Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day 2015 from all of us here at Johnny's! 

How are YOU celebrating today? Leave a comment under this post and let us know.

Ever wonder how Earth Day started? This observance arose from an interest in gathering national support for environmental issues, from San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson.

• Visit Earthday.org to find out more 

Photos: Spring Transplanting Under Way

Last week was a busy one for the Johnny's Research Farm crew. Work consisted of transplanting seedlings, cultivation, and planting bed preparation.

See photo slideshow:

Happy New Year from Johnny's!

Happy New Year from all of us at Johnny's Selected Seeds.

We're ready to help you prepare for 2011 growing season.

Be sure to check out some of our new varieties for 2011.

Photos: Frozen food section

Jack Frost visited Johnny's Research Farm last week. His icy breath brings out the flavor in many cold-weather vegetables. The flavors of Kale, Carrots, and Spinach, to name a few, are often enhanced by a little nip of frost. And these frosty photos are pretty cool too, especially if you view them in full-screen mode.

See Flickr slideshow below.

New Hampshire farmer wins Johnny's Gift Coupon prize

Elaine Haynes, of the Haynes Homestead Farm in Colebrook, N.H., was the winner of a $100 Johnny's gift coupon. Haynes drew the winning ticket in a raffle held at the New Hampshire Vegetable and Berry Growers' Seminar held October 27 in Whitefield, N.H.

Happy Halloween from Johnny's

Here's a treat (no trick): A few photos and a video from our pumpkin breeding program. It's not too early to think about next season's Jack-o-Lantern crop! We have a great selection of seed for growing mid to large-size pumpkins.

Video: Walk around pumpkin patch

Visit Johnny's Trial Fields tomorrow evening: Twilight Walk October 20th, 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Please join us at Johnny's Research Farm in Albion for the opportunity to tour our extensive trial fields, connect with other farmers and gardeners, and converse with Johnny's research staff. We'll be discussing:

• New Quick Hoops™ Trial
• Root Crops, including Kohlrabi, Radish, Turnips, Fennel, Celeriac, Parsley, Parsnips, Chicory Root, Carrots, Scorzonera, Salsify, Burdock
• Fall Ornamentals
• Onions
• Winter Squash
• Regular and Sweet Potatoes
• Leeks

Please contact Peggy Huff at phuff@johnnyseeds.com with any questions.

The Research Farm is located at 184 Foss Hill Road in Albion. Click here for directions to Johnny's Research Farm.

Crop walk video: Portuguese Kale trials; tomato seed processing

In this week's crop walk, we look at our Portuguese Kale trials and Black Cherry tomato seed processing.

Afternoon crop walk, August 6, 2010

In this week's episode, we take a look at our flower trials -- Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan), Amaranthus, and Sunflowers. Also on the walk, we examine a few vegetables and herbs -- Cauliflower, Kale, Cabbage, Corn, Peppers and Dill.

What's up, Doc? Photos of the carrot harvest!

Visit Johnny's Trial Fields: Twilight Walk August 18th, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Please join us at Johnny's Research Farm in Albion for the opportunity to tour our extensive trial fields, connect with other farmers and gardeners, and converse with Johnny's research staff. We'll be discussing:

Fruiting crops: Varieties and growing tips

Mulch trials: Review the results with the Research team

Flowers: Potential new varieties and fall planting flowers

Caterpillar tunnels: See the newest season extension tool in action, learn about its advantages

Twilight walks are part of Johnny's commitment to provide products and information to help Growers succeed. This August 18th event is the second in a three-part series. The third walk will be held October 20th. Subjects to be covered include:

• New Quick Hoops Trial
• Root Crops, including Kohlrabi, Radish, Turnips, Fennel, Celeriac, Parsley, Root
  Parsnips, Chicory Root, Carrots, Scorzonera, Salsify, Burdock
• Fall Ornamentals
• Onions
• Winter Squash
• Regular and Sweet Potatoes
• Leeks

Please contact Susan Anderson at sanderson@johnnyseeds.com with any questions.

The Research Farm is located at 184 Foss Hill Road in Albion. Click here for directions to Johnny's Research Farm.

