General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'We are 500% busier': Nurseries overwhelmed as everyone starts quarantine gardens
https://www.sfgate.com/food/slideshow/Garden-centers-victory-nurseries-busy-quarantine-202068.php"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.
Now, bored Bay Area residents are rising to the occasion, with an abundance of time on their hands and nowhere to go but their own homes. Beginners and seasoned gardeners alike have been flocking to anywhere that sells an herb or vegetable plant.
People are buying any vegetable they can get their hands on, DiGrande said. People are buying it off the truck before its even on the ground.
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 theyve had to limit customers to one basil plant per person. (And if people arent buying edible plants, theyre at least stocking up on houseplants, he added.)
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,869 posts)I tried to order some plants from one of the major local garden centers and they hardly had anything. I was able to get a couple of geraniums, some coleus plants and some mulch. They were pretty well picked clean. Got a couple of tomato plants at a local plant sale; the big garden center didn't have any at all.
DeminPennswoods
(15,290 posts)is restarting their garden that's been fallow for the last few years. Planting swiss chard for myself.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,438 posts)Crowded and no social distancing being practiced (and few masks)
mopinko
(70,239 posts)funny thing happens on an urban farm when there is a plague, and the food system goes wonky.
this farmer is having a hard time getting out my front door cuz there always seems to be a customer on my porch.
whodda thunk it?
beside, ya know, every person in this movement.
i sure do love you peeps.
so happy to be here for ya.
**
also, i added a second sale this year, cold weather plants, and i.sold.out.
yup, yup.
can verify this is a thing.
Demovictory9
(32,475 posts)txwhitedove
(3,932 posts)NonGMO seeds from Amazon came in. Just checked and they still have them. Bought a dwarf lemon tree at Moon Valley Nursery this week on their first day to reopen. Now to get the raised beds in and all planted, then pray our big vege eating husky stays away. Edit to add check dollar stores cause they sometime so have seeds. And sprout your own carrots and potatoes.
fierywoman
(7,694 posts)txwhitedove
(3,932 posts)onions. My potatoes sprouted eyes in bag in the pantry, so I'll cut those up to plant. Check Pinterest for pics. You can check everything there, how to grow mushrooms, make a cheap compost bin from trash can, etc.
fierywoman
(7,694 posts)MissB
(15,812 posts)Just whack off about 1/4 of the white part plus the root. I take it right out to a planter off my porch and stick it in the dirt each morning.
I need to stop buying them as my seed green onions are about the right size. But if I burn through those, the greens from the planted roots will probably be ready.
Im wary of planting store potatoes though, just because of potato mosaic virus. YMMV
fierywoman
(7,694 posts)Demovictory9
(32,475 posts)fierywoman
(7,694 posts)chemicals used, sorry I am lacking in specifics.
Midnight Writer
(21,803 posts)Planting bushes, gardens, perforating, seeding, fertilizing, trimming.
Busy, busy, busy.
MissB
(15,812 posts)I grew too many; gave out the extras to friends and siblings. Next up will be the hot peppers.
I am out in my yard every afternoon after work. I usually am this time of year; my commute is just much shorter. I go out and pull weeds for a few minutes during lunch.
Ive given away various seedlings on my local nextdoor this spring and shared seeds with someone that was tending a grade school garden. Its what gardeners do.
If youre looking for seeds, ask a gardener.