Kitchen Garden Forum

Whilst away in Sussex for a few days, we visited the Farmers Market at Hailsham on Saturday and were pleasantly surprised to see a stallholder selling vegetable seedlings by the single cell, as well as in trays to anybody who only wanted a small quantity of anything. He said that so many people were wanting to grow vegetables this year but didn't have much space so he was happy to sell them however little they needed. And most of the people were buying small quantities and seemed to be delighted. At 20p per cell it probably wasn't very profitable for him, but I managed to buy just a few cells of single varieties I wouldn't otherwise have tried. I mostly grow from seed but wish garden centres would be equally accommodating.

Dear Primrose, i think there certainly is a market out there for small producers of good quality Veg plugs.

We have several garden centres locally who all sell good quality veg plug plants individually at 5p and 10p per plug. We grow from seed too but have used these plants and had good results. Cheers.

Last year (or was it the year before ) there was a stall on our Farmers' Market selling seedlings by the handful for just a few pence. He'd grown them in trays and just lifted as many as were required. All organic and looking very healthy. As I recall there were lettuces, carrots, spinach, cabbages etc. I didn't buy any as I didn't need them, but they looked OK.

Many years ago my father used to grow brassica's in seedbeds and sell at the gate. One day a man called and wanted to know how many were available as he wanted to plant a field (he was a farmer). My father took him to see the beds asked him how many he thought there were, he said about 500 to 600. My father said he wasn't going to count them, call it 400 and take the lot. Both men were pleased with the deal.

Larkshall. Seem to recall as a boy being sent by my late father to this pensioners bungalow, to buy cabbage plants etc, they were all grown in slightly earthed up rows,[like potato ridges] I think they were a tanner a score.

Dear Shallot Man, now thats proper money, shame it all had to change.