Biodegradable pots

Timbuk Farms is producing its GoGreen vegetable and herb lines in biodegradable wheat pots.

Timbuk Farms in Granville, Ohio, has been using Summit Plastic’s biodegradable wheat pot for three years. The grower is producing its vegetable and herb plants in the 4-inch pots. The olive green pots are printed with Timbuk’s GoGreenVeggie and GoGreenHerb logos. The wheat pot is one of three different biodegradable pots in Summit’s Eco 360 line. Other pots that are available include rice hull and polylactic acid (PLA), which are derived from corn byproducts. Timbuk Farms is also using Summit’s bright yellow PLA carrying trays for the wheat pots.

Jason Twaddell, general manager and head grower at Timbuk Farms, said the company has been pleased with the switch to the biodegradable containers.

“We don’t grow any differently in the biodegradable pots,” he said. “They also allow us to offer our wholesale and retail customers something different.”

The biggest concern that Twaddell had when making the switch to the biodegradable pots was how they were going to do under greenhouse production conditions.

“We trialed them to see how they would hold up and they did real well. Our 4-inch vegetables usually take three to five weeks to finish so they’re not a long crop. We use a 105 plug for the vegetables and herbs. The herbs usually finish on average in about five weeks.”

Timbuk Farms grows a full line of vegetables including 29 tomato varieties and 21 pepper varieties. The herb line consists of 30 different varieties.

 “We had been growing in 4½-inch plastic pots, Twaddell said. “We have also added recyclable tags with the GoGreen logos. We also have POP signage for the GoGreen plants in our retail outlet.”

For more:   Timbuk Farms, (740) 587-2178; www.timbuk.com.