How to diversify your greenhouse operation with vegetables

More consumers are realizing that nothing beats homegrown veggies. According to recent research from Today’s Garden Center magazine, 78% of garden centers saw a significant increase in sales of edibles and vegetables over the last year. Of the 21 categories included in the study, edibles transplants ranked No. 6 in sales. For some consumers, growing their own food is a matter of frugality; for others, it’s sustainability. But whatever the reason, this new generation of home veggie gardeners creates a unique opportunity for ornamental growers to branch into edible plant production. But, you must be willing to commit and learn as much as you can before investing time and resources into the endeavor, notes Tina Smith of the UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program.

New vegetable varieties are introduced all the time, but Smith advises growing a mix of both traditional heirloom plants and newer, more exotic varieties. Make sure you're choosing disease-resistant varieties, which can help home gardeners be successful. “Many heirloom varieties of tomatoes that have large, tasty fruits but may lack disease-resistance are now being grown on grafted rootstock,” Smith explains. “The rootstock is chosen for its disease-resistance, vigorous growth and high fruit yield. The scion is selected for the taste of the fruit.” All America Selections is a great resource for learning about the latest varieties. Visit the site at www.all-americaselections.org to see what’s new.

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