Growing big veggies

Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Messages
1,103
Reaction score
280
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
I have noticed that the veggies I grow in my own little garden do not get as big as the ones that you find in the grocery store and I am wondering why that is? Do the big farms normally add growth hormones or something to the soil or is it a different kind of soil mixture than I would use at home?
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2015
Messages
144
Reaction score
83
Location
Jersey Shore
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United States
Its my experience taht if you are giving your plants proper nutrients then they will be bigger and tastier than anything you could by in a store.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
11,585
Reaction score
5,665
Location
La Porte Texas
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
I have noticed that the veggies I grow in my own little garden do not get as big as the ones that you find in the grocery store and I am wondering why that is? Do the big farms normally add growth hormones or something to the soil or is it a different kind of soil mixture than I would use at home?
Many times it is a varietal issue, plus the commercial growers are able to cheat. They can start their seeds much earlier than most of us because they all have climate controlled grow houses which are similar to a giant greenhouse. On commercial farms the fertilizing schedule is much more intense than we normal home gardeners would even attempt. Different fertilizers for different stages of growth for instance. But how long has it been since you tasted a store bought tomato that was even half a tasty as your homegrown?
 
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
29
Reaction score
8
Location
So Cal
Hardiness Zone
9a
Country
United States
For me it depends on what and where I'm growing. I've never had anything in a container produce as much or as large veggies as in the ground. My tomatoes ate smaller but better tasting then the stores. I've been told to pick my zuccini when they are 8-10in like in the store for maximum taste but I've picked plenty at 12-18in that tasted great! I purposely grow a smaller variety of watermelon then you buy in the store because I think the smaller ones have better flavor.
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2015
Messages
1,031
Reaction score
301
Hardiness Zone
13b
Country
Philippines
In my experience, it is common to have a lower quality of harvest compared to what we see in the market. My husband said that real farmers use strong fertilizers to get bigger produce since that is their business. But for backyard farmers like us, it is enough that we can grow vegetables and get some harvest whether big or small. But with the use of compost, we sometimes get good harvest. In fact, our red pepper is fruiting abundantly for months now and the fruits are comparable with those in the market.
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
300
Reaction score
47
Location
Central
Country
Kenya
It has to do with intensive application of agrochemicals and carefully controlled and optimised conditions in greenhouses. They also use hybrids some of which are products of genetic engineering. Home grown vegetables in my opinion are healthier since they are likely to be grown organically and under natural conditions which makes for a stronger and better taste and nutrient concentration.
 
Joined
Mar 26, 2013
Messages
3,476
Reaction score
1,531
Location
Port William
Showcase(s):
1
Country
United Kingdom
A number of my fellow allotmenteers and I all manage to grow good sized fruit and veg with solely organic practices, but size isn't, to be honest, my first, or even fifth, priority.
Nurture your soil, give it the tools to feed your plants better than any other way can work, and you'll have the flavour and nutrition that'll compensate for any size issues.
Remember, in many cases SUPERMARKET VEG CONTAIN HALF THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF G-Y-O, so there's STILL more goodness in your veg, even if they are smaller.
Because there's only my wife and I in our household, I tend to grow smaller varieties, but I bet that if you add loads of organic matter to your soil, brew compost tea and encourage a large worm population in your soil, with leaves, paper etc, the size issue will take care of itself.
 
Joined
Apr 3, 2016
Messages
33
Reaction score
10
Location
Rogue Valley, Oregon
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United States
I think that one reason that you don't see small vegetables in the grocery is because the grocery doesn't want them--they prefer a more standardized size.

If the standard size is larger than any of your vegetables, the reason would probably vary depending on the crop. One possibility is that the growers may be thinning excess fruits. If, for example, a pumpkin vine is "trying" to grow six fruits, they may thin down to two when the excess fruits are still very small.
 

Pat

Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Messages
1,873
Reaction score
573
Location
Maryland
Country
United States
Generally my vegetables are larger than what I get at the grocery store. The taste is also so much better than any I have ever gotten from the store also, which one of the reasons I grow my own vegetables.
 
Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
938
Reaction score
548
Location
New England
Hardiness Zone
6
Country
United States
I use lots of good composted cow manure in my vegetable garden before I ever plant any thing it gives it time to work its magic and my plants are bigger and taste better than what you get in the stores
 
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
300
Reaction score
47
Location
Central
Country
Kenya
Stinging nettle is one plant that can increase the size of your veggies. You can apply the leaves in planting holes or extract the juice out of the leaves by fermenting in water for several days and then apply. Another method is to boil the leaves in water. Cool and apply the liquid. Combining there with well consortfe manure will yield excellent results. Control of soil to keep it around the plant roots is a good practice.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
27,868
Messages
264,624
Members
14,601
Latest member
JimBob123

Latest Threads

Top