Supplies for Vegetables

Find supplies for commercial vegetable growers so your farm can thrive
By Sherril Steele-Carlin, Freelance Writer If you're just starting out growing vegetables, you're going to need supplies and equipment to get growing. You can buy seed from vegetable seed companies, but you'll need supplies like farm implements, harvesting equipment and storage bins for your produce, and you'll need supplies like fertilizers and insecticides, too, unless you're growing an organic vegetable crop.

When you're shopping for supplies for vegetables, don't forget about the other items you'll need to stock on your farm. Supplies and equipment make up a large part of the commercial vegetable growers business. Think about:

1. Seeds for vegetables and other crops.
2. Equipment and machinery for your vegetable crop.
3. Chemicals, fertilizers and other supplies for vegetable producers.
   

Buy vegetable seeds from larger vegetable seed companies that guarantee their products

Reputable vegetable seed suppliers offer bulk seeds for the production farmer, and more and more companies are offering organic seeds, as well. Seeds can run anywhere from $2 or so for a small packet, to $120 or more per pound for bulk orders.
Try:  Outstanding Seed Company offers organic seeds and an online catalog request. You can also download an online version of the catalog complete with price lists for seed in bulk. Harris Seeds offers online shopping, just click on the vegetable of your choice to see pricing and other information.

Plan a budget and stick to it with used equipment for your vegetable seed business

Even in you're growing vegetables for seed, instead of wholesale or retail produce sales, you'll need machinery to help you plant, harvest and market your products. If you're on a strict budget, think about looking for used equipment and machinery to help get your business up and running.
Try:  IronPlanet offers classified ads with used farm equipment, such as tractors, harrowers, plows and other farm machinery vegetable growers need. TractorHouse.com offers used planting equipment, and used farm equipment of just about every type.

Purchase chemicals and other supplies for commercial vegetable growers

Unless you're growing completely organic, you're going to need fertilizers and other chemicals to keep your crops healthy and to produce as much produce as possible per acre. These kinds of supplies for vegetables are available from large-scale producers who often offer organic or green alternatives to traditional agricultural chemicals. If you're farming on a large scale, you may need supplies like plant growth chambers, greenhouses and production rooms, too.
Try:  Conviron offers a wide variety of farm products like incubators, germinators, production rooms and more. AgChemical.com offers chemicals like insecticides and plant growth regulators. Organica offers natural and organic fertilizers and chemicals.

• Think about growing hydroponic vegetables in a greenhouse year-round. More and more farmers are thinking about hydroponics, which is growing vegetables in a water mixture that promotes growth and is totally renewable. Many companies are investing in their own hydroponic vegetables for use in their kitchens and restaurants, and you could provide this service to your local restaurants and kitchens.