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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: "Beth Spaugh" <lists AT rhomestead.com>
- To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms
- Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 13:55:43 -0400
I also am doing squash blossoms for the first time. Thank you for the info.
Couple of questions:
If I take female blossoms, will the fruit not mature more? Is this what
makes limp ends?
First thing in the morning must be really early (chicken loosing time),
because I have cucumber beetles in the blossoms as soon as they open. I have
been picking at night while they are still shut. Anyone else do that?
Advantages/disadvantages and what does the market expect?
Thank you.
Beth Spaugh
Rehoboth Homestead
66 Jabez Allen Road
Peru NY 12972
rhomestead.com
-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Adriana
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 10:22 AM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms
Marcy,
I'm doing squash blossoms for the first time this year.
The best (biggest) flowers are from Costata Romanesco Zucchini - I'm
charging $.75 apiece - this is in line with what wholesalers are charging in
my area. A friend in Pennsylvania gets a lot less because Amish growers are
charging as low as $.25 each. When I only have smaller sqaush blossoms
available I'm charging $.50 apiece.
Harvest flowers that are wide open first thing in the morning and put
directly into a cooler with an ice pack in the bottom covered with a towel
or cardboard to avoid chill injury - yes, they are delicate but you will get
used to it. It's a good idea to have a tray of some sort in the cooler so
that you minimize individual handling after harvest. Line up the flowers so
that the stems are all in the same direction - tangled flowers equals
tangled stems. After a couple of hours the flowers get somewhat limp and
you can pack them into clamshells. I get 25 in a 9" x 9" clamshell.
You will not get used to the scratching of the spikes on the stems. Plan on
replacing the plants after about a month of production as they get "spent".
I did not realize that the Romanescos were more vining than bush type
plants. In the future I will trellis them.
Adriana
In hot, hot Alabama
> A customer at the market asked if I could bring squash blossoms. I haven't
> checked any of the post-harvest charts yet, but I'm wondering if anyone
> has
> experience and what kind of treatment/handling you'd recommend. I tried a
> few and they seem pretty delicate and wilt easily. I'm thinking maybe
> they'd
> fit in egg cartons.
> Other packaging ideas?
> Should I keep them cool?
> Pricing?
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-
[Market-farming] Squash blossoms,
Adriana, 07/17/2005
- Re: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms, Beth Spaugh, 07/17/2005
- Re: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms, marcy, 07/18/2005
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
-
[Market-farming] Squash blossoms,
, 07/18/2005
-
[Market-farming] Moving the Melon Patch,
TxBeeFarmer HotPop, 07/18/2005
-
Re: [Market-farming] Moving the Melon Patch,
Pat Jackowsky, 07/18/2005
-
[Market-farming] Melon Patch,
Tom at Limerock, 07/19/2005
-
Re: [Market-farming] Melon Patch,
Pat Jackowsky, 07/20/2005
- Re: [Market-farming] Melon Patch, Allan Balliett, 07/20/2005
- Re: [Market-farming] Melon Patch, Marty Kraft, 07/20/2005
-
Re: [Market-farming] Melon Patch,
Pat Jackowsky, 07/20/2005
-
[Market-farming] Melon Patch,
Tom at Limerock, 07/19/2005
-
Re: [Market-farming] Moving the Melon Patch,
Pat Jackowsky, 07/18/2005
- Re: [Market-farming] Squash blossoms, Elaine Granata, 07/19/2005
-
[Market-farming] Moving the Melon Patch,
TxBeeFarmer HotPop, 07/18/2005
- [Market-farming] Squash blossoms, Adriana, 07/19/2005
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