Johnny's Donates to FoodCorps

FoodCorps members are making a huge difference nationwide to revitalize garden space; from September through March of the 2015 school year, they have built or revitalized the equivalent of 8.6 NBA basketball courts worth of garden space!

Our Charitable Giving Committee recently partnered with FoodCorps to supply their members with pre-made kits of easy-to-grow seeds.

We can’t wait to see the outcome of their seed kits!

• Learn about the FoodCorps organization »
• Visit FoodCorps' Facebook page to stay up-to-date with their work »
• Find out more about our Charitable Giving Committee » 
• See what else is In The News at Johnnyseeds.com »

Have Questions? Ask Our Growers

Standard Shipping Now Available for Canadian Customers

Our December Commercial Sales Team blog comes from Chris Siladi, Commercial Sales Rep for Canada. Here’s some background information on Chris:

Chris started with Johnny's in 1998 with over five years of experience working on market farms and in the fresh vegetable retail trade. He has enjoyed growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers for over 40 years. Chris has more than 15 years' experience helping growers in Canada and international markets, during which he has remained current with emerging farming techniques and acquired extensive knowledge of existing markets. He has helped many growers to become more efficient and successful while building a strong relationship between the grower and Johnny's Selected Seeds.

As the Commercial Sales Rep for Canada, Johnny’s recent improvements to our Canadian shipping process are especially important to Chris.

 

“Johnny’s now offering Standard Shipping to our Canadian customers means that they’re able to place an order on our website or through our Contact Center and receive the same rates that we offer our customers in the United States*.  You now have the option to choose the Standard Shipping rate indicated for the value of your order (see chart to the right). This is a huge change for Canadian customers! Before now, you could place an order on our website but a Johnny’s customer service representative would have had to contact you and let you know the various shipping options available for your order. Now, if you choose Standard Shipping as your shipping method, you can simply place your order online, see the applicable Standard Shipping chart, and you can continue to check out on the website with confidence that your order will be shipped via the Post Office and arrive shortly; no phone call is required before your order ships.**

 

 

“In the many years I have been working with Canadian growers, I’ve heard complaints that placing an order was sometimes difficult because a customer had to make a choice of various shipping methods. Now that our shipping process has been streamlined, our Contact Center staff is able to spend more time interacting with you about the things that are important to you, such as your choice of products, rather than the issue of shipping logistics.

 

We are confident this will improve the shopping experience on Johnnyseeds.com, as well as placing an order via the phone or by mail, for our Canadian customers. We are looking forward to your feedback on this new process. This change was prompted by our customer- your input is very valuable to us. Please do not hesitate to let us know how you think this new process is working.”

 To learn all the details about our improved shipping to Canada, visit Johnnyseeds.com now >>>

 

To contact Chris, you can reach him via email at: csiladi@johnnyseeds.com, or Toll-Free: 800-854-2580, ext. 5311.

Otherwise, for general inquiries about Johnny's Commercial Sales, email service@johnnyseeds.com and we will get back to you shortly, or visit our Territory Sales Representatives page at Johnnyseeds.com.  

*Canadian customers are not able to receive free shipping on orders over $200.00

** Please note, we cannot offer Standard Shipping on orders worth more than $1,000

 

Q&A with The National Young Farmers Coalition

We recently interviewed Wes Hannah, the Communications Coordinator and Organizer for The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC). Below, he gives some background information on the NYFC including what the organization offers, and sheds light on valuable resources, for young farmers everywhere.

• Can you give us a brief description of what The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) does?

 

Learn more about
the organization

NYFC is a grassroots coalition dedicated to representing, engaging and mobilizing young and begining farmers and ranchers to work toward their success  In our advocacy work, we bring the young farmer voice to the table on federal policy discussions.  In areas ranging from USDA programming to food safety regulations, NYFC makes sure the next generation receives the support it needs to be successful.  At the same time, we work with farmers around the country to organize local coalitions.  These affiliated groups organize for mutual aid in everything from social networking to labor sharing to group purchasing of supplies.

