Dirt Farmers Kindly Step In, looking for Crop Suggestions...
Full Name:
Sycamore Slough
Forums:
Although I doubt there are a bunch of Farmers here,
Just thought I'd throw out a request.
Which crops are profitable on your Farm / Garden, and relatively Deer-Proof ?
No, I can't raise Ganja here. Not legal.
What do you see in the local Farmer's Market that is tasty and fetches a decent price ?
I've got a few acres, some tractors, assorted Farm machinery.
Thinking edible Amaranth varieties, various Lavenders, the usual Heirloom tomatoes, maybe some Rare Beans.
Soil needs some rehab, hence Beans, Nitrogen fixers. Not interested in gmo Soy, rather Gourmet Bean varieties.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
Stu, can you grow a decent
Stu, can you grow a decent strawberry?
I'm desperate for one
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Yes,
Yes,
Mr. Lumber Truck,
I've raised excellent Strawberries over the years.
Not had too much luck with them in Jerseyland. Slugs, Squirrels, Deer et al ruin every crop.
Going to try 'hoop houses' this year and see if I can keep Mother Nature's bums out of the Berries.
Some people do well with Strawberries in NJ, but they basically machine-gun all the Deer and other freeloaders.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: gypsy tailwind
You've got plenty of hardwood
You've got plenty of hardwood, why not mushrooms?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Thanks,
Thanks,
Mr. T.O.D.
I've got some Shiitake logs going on, plan to make some more.
Looking for field crop ideas; nothing that everyone else does, but something interesting, good for the soil, maybe profitable.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: makaha
maybe the garden state will
maybe the garden state will allow for commercial hemp:
https://scarincihollenbeck.com/law-firm-insights/marijuana/cannabis-law/...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: gypsy tailwind
Have you thought about
Have you thought about talking with some local area chefs/restaurants about what they're interested in, versus growing whatevs and then trying to sell it?
Chefs would rather have that local farm to table relationship and are more willing then one would think to buy from you.
I know that's how it is WNC.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
Garlic
Garlic
Plant in Fall, harvest in Summer. You can also sell the scapes.
I have a friend who sells direct to restaurants, and gets over $10 lb.
Garlic is pretty easy to deal with, too.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: ________
Ice
Ice
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
BrainK --
BrainK --
I've done OK with Garlic as a yard-garden crop.
What varieties can you vouch for, as good producers and resistant to the usual blights & pests ?
Also if anyone knows Bountiful strains of Lavender, that's something I want to try as a long-term crop.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
Boy, NJ is such a different
Boy, NJ is such a different zone than VT, I couldn’t really tell you what does well there. I’ve really enjoyed the German Porcelain, huge heads with 4-5 cloves each, store well and have great flavor.
Two seasons ago I got some random pest, which is weird for garlic. Last year it came back and I narrowed it down to the Leek Moth, which is moving south from Canada. I sprayed twice with BT and saved the crop.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Backroads Bill
My kids are big on Halloween
My kids are big on Halloween and carve a mess of Pumpkins so I grow them,
All ways plant some watermelon,
Don't make beer but planted Hops for fun several years ago and they grow pretty good and come back every year.
This year I'm also going to mess with Heirloom Tomatoes but they have to be grafted on root stock.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
"...Boy, NJ is such a
"...Boy, NJ is such a different zone than VT, I couldn’t really tell you what does well there. I’ve really enjoyed the German Porcelain, huge heads with 4-5 cloves each, store well and have great flavor..."
Thanks for the Garlic tips, Mr. BrianK.
I am basically Zone 7 on the USDA Zone maps.
Some say 7A, others Zone 7B.
If you want to send Bulbs of German Porcelain for planting, I'll cover your expenses and postage, and eventually mail Mature Garlic Bulbs for free if they thrive here.
Put them in baggies and use the small Priority Mail box.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sun so hot, clouds so low
Braided organic garlic might
Braided organic garlic might be the best bang for the buck
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
I’m a Zone 4 A or B.
I’m a Zone 4 A or B.
But alas, I have no extra seed crop for you. I have totally dialed in, so that I have exactly enough to plant in October and then eat for the rest of the year.
I have no root cellar, but I keep my mudroom at 40 degrees and store the garlic in a good, old paper bag. Some of it is just starting to sprout now, which isn’t too bad.
Down there, can you plant in the Spring for a Fall harvest? We have to plant in Fall.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
http://www
http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/porcelain.html
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Well,
Well,
Thanks for your response,
Mr. BK. I might try your GP variety in test-plots of other ones, to see how it does here.
What I'm looking for is ease of growth, great flavor, and fecundity.
My biggest concern is Deer eating whatever I plant. There are quite a few here !! They damage many field crops.
Used to not bother Hot Peppers, but lately they've developed a Taste for those.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
I second the hops idea. Talk
I second the hops idea. Talk to your nearest craft brew place and see what varieties they want. They may make a deal with you and create a Disco Brew featuring locally grown hops. There is $$ in that.
I have noticed more and more hops growing around the WNY area.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Briank
I had a tenant who planted
I had a tenant who planted hops about 6 years ago. Thea shit was a bitch to dig out last year!
Short of putting up an 8’ high fence, not sure what you can really do about deer. You can always go to the local hair salon and ask them for a big bag of hair clippings. Sprinkle them on and around the plants and it will keep the deer at bay for a while. Dried lion piss also works, until it rains.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Sycamore Slough
Thanks,
Thanks,
Mr. China Rider.
Have been growing a few Hop varieties here since the 1990's.
The "C" strains do pretty well ::: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Columbus.
Hop prices are pretty down right now, but these things always fluctuate.
Besides breweries, tincture / medicinal shoppes like Organic ones for their uses.