Posted on 05/09/2020 10:53:29 AM PDT by thecodont
Spring is always a busy time for garden centers. But during a nationwide lockdown, the season is a whole different animal.
"We are 500% busier than we normally are this time of year," said Mario DiGrande, owner of Oakland's Thornhill Nursery. "I've already sold as much soil in six weeks that I do in an entire year. It's just crazy."
Considered essential businesses by California's stay-at-home order, many garden centers have opted to stay open for the past few months - albeit with reduced staff and social-distancing measures such as curbside pickup or appointment-only shopping.
[...]
Herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus trees, soils and fertilizers are all especially popular items. At Thornhill Nursery, DiGrande, who is currently running the whole operation by himself, says they’ve had to limit customers to one basil plant per person. (And if people aren’t buying edible plants, they’re at least stocking up on houseplants, he added.)
From stockpiling canned and dry goods at grocery stores, to cultivating sourdough starters and baking bread, growing vegetable gardens seems like the natural progression of quarantine clichés.
“It’s survivalist, first and foremost,” explained Melissa Smith, who recently started a garden in her San Leandro home with her family. “People have gone generations without knowing where food comes from and how to provide for themselves.”
There’s even a bit of a history behind this urge to start a garden. During World War I and World War II, various countries, including the United States, were encouraged to plant victory gardens: vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens planted at private residences and public parks to supplement rations and boost morale.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
We are deep inside of the season. I plant something daily and I’ve been able to harvest food daily (right now spinach and lettuce. Today I’ll prepare the raised beds (thank you Mr. Mercat) for planting the rest of my baby plants, mostly tomatoes and peppers. Next day I’ll plant the rest of my corn.
Yum! Corn! Which varieties are you planting?
Good news. There was concern that lock downs could lead to less gardening which could lead to a vegetable shortage.
I had already read that seed companies were having trouble keeping up with demand.
We planted two weeks ago here in PA. Of course we had to cover everything last night since it was 30 degrees with ice coming down!
During WWII almost every home with a yard planted “Victory Gardens.” It was a huge deal!!
“We are 500% busier than we normally are this time of year,” said Mario DiGrande, owner of Oakland’s Thornhill Nursery. “I’ve already sold as much soil in six weeks that I do in an entire year. It’s just crazy.”
...
I’ve been told by some of the FR economic experts that all small businesses are shutting down permanently.
My Daughter and her family moved to a cabin to wait out the virus. Her husband works in a hospital
She told me a couple of weeks ago that she has started a garden. Tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and sunflowers. So far they have eaten a single strawberry.
“I had already read that seed companies were having trouble keeping up with demand.”
I have in to grow from Seeds this year. My Salsa Garden is looking good so far. Worry about this late cold weather slowing the plant growth down.
Nothing like fresh vegetable straight from the plant to the table.
Yep, we started a raised bed garden, are planting 6 fruit trees, and have chickens that will start laying in about 3 months.
My piano tuner said that during the month he wasn’t working, he and his wife built at 50’ x 25’ greenhouse on their property for this very reason.
Bought most of my seeds on the web in January. Have tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach started in the house. But I’m in Upstate NY...wind driven snow is driving me nuts.
Life always gets back to the basics like growing one’s own plants.
Lol...the skinny pants crew discovers the joy of growing vegetables.
I’m lazy, I have 4 squash plants. I’ve been trying to get some bulk sweet corn but haven’t had any luck.
Just got home from “attempting” to get some items from a local nursery where we shop weekly.
AT LEAST 50 cars there and multiple people per vehicle.
We’re gonna try again Monday.....
My DIL planted open-pollinated seed last year and has ended up with a great volunteer garden. She’s rearranged some of them but left most right where they were.
No ice but it was a bummer covering everything because of the temps. Everything looks good though.I think it's the last of that nonsense. Mine can take the mid 40s (I hope).
It takes a pretty good-sized garden to get quantities of produce that are enough to tide one over until next year’s comes in. A few tomato plants doesn’t do much.
Better off going to the store weekly and picking up a dozen cans of various veggies (which haven’t been scarce around here except for a week or so last month). By Labor Day there’d be a couple hundred cans in the house and that number can keep being added to.
Much less labor involved and probably no more expensive when considering all the supplies, equipment, effort, and time that goes into producing and preserving that much stuff. Not to mention, one August hail storm won’t wipe it all out.
Back in the day it was done by farm families with no “town job”, plenty of time, and eight kids to help out.
Every little bit helps though, I suppose, and it’s good, wholesome, healthy activity.
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