 
• What resources do you think are most valuable for young farmers to explore?

We have the privilege to interact with thousands of farmers at all different stages in their careers.  I would say the most valuable realization that young farmers have is that there is an immense amount of knowledge out there, whether on the production side or the business side.  The key is recognizing your needs and reaching out; we see connections developing all the time between beginning farmers and their cooperative extension agents, more experienced farmers, and especially between each other.

At the same time, I think there are some specific resources that we heartily recommend more young farmers should explore.  We've worked with land trusts around the country looking at the way they combine their conservation focus with incentivizing land transfer to a younger generation.  While there's a lot more that can be done, young farmers need to be reaching out to land resources like that. 

Additionally, there are great programs out there from the USDA and state governments designed to support education and land access for younger farmers.  The more demand we as a movement can show for those programs, the more we'll be able to successfully push for improving and increasing them.

 

• What are the some of the biggest challenges that young farmers face?

That question lies at the core of NYFC's mission.  When NYFC first formed, we conducted a survey of over 1,000 young and beginning farmers, asking them that very question.  The greatest challenges young farmers are facing are land access, lack of capital and credit, and access to healthcare. 

The cost and availability of land is an enormous issue for beginning farmers, especially given that many do not come from farming backgrounds.  We've seen a huge increase in land prices over the past decade, along with a concentration of land in the hands of older farmers.  These together mean that the next generation is facing a tougher time in acquiring the land they need to start successful businesses.

Starting a farm can be an expensive proposition, so the concern over lack of capital is not surprising.  We've seen many new farmers turning to vegetable production over animals or other enterprises because of the lower start-up costs.  Despite the USDA programs designed to help them, many beginning farmers still struggle with accessing those basic needs for their new operations.

Finally, healthcare tends to be a huge problem.  Farming is one of the most dangerous professions in the country, and because many new farmers are self-employed, many of them can't afford health insurance.  We have heard numerous stories of on-farm accidents that put a huge financial strain on a farm because of that problem.
 

Visit the National Young Farmers Coalition at http://www.youngfarmers.org/

 

• What do you think are some of The National Young Farmers Coalition biggest triumphs over the past year?

NYFC has been taking on a number of different issues, from pushing for the passage of a pro-farmer farm bill to analyzing the way land trusts interact with beginning farmers.  One recent triumph is our food safety campaign.  Earlier this year, the FDA released their draft of new food safety regulations for produce farms and facilities.  This was the first time those laws were rewritten in nearly seventy years, and there are huge long-term ramifications for how they affect beginning farmers, as well as the entire agricultural community. 

NYFC worked with a coalition of other organizations in poring over the rules and producing a comprehensive analysis.  We worked with our affiliates and members around the country to organize the National Day of Action to Save Local Farms, a grassroots project designed to compile hundreds of comments to the FDA before their comment period closes.  To date, we've organized over seventy letter-writing parties in thirty states, and we are confident that we can effect positive change in the FDA's regulations.

 

• What are some of the perks of being a NYFC member for young farmers?

Being involved with NYFC means being a part of a nation-wide community of beginning farmers who share resources, organize in local coalitions and advocate for each other.  Being a part of that community means creating better systems that will improve conditions for all farmers everywhere. 

At the same time, we know that farmers need immediate support in their careers.  That's why we've worked with more than a dozen agriculture-related companies to provide useful discounts to help out right now.  NYFC members have access to 5% off at Johnny's Selected Seeds, 10% off Working Person's Store and many other great deals.
 

You can sign up for email updates at the NYFC website

 • What role does Social Media play in the work the NYFC does?

