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Upstarts Organic Seedlings produces and distributes high Quality Vegetable and Herb seedlings. Our varieties are either heirloom or hybrid varieties selected for flavor and quality. Vigor and disease resistance, as well as regional growing conditions also play a part in our seed selection. Using untreated seed and our custom soil blend, our seedlings are organically grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. We have been CERTIFIED ORGANIC with California Certified Organic Farmers (C.C.O.F.) since 1990. Upstarts has been involved primarily in growing bedding stock for the retail nursery trade in the San Francisco, Napa, and Monterey Bay Areas. We also do some contract growing for certified organic farmers who are required to have certified transplants. We are a hands on business, daily meeting the challenges of growing greenhouse material organically, as well as promoting, selling, and distributing our product. We are always looking for new varieties to grow, watching for trends in the culinary and nursery industries. Our commitment to organic growing practices extends past the sale of our product. We meet with customers, answering questions about organic solutions to home gardening questions and promoting organic growing practices. Many of our repeat customers buy our product because its organic, and they let us know how much they appreciate this. Another portion has tried our product specifically for the unusual or hard to find varieties we carry and are inadvertently exposed to the organic aspect of their purchase. Often they will choose to try their hand at organic gardening because of this. Either way, it’s a winning combination for everyone. Quality, selection, and a certified organic start makes Upstarts a ‘natural’ choice for your bedding department. Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions, and thank you for your interest!
ORGANIC SEED? People often ask if our seed is organic, and in most cases it isn't. It is not a requirement for certification and although availability is steadily increasing, there is not an extensive amount of seed available for bulk or commercial purchase. We have found that each year, more and more is available, and we use it when we find it. UNTREATED SEED? We are required to use untreated seed unless it is only available treated. Seeds can be treated with Thiram, Captan, or other fungicide. Here at Upstarts we are committed to using untreated seed and we do so with everything we grow with one or two exceptions. HYBRID VS. HEIRLOOM WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Hybrid seed is the first generation of a cross between two parents. Also called F1, This seed then produces an offspring with specific traits. Usually they are bred for uniformity, vigor, yield and disease resistance. The seed produced by these offspring will often be sterile, or the plants will not produce any seed at all. If there is any viable seed produced, the fruit is likely to revert to some version of it's parents and not what you were expecting at all! If you want to plant that particular variety again you must purchase the seed from the company who produced it in the first place. Open-pollinated seed is self reproducing, non-hybrid seed. Providing that there is no cross pollination, the plant's seed will be viable, and true to the parent. You can save seeds year after year. Many vanities are being lost because they are not being reproduced by seed companies. We can all get involved in preserving the genetic diversity of the planet by planting open pollinated and heirloom seed. For further information regarding seed saving techniques contact The Seed Savers exchange 3076 N Winn Rd. Decorah,IA 52101. Heirloom seed is simply seed that has been handed down from at least one to three generations and by definition of course will be open-pollinated. These have withstood the test of time and have been saved for the traits that make a successful harvest in any given area. Many varieties have been passed on from Europe or from native/indigenous people. Heirlooms are a treasure trove of genetic plant material woven together by the magic of family, history, hardship, survival and rebirth. As the seed companies that produced these seed discontinued them as they changed their production strategies, The farmer and gardener who kept his seed from year became the keeper of the wealth of these heirloom and traditional varieties.
Some new products have come on to the market for some harmless controls of
these slimy voracious beasts: Sluggo and Worry Free by Lilly
Miller are a granulated Iron Phosphate products which add iron to the
soil and kill pests at the same time. Slug stop, made by Concern
is a paste made of coconut oil soap and used as barrier as you would apply
dead-line. Copper strips are also effective although probably better for a well
maintained raised planter box. It should be brightened up with steel wool on
occasion as tarnished copper is less effective.
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Upstarts wants your
feedback. We are dedicated to making your experience at
UpstartsOrganicSeedlings.com as valuable as
possible.
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News Letter!
Here
at Upstarts we have grown a number of varieties over the years, and in this
years catalog, we have included many of those that we may not be currently
growing, but which merit inclusion for a number of reasons. Occasionally, we are
unable to locate seed for a preferred variety and will grow a substitute
variety. We've included these so that you have a handy reference (as foresight
allows!) There are also a number of wonderful varieties that are still available
as seed which we may grow again or that someone may have a question about, and
folks can use this as a reference to find more information on them. Please refer
to our current availability list for our current offerings and prices.