Question
QUESTION: Hi Don,

WE are negotiating to take up a small piece of horticultural land north of Chiang Rai city.

My partner and I have experience with growing vegetables commercially in Ubon but are strangers here.

We have brought some seeds from our operation there but am apprehensive about how difficult / easy it may be to acquire further seeds in the Chiang Rai area, beens , corn , peanuts , cucumber lettuce etc. Any guidance ?

Regards ,

Hugh

ANSWER: Hugh:

There is no shortage of vegetable seeds in Chiang Rai. If you want to use hybrid seeds then they have to come from Europe or the USA. On the big high way south of town on the right side just past the main Toerng -Little Duck Hotel intersection there is a store that has a big variety of seeds. You need to get them in the ground quickly because of the approaching cold weather. They need to be strong enough to handle the cold weather. Also, there has been no rain for 2 months and they will require a lot of watering.

Best wishes
Don Battles
Don's Cafe and Market, Doi Hang
081  894 6401
E-mail [email protected]

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Do you yourself market any seeds , Don ?

Do you have a restaurant there ?

Cheers,

Hugh

Answer
Hugh:

I do not save or sell seeds. The seed business is very critical of the age of seeds. I have learned the hard way that old seeds will not germinate. For my jalapeno pepper seeds I always order the hybrid F1 from the USA as they teed to produce twice as much as the non hybrid seeds do. I would expect that this is the case of most vegetables. The hybrid seeds are grown in a closed polination environment in order to matian their hybrid level. They can be replanted but they loose all of their hybrid benifits.

We have a cafe that sits betwee 2 fishing lakes, a small bakery and a frozen meat section. I bring all of my meats from my plant in Bangkok.

Drop by and see us.

Thanks.

Don