Social media is a huge part of NYFC's work.  The coalition's organizing and advocacy successes depend on the activism and enthusiasm of thousands of our supporters.  We rely on the viral energy of beginning farmers to spread the word and recruit each other.  While in-person  meet-ups and conversations form the backbone of farmer organizing, social media often jump-starts our outreach and allows us to stay connected with countless young farmers on a regular basis.

 

• What are some of the biggest misconceptions people tend to have about getting into farming?

There is a common conception of agriculture in America as been focused only on large mono-culture farms.  The truth is, the farming community in this country is incredibly diverse, from the small-scale, intensive vegetable farms and dairy operations to the massive tracts of wheat and corn.  There is a place for every newcomer to find success, regardless of their passion.

 

• What’s the best way for someone to learn more about the work that the The National Young Farmers Coalition does?

The first step is to check out NYFC's website at  youngfarmers.org!  We have more information about the growing beginning farmer community and how to get involved.  We also have resources and databases for more information, and regular updates on the NYFC blog.
 

Photo courtesy of the NYFC website

The Return on Investment for Greenhouse Cucumbers

Here at Johnny's, we are often asked about the return on investment (ROI) for greenhouse crops. Seed for greenhouse varieties is typically priced higher than seed for field-grown varieties, and in this case we believe you get what you pay for. The breeding and development of protected-culture varieties is more specialized and involved, and the return should be sufficient to justify the extra investment required on the part of the breeder as well as the grower.

If what you really want to know is, Why so much more money for this greenhouse variety?, Andrew Mefferd, former Product Technician for cucumbers here at and a seasoned greenhouse grower himself, has some answers for you.


'Excelsior' Cucumbers



Higher Yields

• Bottom line, ROI and profitability will typically be higher for greenhouse cucumbers than field-grown cucumbers. One key reason is because yields from greenhouse cucumbers are higher as a result of the optimized growing environment. In particular, it’s warmer, so plants grow in their optimal temperature range more of the time or even all of the time.
• If you harvest just one more pound of cucumbers from a greenhouse variety than you would from a field variety, the seed will have paid for itself. Because you can ask a higher price for greenhouse crops at market, selling even just one extra fruit can sometimes cover the cost of the seed investment.
• Greenhouse varieties are higher yielding because they are selected for the specific environmental conditions within greenhouses and hoophouses. They are, for example, selected for resistance to diseases that can be problematic in protected culture. This allows them to stay healthier and produce over a longer period of time within that environment.

Greater Control of the Environment

• Within the greenhouse environment, plants are provided not just more optimal temperatures but also optimal water through irrigation, rather than being reliant on rainfall, which can set plants back when there is too much or not enough.
• Pests can be minimized in the greenhouse with the use of preventive measures such as insect screening and trellising. Ground insects or slugs that might feed on field cucumbers will not typically crawl up a plant to feed on fruits that are elevated off the ground. When you have fewer plants damaged by pests, you’re left with more marketable crops to sell.
• It’s important to note that greenhouse varieties often have better flavor because produce from a sickly plant that is inadequately photosynthesizing is just not likely to taste as good as produce from a healthy, greenhouse-grown plant.

'Socrates' Cucumber



Higher-Quality, More Diverse, Premium Product

• A greater range of cucumber varieties can be grown indoors than outdoors. These include long, European types and more of the seedless, thin-skinned types. One key reason for this is because they’re protected from bugs indoors, which is especially important for seedless, thin-skinned types, which are more susceptible to pests due to their thin skin.

Crop Cycle Time

• Greenhouse cucumbers are relatively quick to start bearing. Some early varieties can start yielding fruit as early as 45 days after being transplanted.
• As noted above, cucumber plants also live much longer in the greenhouse than in the field. A field-grown crop might bear for one month before the plants get tired out, and disease and pests take over, whereas it is more typical for greenhouse cucumber crops to last several months.

