Spider Web in Tuftonboro

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Spider Web has always had a booming business with customers everywhere among their many greenhouses and fields…..until they sold about 2 years ago. Now we wonder what has happened because whenever we drive past, there are very few cars, if any, parked there. We had hoped that the new owners would do well…it’s always been a favorite.

[FlyingScot]

I believe they sold to their nephew (not certain the nephew part is correct). I am certain that the store is a shadow of its former self. Very sad, it was wonderful, now lousy

[John Mercier]

Garden Centers are being challenged.

I have been teaching people to grow from seed, cuttings, etc.
Part of the joy is the process. Though it takes some patience.

[ApS]

A freeze took out much of New Hampshire's crops.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by ApS

A freeze took out much of New Hampshire's crops.

It was lousy last year too

[marinewife]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

Spider Web has always had a booming business with customers everywhere among their many greenhouses and fields…..until they sold about 2 years ago. Now we wonder what has happened because whenever we drive past, there are very few cars, if any, parked there. We had hoped that the new owners would do well…it’s always been a favorite.

The new owner, Brenda, and her husband have been very helpful and had everything I needed this spring- they will order anything special for you that you don't have as well.

I think the weather had a lot to do with less planting this summer, frankly, but I could be wrong.

[The Real BigGuy]

I was under the impression that the relative who the former owner sold to was closing the operation down and therefore haven’t even driven by over the past couple of years. I’ll have to give it a look before the end of the summer.


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[SAB1]

I drive by there everyday. They seemed to do well in spring with plants and shrubs. The owner is a really nice guy. They seem to have been bark mulch well. As mentioned this summer has been a challenger for crops. It’s mid august and the corn isn’t there. That is a killer. Corn brings a lot of people who grab other things they see.

[Winilyme]

Wife and I put a dent in our bank account earlier this summer at Spider Web. We'll be back there again next year as we continue to plant new perennial gardens. We were looking for a large selection of shade loving, deer resistant, native perennials. You'd think that with those requirements we'd be limited to daffodils and dandelions.

Yet, in the shed right out front, we found many options, never venturing to other greenhouses beyond that. I imagine in May/early June there would be an even larger selection. For about two hours, Brenda worked with us as we laid out everything in an open area that approximated our garden dimensions. We went away feeling really good about every dollar we spent. Brenda is really nice, and I'll always happily pay for great service.

[tis]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

I was under the impression that the relative who the former owner sold to was closing the operation down and therefore haven’t even driven by over the past couple of years. I’ll have to give it a look before the end of the summer.


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He sold it to these people.

[mcdude]

I was sorely disappointed when I drove over this Summer. They used to have and extensive selection of shade plants (hostas, astilbe, etc) under the trees and this year there was nothing at all.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

It was lousy last year too

I think the last freeze in the area was May 18th.

Some may have planted annuals before then, but since that date is prior to the last frost date in the planting schedule by about a week, they should have only had cool crops already in unprotected ground.

Wind has been somewhat of an issue in the area...

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

I think the last freeze in the area was May 18th.

Some may have planted annuals before then, but since that date is prior to the last frost date in the planting schedule by about a week, they should have only had cool crops already in unprotected ground.

Wind has been somewhat of an issue in the area...

I hope the new owners are successful. I will try again next year (or if I see a corn sign!)

[TheTimeTraveler]

Their fresh vegetable selection is really sparse compared to what was routinely offered there five years ago......

I do hope they offer corn this year, but I am not counting on it.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

I hope the new owners are successful. I will try again next year (or if I see a corn sign!)

Plant some in your yard.
Just use the Sisters method to ensure that the corn gets enough nitrogen (corn is a grass), or better yet, plant beans this year... even in bush form... to get the soil invigorated enough for the corn planted next spring.

[SAB1]

Corn is a struggle. The Ledgewood fields across from the Castle entrance stalks are not even chin high

[John Mercier]

Probably growing sweet corn for human consumption rather than field corn (cow corn) for fodder.

That should put out about two to three ears per stalk and never really grow taller than a man.

[tis]

For most, it has not been a good vegetable year at all. I don't think my flower gardens have been as bountiful as usual either.

[John Mercier]

Daylilies have been a bit longer finding their footing... but the shasta, rudbeckia, coneflowers, clover, alfalfa, birds-foot, and some other things have done pretty well.

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Probably growing sweet corn for human consumption rather than field corn (cow corn) for fodder.

That should put out about two to three ears per stalk and never really grow taller than a man.

Sweet corn typically grows above your head. Most varieties yield one ear per stalk some two. It grows very fast.

[John Mercier]

Sweet corn I have grows about five feet...
It puts out two, sometimes three ears.

Growing tall varieties, field corn, for sillage doesn't make sense for something grown for human consumption.

It takes far too much nitrogen from the soil.

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Sweet corn I have grows about five feet...
It puts out two, sometimes three ears.

Growing tall varieties, field corn, for sillage doesn't make sense for something grown for human consumption.

It takes far too much nitrogen from the soil.

Sorry not so. Worked farms for many years picking butter and sugar. Always over head and one or two ears per stock. https://farmityourself.com/how-many-...row-per-stalk/

[SAB1]

Maybe the new corn is genetically altered to make more ears :-). …….idk I’m old lol.

[LoveLakeLife]

Everyone on this thread really knows their stuff!


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[John Mercier]

The GMO has different additions to it; but generally the plant has been made sterile so that you cannot save seed from year to year. It protects their investment.

People think of field corn generally when they think of corn.
Farmers would grow that to get maximum silage per acre.
They would sell most of the corn. Feed the silage to the cows, and the cows would turn it into manure to be spread back on the field.

The wind had less effect on it being tall because the large area that was planted with it. And even if a stalk broke, and didn't produce grain (corn on the cob) the farmer wasn't worried because feeding the cows was the main concern.

The manure provided the replenishment of nitrogen in a very efficient and cost effective way. No months of composting, and plenty of bacteria for the soil.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by SAB1

Sweet corn typically grows above your head. Most varieties yield one ear per stalk some two.
It grows very fast.

I don't normally plant corn, but one popcorn seed dropped out of sight "forever" into my kitchen sink.

A couple of days later, I came face to face with a corn plant two feet tall!

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by ApS

I don't normally plant corn, but one popcorn seed dropped out of sight "forever" into my kitchen sink.

A couple of days later, I came face to face with a corn plant two feet tall!

There isn’t a kernel of truth to this story.