| Author |
Garden Gate:  Heirloom seeds  |
|
|
coffeemom
True Blue Farmgirl
160 Posts
Melody
Carlinville
IL
USA
160 Posts |
 Posted - May 18 2010 : 09:51:01 AM
|
I planted heirloom seeds this year and they aren't doing so well. I have never tried them before, and I am disappointed. I started tomatoes and peppers early, and have planted green beans and carrots so far, (it's been too rainy to get any more planted so far). Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong or could be doig better?
Thanks for your help.
Melody |
|
|
vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 11:26:02 AM
|
What do you mean by disappointed? I always use heirloom seeds and they do wonderful and produce abundant harvests. Are you having trouble with germination, growth, etc.? Not sure of your zone either. I never plant to soon either. No Green beans in my zone 5 until Memorial day or they will rot in the soil. Are your peppers and tomatoes still inside or did you transplant outside. Remember that germination rate is never 100% with any seed.Did you get your seeds from a good company, they can help with your questions. A little more info will help to diagnose your problem
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
 |
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 12:05:55 PM
|
Melody, I have a hard time with them also. Last year was really bad. Only a few tomatoes made it. This year is a little better. We had lots of rain in the beginning then it got real hot and dry. I think heirlooms are picky. I had to really baby the tomatoes that did survive. I thought it was just me though. I hate you're having trouble.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 12:45:28 PM
|
I have used Seed Saver's heirlooms exclusively and never have a problem. My tomatoes and peppers are still inside though. I don't usually put them out until end of May in my zone. What company did you use and what is the problem?
Age only matters if you are wine or cheese.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 7:54:18 PM
|
Most hybrids are bred to survive a myriad of conditions and thrive but they don't always produce the best flavored fruit and they are not usually sustainable (The baby plant not producing the same fruit as the mother) Where as heirlooms while more region specific are usually more hardy and are bred not only for fruit production, but also for flavor while still being sustainable. If you save seeds you should only have to buy heirloom seeds once or twice (depending on the crop rotation, like carrots take 2 years to seed)
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 9:24:46 PM
|
Melody I tried heirloom seeds for the first time last year and it was a disaster. But I think it was because like Alee mentioned I had always used hybrid seeds and they will thrive if you put them in a pile of poop and spit on them once a week. This year I tried again but I used grow lighted for the first couple of weeks. If you have not purchased Hobby Farm Heirloom Gardening it is worth every penny. It has a whole section on starting heirloom seeds and an extended section on tomatoes. I found it very helpful. It also describes some of the best choices for different regions. My garden is beautiful this year and 99% heirloom. I planted 31 tomato plants, all heirloom, and all are loaded with tomatoes. I planted heirloom peppers, broccoli, radishes, onions, okra, squash, pumpkins actually everything except a few herb seeds that I could not find in heirloom. I purchased my seeds from Atwoods, Lowes and Wal Mart. I really think the lights made the difference. Last year I started all my seeds in the greenhouse. Don't give up I think they just take a little extra getting started but now that they are growing it is a breeze. I actually think they are a little easier. I don't seem to have to water as much and I have not been fighting bugs like I had in the past.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
|
|
|
prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 9:49:00 PM
|
Melody--I live about 35 miles SW of Carlinville and have my first ever veggie garden this year. I don't know if it's due to all the rain we've had, but my lettuce and spinach just aren't making it. It's still too early to tell with my tomatoes. And it may have been a little too early to plant peppers, they like hot weather. My sugar snap peas are doing good. I think this has been an unseasonably wet and unsettled spring, temperature-wise. Lots of people are having issues with their gardens. So maybe it's not that you have heirlooms, maybe it's just this crazy weather.
Cindy
"There is more to life than increasing its speed". Mahatma Gandhi
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
| |
Garden Gate: Heirloom seeds |
|
Heirloom seeds
