Getting Great Starts: Vegetable Production

Getting Great StartsMila Berhane, Senior Research Associate

andStephanie Elwood, Extension Associate

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension CenterBaton Rouge, LA | January 2016

Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

“Linking Citizens of Louisiana with Opportunities for Success”

Sustainable practices• Large diversity of plants• Minimum use of fertilizers and

pesticides• Integrated pest management• Water by hand and harvest rain water • Recycling of pots and soil • Composting• Sanitation

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Types of greenhouses• Can be divided into glass & plastic

greenhouses.• Commercial greenhouses are often high-

tech production facilities for vegetables or flowers.

• The glass or plastic greenhouses can contain equipment such as screening installations, heating, cooling and lighting, and may be automatically controlled by a computer.



Greenhouse Materials

Plastic

Shade Cloth



Production• Most vegetables

require ground beds

• Raised benches are used in the production of pot crops and transplants



Production• Raising the benches above the

ground allows air to flow more freely around the crop and permits a warmer root-zone temperature to be maintained.

• A framework of pipe constructed above a regular bench allows for hanging baskets to be grown above another crop



Production



Benches The most important quality of a bench is its

capacity for rapid drainage. Any wood used in the construction of

greenhouse benches should be preserved with some type of preservative.

One determines the number and width of aisles by finding the width of the carts needed in the aisles, and whether the crop can be worked from one side or needs to be accessible from both.



Washington Career and Technology CenterHigh School Greenhouse



Opelousas Lighthouse Mission, Homeless Men’s Shelter



Watering and fertilizing• Plugs should be

watered thoroughly in the morning and spot watered in mid-afternoon

• Do not water in the evening; foliage should be dry to avoid diseases

• Hand water

• Fertilizer needs will depend on the crop

• Vegetable plugs are usually fertilized with liquid fertilizer (20-10-20) or organic liquid fertilizer.

• High P may promote elongation



Watering and Fertilizing• Dip with Organic Liquid Fertilizer



Watering and fertilizing



Sanitation• Control weeds inside

and outside greenhouse to avoid disease and pests

• If reusing trays and pots, wash them to remove any soil and dirt

• Use 10% bleach solution to disinfect pots and surface



Disease prevention• Daily scouting to detect pests or

diseases• Keeping it clean regardless of size• Proper ventilation to prevent

damping off, therefore avoid fungus gnats and shore flies

• Avoid algae growth by spreading lime underneath benches



Pest Control



Cutworms• Cut young stems near

soil line• Active at night• Hide under the soil or

under debris• Might climb and chew

on green leaves or fruits

• Hand pick• Protect young plants

with physical barrier• Use BT



Alternatives to Chemicals



Potting Mix• Prepare by mixing ingredients• Purchase ready to use



Growing Media

• Purchase a soil-less mix suitable for growing seedlings ( PRO-Mix BX, Germination Mix).

• For organic seedlings, an organic mix is needed ( commercial or homemade) .

• Prepare your own mix, it is less expensive



Ready to use Potting Mix



Preparing Potting Mix



Basic Organic Mix

• ½ cu. yd. sphagnum peat½ cu. yd. vermiculite10 lbs. bonemeal5 lbs. ground limestone5 lbs. bloodmeal

(source ATTRA)



Alternative to Peat Moss• Because of

environmental concerns, there are alternatives to using peat moss when making your own mix

• Compost, adds micronutrients to soil

• Coir or coconut fiber, a sustainable alternative to peat.

• Composted leaves• Pine needlesPine needle mulch is popular where pine trees are abundant



An example: 72 plugs of broccoli• Soiless mix Pro mix BX $0.56 • 72 plugs tray $1.00• 100 seeds Arcadia Broccoli $0.77• Total cost for 72plugs: $ 2.33• Labor and fertilizer not included• 1 tray from commercial grower:

$66.95 for 280 plugs.



Economical analysis• Promix 3.8 CU.FT $39.00• 3.8 CU. FT yields 25 tray -4” pots• Promix for 18- 4” $1.56• 18- 4” pots $.86• Cost soil+pot $2.42• A 4” pot will sell between $1.00-2.50• Price of Labor and seeds not

included



Compost

• Animal manure• Kitchen waste• Composted

mulch• Garden waste



…even a pregnant woman can compost!



Seed and Plant Selection• Open pollinated/ Hybrid• Treated /Untreated• Organic/Heirloom• Resistance to diseases • Variety selection • Local/Catalogs/On line

Obtain the best seed money can buy!!!



Sowing Seed in the Greenhouse• The correct timing

of seed sowing is very important

• Most seeds should be sown 4 to 12 weeks prior to transplanting.

• Be sure to harden off before field planting



Sowing Seed• Readiness for outdoor

planting will vary with germination time, growth rate and weather conditions.

• Seed catalogs and packets provide this useful information.



Sowing Seed (Cont’d.)• Fill the container to within 1/4 inch of

the top with moistened seed-starting medium.

• To keep the medium moist, and birds and rodents away, cover the tray.

• Once seedlings germinate, remove the cover.

• Place the container in a location that has high light intensity and cooler temperatures.



Heating pads to grow seedlings



Sowing seed (cont’d)• Sow very small seeds by sprinkling

on top of the medium and pressing in.

• Sow medium-size and larger seed in rows 1 to 2 inches apart, and 1/8 to 1/4 inches deep.

• Plant two or three seeds per cell or pot. When they germinate, divide the group into individuals.



Label and Date Your Trays



Transplant Tray Selection• Plug size influences

the field performance• Larger transplants

result in better crops in the field

• Larger plugs take more greenhouse space and are more expensive

• We use 36 or 72 plugs/tray

• Trays must be elevated from ground



72 Cell Tray Plugs



500 Cell Tray Plugs



Jiffy Pot/ 50 per tray



Recycled Pots and materialsGreat school activity



Jiffy pots can be Individually dispersed or sold



Finishing and Hardening Your Seedlings• Reduce or increase the

temperature in the greenhouse through ventilation

• Reduce watering to let plants wilt slightly

• Hold plants outside for several days before planting

• Planting in the field on a cloudy day or late in the evening when possible.



Seedlings ready to be planted



Uses of Transplants• Commercial use• School Gardens• Community Gardens• On-farm Research• Farming/Gardening Workshops



Growing for Market



The Many Uses of Transplants



Contact UsMila Berhane, Senior Research AssociateSouthern University Agricultural Research and Extension CenterEmail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Stephanie Elwood, Extension AssociateSouthern University Agricultural Research and Extension CenterEmail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Getting Great Starts: Vegetable Production

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