Georgia, A few times from Piedmont. There were times we might order 50,000 plants. I can remember years in which we would get 1 million plants in on a semi but that was to divide among several large operations in the community. Those days are all long gone and will never return.

My question is where are you getting small amounts of plants today. I have ordered small batches (500-1000) from Evans over the years and was happy. It seems Evans has changed hands and in doing so things have changed. The plants I ordered last year were very small and not hearty at all. I just checked their website and they are not even pricing plants for this year yet. I looked up Piedmont and they are now just selling single plants for $4. There still has to be some companies selling bare root vegetable plants. I realize many folks start there own but that is not feasible for me. I am hoping some fine folks have some sources of getting good quality plants. When I order plants I am not looking to get a 3-4 inch plant. We no longer use the mechanical Holland setters but for gosh sakes if I had wanted to with the last batch I got it would not have been possible

Then you must have missed the ones after.

Well I am striking out. I phoned Evans today and they are at $125 per 500, I called about 4-5 others and no one will ship. It seems all want to cater to small gardens which I fully understand.

I do not have anything against them. It is simply a supply issue. They cannot supply what I am looking for.

I phoned three local nurseries Tuesday.
The firsts said it was too late in the year to seed peppers that will reach any decent size.

The second said she does not seed any peppers. She orders all of them as plugs and said it was too late to order any more plugs. She said last year's price was $15/48ct

The third is one just 6 miles away. She said the same thing. She does not seed any and buys plugs. She also agree with the other person in the fact that it was too late to order plugs. She said last year's price was $21/48ct

Nursery's here do not give any real discounts. If they did folks would pool together and buy in bulk. They also do not really discount much at the end of season as then folks would just wait to buy then.

 

[Mad Professor]

I don't know anyone that uses bareroot plants. Plants in trays went through the roof this year. A 72 count tray of peppers is $18-20. I ordered 12 trays.

They want $3-4 for a 25 count packet of seeds.

Pepper seeds are easy to save...........

 

[Bill G]

I got a quote of $175 per 500 from a greenhouse a distance away. He said they would be small though.

 

[Bubster]

Not the cheapest, but Bonnie Plants here are considered the cream of the crop and every greenhouse and feed store carries them. There was a plant supplier out of Indiana that carried a brand called Dixon's plant and seed and we would get them local several years ago. I haven't saw the brand in probably 10 years though.

 

[farmer steve]

They want $3-4 for a 25 count packet of seeds.

Pepper seeds are easy to save...........

I don't save seeds because i can't be guaranteed to get a uniform pepper. The peppers I'm getting are $135 per 1,000seeds. I could raise them but then I'd have to buy potting mix,flats and propane to heat the greenhouse. I have seeded stuff before and when you do it by hand it's painstaking .

 

[muddstopper]

I guess you missed my first post.


Then you must have missed the ones after.

I read your first post and you said raised, as in past tense, used to raise, then as to the quantity, you stated you used to purchase as many as 50,000 plants and used to buy as many as 1million. Nowhere in your post did you mention the actual types of plants you are seeking nor did you give a total number of plants you wish to buy, or the variety. Now if I was to supply you plants, I would want to know what kind and how many before any discussion could even begin. I bet every nursery you contacted asked you that same question. Also I checked my tomato and pepper trays today and they are germinating and are up about 1inch. So I still say it isnt to late to start seeds. Laugh at that.

 

[Bill G]

I read your first post and you said raised, as in past tense, used to raise, then as to the quantity, you stated you used to purchase as many as 50,000 plants and used to buy as many as 1million. Nowhere in your post did you mention the actual types of plants you are seeking nor did you give a total number of plants you wish to buy, or the variety. Now if I was to supply you plants, I would want to know what kind and how many before any discussion could even begin. I bet every nursery you contacted asked you that same question. Also I checked my tomato and pepper trays today and they are germinating and are up about 1inch. So I still say it isnt to late to start seeds. Laugh at that.

I tend to trust the professionals here that have been in business for a lifetime. When I talked to several and are told the same thing I tend to go with their years of experience.

 

[muddstopper]

I tend to trust the professionals here that have been in business for a lifetime. When I talked to several and are told the same thing I tend to go with their years of experience.

To read what you post, I thought you where trying to pass yourself off as a professional. I would expect anyone that plants 50,000 plants per year wouldnt be classified as a amateur would they? Or are you a amateur trying to pass yourself off as a professional?

 

[Bill G]

To read what you post, I thought you where trying to pass yourself off as a professional. I would expect anyone that plants 50,000 plants per year wouldnt be classified as a amateur would they? Or are you a amateur trying to pass yourself off as a professional?

I am not trying to "pass" myself off as anything.

 

[muddstopper]

I am not trying to "pass" myself off as anything.

You still havent answered how many and what kind of plants you are looking for.

 

[Bill G]

You still havent answered how many and what kind of plants you are looking for.

I guess you missed it.....

I am looking for a new source of plants. We raised tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and cabbage commercially until the mid/late 1980's. Most of the time we bought from Evans Plant company in Tifton Georgia, A few times from Piedmont. There were times we might order 50,000 plants. I can remember years in which we would get 1 million plants in on a semi but that was to divide among several large operations in the community. Those days are all long gone and will never return.

My question is where are you getting small amounts of plants today. I have ordered small batches (500-1000) from Evans over the years and was happy. It seems Evans has changed hands and in doing so things have changed. The plants I ordered last year were very small and not hearty at all. ...........................................

Well I am striking out. I phoned Evans today and they are at $125 per 500, I called about 4-5 others and no one will ship. It seems all want to cater to small gardens which I fully understand.

I got a quote of $175 per 500 from a greenhouse a distance away. He said they would be small though.

Well I thought it was clear 500-1000 large, hearty pepper and tomato plants.

 

[muddstopper]

Not clear at all. You said you raised tomatoes, pepers, cucumbers and and cabbage commercialy back in the 80's. You said you have bought 500 to 1000 plants from Evans in the past, That is past tense and doesnt tell anybody anything about what kind or how many you need today. You asked where can you buy plants. I just asked what kind and how many and you seem to have a hard time just giving a straight answer. You could have just said an amount and what kind and this conversation would have been over a couple of pages ago.

 

[Bill G]

Not clear at all. You said you raised tomatoes, pepers, cucumbers and and cabbage commercialy back in the 80's. You said you have bought 500 to 1000 plants from Evans in the past, That is past tense and doesnt tell anybody anything about what kind or how many you need today. You asked where can you buy plants. I just asked what kind and how many and you seem to have a hard time just giving a straight answer. You could have just said an amount and what kind and this conversation would have been over a couple of pages ago.

OK

 

[Bill G]

The Amish gentleman that runs the closest Amish produce auction called this evening while I was out scouting timber. He said he would phone again in mid-April so we will see.

 

[muddstopper]

OK

I can see reasonable conversation confuses you greatly. Sorry about your disability to comprehend, I hope you seek help.

 

[Bill G]

I can see reasonable conversation confuses you greatly. Sorry about your disability to comprehend, I hope you seek help.

Ok

 

[farmer steve]

The Amish gentleman that runs the closest Amish produce auction called this evening while I was out scouting timber. He said he would phone again in mid-April so we will see.

Went to the produce auction today Bill. Mostly cole crops vegetable plants and some lettuce. These were mostly 48 count trays.

 

[Bill G]

Went to the produce auction today Bill. Mostly cole crops vegetable plants and some lettuce. These were mostly 48 count trays.
View attachment 1066202

What type of money were they bring?

 

[farmer steve]

What type of money were they bring?

I left before they were sold. Had wood to split.