Video: Afternoon crop walk, July 23, 2010

In this week's episode, we take a look at our melon trials, zinnias, snapdragons, eggplant, corn, and a special treat -- okra. We also examine a lettuce trial with Janika Eckert, a Johnny's board member,  plant breeder, and the wife of Johnny's founder Rob Johnston.

Photos from the Research Farm, July 22, 2010

Summer squash harvest in TubTrug

Summer squash harvest

Pumpkin blossom

Pumpkin pollination

Squash pollination

Squash pollination

Video: Morning crop walk, July 15, 2010

Weekly video of plant growth and progress at the Johnny's Research Farm in Albion, Maine

Today's crop walk of our trial fields includes a look at cauliflower, Swiss chard, corn, grafted greenhouse tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, pumpkins, and some beautiful Amaranthus flowers.

Photos from the Research Farm, July 13, 2010

Pumpkin patch

Johnny's farm workers lay down straw mulch on the pumpkin patch.

Planting lettuce seedlings.

 

Row cover removal.

Grafted tomato trials

Zinnia

Zinnia close-up view.

A garter snake scurries off after enjoying the sun.

Photos: Johnny's Variety Trials Twilight Crop Walk

Some photos from our June 30 crop walk at the Johnny's Research Farm in Albion, Maine.

The No. 14 back field is our largest. No. 14 features an assortment of lettuce, greens, peas, and summer squash.

Lettuce trials: Johnny's Farm workers did a great job making it beautiful.

Cover crop on left with four clean rows ready to plant.

Another view of the lettuce, greens and chicory trials.

Guests have a closer look at the lettuce trials.

Pumpkins under Agribon row cover. The cover has been removed and now workers are mulching the pumpkin field with straw. Video upcoming.

Guests walk to main fields after returning from back field. That's a pepper trial under the hoophouse in the background.

Tools and Supplies Product Manager Adam shows off a caterpillar hoophouse under which we're trialing eggplants and other crops.

Video: Morning crop walk at Johnny's Research Farm

Here are a few quick clips from our weekly walk around the Johnny's Selected Seeds Research Farm in Albion, Maine. It's early summer and we've had almost perfect weather for growing -- moderate rains followed by warm, sunny days. The crops are looking good. Our first plantings of lettuce and spinach have peaked. The broccoli looks ready to harvest. We also take a look at peppers, tomatoes, squash and a few flower varieties, including some beautiful snapdragons.

For the latest farm news, read weekly report -- "What's New at the Farm" written by Brian, the Johnny's Farm Manager.

Twilight crop walk next week at Johnny's Research Farm

Please join us next Wednesday (June 30th) from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Johnny's Research Farm in Albion, Maine for the opportunity to tour our extensive trial fields, connect with other farmers and gardeners, and converse with Johnny's research staff.

We'll be discussing and showcasing onions from our Quick Hoops™ trial, hoop house plantings, herbs, early lettuce and greens trials, mulch trials, and caterpillar tunnel trials. Light refreshments will be served.

Please contact Susan Anderson at sanderson@johnnyseeds.com with any questions.

The Research Farm is located at 184 Foss Hill Road in Albion. Click HERE for directions.

Video: First day of Summer at the Research Farm

Here's some video footage from a morning walk around Johnny's Selected Seeds Research Farm on the first official day of summer. The video was shot with a tiny Flip video camera about the size of a seed packet. The camera has a microphone about the size of a pumpkin seed. So audiophiles, please excuse the lack of high-quality sound.

This 30-second movie includes short clips of our vegetable trials -- lettuce, onions, brassicas, peppers under a hoophouse, and tomatoes. We threw in some tomato pruning and tractor work for good measure.



We're hoping provide a weekly video clip from the Farm. We promise, they will get better. Stay tuned!

And let us know what you think.

View other Johnny's Selected Seeds videos.

Scenes from Albion: Fields greening up

A misty morning at Johnny's Selected Seeds Research Farm.

The Chinese Cabbage is looking healthy and ready to eat.

Chives in full bloom.

Lettuce trials: We carry more than 100 varieties.

Thinning the greens.

Now is the time to get a jump start on the weeds. Johnny's carries many of the tools and supplies to help make weeding pleasant and fast.

Petunias