So who is supplying module plants to small growers now?

Just received an email that Farringtons of Hesketh bank are no longer supplying small growers with module plants.

Well me anyway, and certainly not due to payment problems on my part. My order is a very diverse one with lots of varities. I suspect full stillages of one type collected would still be possible.

A pity because they did supply an excellent service. The email says due to the shortage of labour to sort out mixed stillages. I always thought the service was too good in that we could have as little as one tray of any plant type. If say there was a list we could choose from on certain dates it might have been a compromise.

I do hope this is not down to idiots not paying their bills on time.

However Farringtons know & understand their business, so I can only thank them for the good service I've had in the past.

Anyone else offering this service, there must be a demand with the number of farmshops in the country?
 

Bogweevil

Member
Alternatively

1NaturalSeeder400.jpg
 
Depends how slightly too small you are but couldn’t you increase your order and sell the surplus?

Thanks Kidds

My bill is well above the threshhold, its just that is made up of approx 60 batches all too small. 100,000 plants in total if say one crop no problem. In fact 20 batches would be ok, but I need 60 for good reason in fact 100 would be better.

I sort of slip between commercial production & gardening. Too small for one too big for the other. The correct modern insecticide application with Verimark is very important to me.

Not sure I could sell the surplus either as plants or mature crop.

I'm optimistic of finding a supplier.

If not I will precision drill on raised beds under insect drilling. If I went down that route my main concern would be fungal disease & slugs. The key will be removing the nets at the correct time & possibly using Minento one for 3rd generation root fly.

I quite like the idea of drilling, I used to in the days of Yaltox & then Gigant. Would aim to drill each week with the same culivars to get a continous supply. As a swede grower I have all the kit. But no one else is doing it so slightly cold feet.
 
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Alternatively

1NaturalSeeder400.jpg

Err um

There is also the small matter of the glasshouse, compost & equipment to apply Verimark. Could be used for other crops, I suppose.

Who supplies machines like the above it looks expensive. Would enjoy reading up on such equipment though.

Edit If I'm too small to buy plants

I'm too small to do someone else's job, but what an interesting idea.
 
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JLLM

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Tyddewi
Err um

There is also the small matter of the glasshouse, compost & equipment to apply Verimark. Could be used for other crops, I suppose.

Who supplies machines like the above it looks expensive. Would enjoy reading up on such equipment though.

Edit If I'm too small to buy plants

I'm too small to do someone else's job, but what an interesting idea.
Did you sort yourself out in the end ? I may know of a seeder for sale if you were interested.
 

JLLM

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Tyddewi
Thanks, what model is it.

Yes after a lot of er uming a rival nursury accepted my order.

Will consider precicion drilling under flea beetle nets in future, IF THE BIOLOGICAL ROOT FLY CONTROLS work. We have a Stanhay.
No idea of the make, the guy who used to grow our plants passed away recently and I know that the tray filler and seeder are for sale.
 

Stuart J

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
UK
Thanks, what model is it.

Yes after a lot of er uming a rival nursury accepted my order.

Will consider precicion drilling under flea beetle nets in future, IF THE BIOLOGICAL ROOT FLY CONTROLS work. We have a Stanhay.

Hi DA, who are you using now?
My local propagator looks to be stopping. Looking for somewhere that will sell me around 15'000 plants, 3 batches, 25 varieties of brassica....! @Devil's advocate
 
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Driller

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Down south
We use wessex plants in congresbury nr Bristol, have done for years and he looks after a few smaller growers, always get good service from Chris and annette
 
Hi DA, who are you using now?
My local propagator looks to be stopping. Looking for somewhere that will sell me around 15'000 plants, 3 batches, 25 varieties of brassica....! @Devil's advocate

Quantil

Fiona gave me the 3rd degree at first about the small order. But when she realised I was happy to use the varities they were sowing in bulk & that I paid on collection she was lovely & helpful. Even offered to deliver to Sheffield wholesale market (after the first two batches) & was chatty & friendly.

Have you had a better year? The rain has caused some problems here but overall most profitable year for leaf veg ever here. Swede disappointing though, too dry at drilling plus flea beetle got through the nets.
 
A totally different type of farming that I'm used to but very interesting., I will follow with interest.
Now that I travel east to the land of milk and honey (lincs) on a regular basis my partner has a donkey (horse type thing anyway) and we end up at sheepsgate which has green houses and lots of individual plants of some sort, looks interesting
 
A totally different type of farming that I'm used to but very interesting., I will follow with interest.
Now that I travel east to the land of milk and honey (lincs) on a regular basis my partner has a donkey (horse type thing anyway) and we end up at sheepsgate which has green houses and lots of individual plants of some sort, looks interesting

Thanks for your interest.

Loads of stuff on youtube.


Apart from dinosaurs like me supplying local trade. The veg industry I would say is years ahead of broad acre farming in mangement & tech, especially in business skills to source staff & deal with very difficult super market buyers & detailed record keeping.

Are you not too far from the vale of Evensham
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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