Other Considerations

• For greenhouse growers at high latitudes (like those of us here in Maine), it’s important to note that it can be very challenging to grow cucumbers through the winter — but it can be done. They require a lot of heat and also require supplemental lighting. Even without lights, however, your cucumber season can be extended well beyond the beginning and the end of the typical field cucumber season.
• Lastly, it is important to research which varieties your market wants most. If what your markets demand are slicers or slender, Japanese cucumbers, be sure to grow those, rather than focusing efforts on picklers or the long, European types. Time spent researching your market will pay off, when it comes to bottom-line ROI.

We hope this helps you evaluate the potential return on investment for greenhouse cukes. For additional information, visit Johnny’s website: 

• Greenhouse Growing Basics »
• How We Trial & Select Our Protected-Cultured Varieties »
• Greenhouse Cucumber Production Guide (Tech Sheet PDF) »
• Cucumber Pruning Video »
• Browse All Our Greenhouse Cucumbers »

Leave us a comment — we are interested in your questions and comments about growing greenhouse cucumbers!

Customer photos: Mulch

Rick Kelley, a self-described “pepper-head” from Greenfield MA recently wrote in to tell us about his experience using Johnny's mulch. 

Rick says, "I planted about sixty chiles, eggplants and tomatoes into ground covered by it on Monday of last week, then covered it with a low hoophouse, and the plants have been loving it."

"I started the seed in early February indoors under lights so they got a good start, but they needed to go into the ground, and your product made that possible."

Winter Growing Survey Contest Winner Announced

Jon and Debbie Butts of Ecofarm in Plant City, FL have been randomly selected as the winner of Johnny's Winter Growing Survey contest. The Butts have won a $50 coupon to Johnny's.

Ecofarm is a small, sustainable family farm that grows a variety of winter and summer produce. According to Debbie, they have had "great results from Johnny's seeds--especially some of the lettuces ('Cherokee', 'Green Star', 'Coastal Star', etc.) and kales ('Redbor', 'Winterbor', 'Toscano', etc.) that have performed well through this exceptionally warm, dry spring."

Jon and Debbie are also members of the Southwest Florida Small Farm Network (SWFSFN) and host a Sustainable Living Show on local Community Radio, WMNF 88.5FM in Tampa, where they often share sustainable gardening information with the public.

Product Reviews Contest Winner Announced

Diane Wilkinson of Fullerton, CA, was selected as the winner of Johnny's Product Review contest for a $50 coupon. Diane, a Johnny's customer for about 30 years, submitted her product review on #2989 Socrates cucumber.

Win $50 Johnny's Coupon by Taking Winter Growing Survey

Do you grow produce in the winter? Are you thinking about ways to extend your growing season? Fill out our Winter Growing Survey. It won't take more than 5 minutes and you can enter a contest to win a $50 Johnny's coupon.

Click here to take survey

Customer photos: Giant Sweet Potato

Mary Ann, an Augusta, Maine gardener, described her first two attempts at growing sweet potatoes as "disasters". The third time, however, proved to be a charm. This past spring, she purchased 25 Johnny's Beauregard sweet potato slips. She planted the slips during the first week of June. Four months later she is enjoying her best crop ever.

Last week, she dug up half her plants, including the 2 1/2 lb. tuber shown in the photos below. She still has 10 plants to harvest from a 30' bed.

"I have lots more to dig and how I wish I had known how big they were earlier because I would have entered them in the fairs for largest potato. I have a clue that I would have won a blue ribbon or two" Mary Ann said.

She reported digging up plants with 6 large potatoes per cluster.

"They are absolutely huge and delicious," Mary Ann said.

Two years ago, Maine experienced an unusually wet summer and Mary Ann said her sweet potatoes looked like string beans at harvest. "This time I hilled up the row. They seem to like drier conditions," Mary Ann said.

She also had a soil test done this year and amended her soil accordingly. Like many growers new to sweet potatoes, Mary Ann was surprised at how wilted the slips appeared to be when she received them in the spring. She put them in a glass of water to revive them and the plants quickly perked up.

2.5 lb. Beauregard sweet potato

A meal in itself

A successful harvest

Watch Johnny's instructional video for tips on how to plant sweet potato slips.

Polar Bear Pumpkin Earns Blue Ribbon at Fair

Sienna's Polar Bear a winner at Fair

Sienna Mazone, age 9, of Dresden, Maine, won first prize in the Great Pumpkin competition at the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity, Maine. Her entry was Polar Bear, a Johnny's Selected Seeds exclusive variety, that weighed in at 65 lb. See story in Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Maine) daily newspaper.

Sienna, who is home-schooled, helps with the family vegetable garden as part of her science curriculum. Her spring semester science project was to grow a Polar Bear pumpkin, a striking, white-skinned, Johnny’s-bred variety.

Sienna said she started the Polar Bear seed at the end of April in the family's greenhouse and transplanted it to the garden at the beginning of June. She fertilized with organic goat manure and put down Johnny's 's BioTelo black mulch to suppress weeds and warm the soil.

As the plant grew and developed fruit, Sienna pulled all but one pumpkin off the vines to help concentrate the growth to the one remaining fruit. It worked as the pumpkin grew to 65 lbs. It looked so nice, that the Mazones decided to enter it in the pumpkin growing contest at the Common Ground Country Fair Exhibition Hall. There, it won first prize and the Judges award.

Johnny’s hosted a nearby vendor booth and product demonstration area at the fair. Some employees noticed the pumpkin on display and were so impressed with its size, beautiful white skin, and uniformity, they asked if Johnny's could show off Siena’s prize-winning pumpkin at agricultural trade shows this winter. Sienna has given the pumpkin to Johnny’s in exchange for photos of the pumpkin and a tour of the Johnny’s Trial Farm in Albion. She will also receive a box of some 40 varieties of seeds for her garden next summer, including, of course, more Polar Bear Pumpkin seeds!

Look for the pumpkin as it tours northern New England this fall and winter with Johnny's Commercial Sales Rep. Christina Hillier.

Customer photos: A visit to Johnny's Research Farm

Have you ever wanted to know more about Johnny's Research Farm farm or warehouse?

View some photos taken by a customer from Detroit on a recent tour and read about his visit.

Jumbo Lives Up To Its Name for Pittsburgh Grower

Jumbo #11G Organic Italian Flat Pod Green Bean

Joe Lamonica, of Pittsburgh, PA, sent us this photo of his harvest of Jumbo green beans. This variety, a Johnny's exclusive, is an Italian flat-pod style, organic bush bean. A cross between Kentucky Wonder and Romano, Jumbo can grow pods up to 10" long with a rich bean flavor.

"My dad used to grow these when we were kids," Joe said. "The seeds I purchased from Johnny's  came up within a few days at 100% germination! They are producing  loads of big, beautiful Roman  beans!  The beans in the photo  are just about actual  size. Mama Mia!"

In a follow-up note, Joe said he recently harvested some 8" beans.

Joe comes from a long line of gardening enthusiasts.

"My grandfather and great uncle from Sicily built the first greenhouses in Fayette County, Pennsylvania," he said.

Share Your Knowledge: Product Reviews Now Available on Johnny's Website

We invite you to help a community of growers by submitting a product review.

Johnny's now has reviews on select products including: Basil, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Calendula, Celosia, Nasturtiums, Ornamental Grasses, Petunias, Sunflowers, Sweet Peas, Zinnias, Gourds, Broadforks, Hoes, Long-handled Tools, and Glaser Wheel Hoes and Accessories.

It's easy. Just find the product on our website and click the "write a review" link in the top right corner of the product description page.

• Rate the product: 1 to 5 stars.
• List the Pros and Cons.
• Report the Best Use.
• Tell us more: with a comment, picture or even a video.

Would you like to write or read reviews for additional products? Take our short survey.

Your review will help other growers make informed buying decisions.