Module 11: Greenhouse and Nursery Production Techniques Flashcards
What is the most important factor in crop production?
Timing
What are things that could affect crop production?
o Unexpected weather or malfunctions may alter crop development
Grower’s education and experience comes into play
* Can change light conditions
* Some sprays that can slow the growth etc.
Malfunctions in the greenhouse
Why are economic forecasts important to predict trends in consumer buying?
- Plants are luxury items + people buy more when they have more disposable income
- need to predict how many plants to grow
- plants are perishable items, reduce waste
What is the purpose of greenhouse rooting medium:
Reservoir for nutrients
Reservoir for moisture
Allows aeration
Provide anchorage
Soil containing root media must be _________
pasteurized
What is a drawback to soils from outside?
unpredictable, especially when taken from different sources.
What are soil-less root media often made of?
Bark based or peat based
How can soil containing root media be ammended?
with sand, peat, vermiculite
What is the difference between soil pasteurization and soil sterilization?
Pasteurization does not kill all organisms in soil.
What temperature does soil pasteurization take place at?
82 degrees C
How can soil pasteurization be achieved?
Soil could be on benches, run steam from pipes into soil or could have steam ejected on top of the soil with a tarp on top
What are two options for soil testing?
o Kits – order online or get at nursery
o Soil sample send to diagnostic clinic
What are options for greenhouse containers? (6)
Clay
Plastic
Peat or other biodegradable material
Cell packs
Hanging baskets (solid or meshed)
Trays and flats
What are the two options for spacing for growing plants on benches?
Fixed spacing or expanding spacing
Describe fixed spacing:
Plants not transplanted from smaller to larger pot during time in greenhouse
One container per plant
Less labour
More bench space needed from the start
Roots may develop slowly at the beginning.
Describe expanding spacing:
Multiple pots per plant
Start with small plants and transplant into larger and larger pots
Less bench space required at the start
Root development often better
2 reasons never to crowd plants:
- limits amount of photosynthesis
- Could be too humid between the plants. Less air circulation = more likely subjected to disease
Hand watering is more useful with _____ crops
potted
What are tools available for hand watering?
nozzles, breakers, foggers
What are the 3 types of automated watering?
Directed spray system - boom with nozzles goes from one end of greenhouse to the other
Trickle system - main waterline has tubes going into each pot
Ebb and Flood - entire floor flooded for 20 mins, water reused
What are the requirements for a field nursery?
o Plants grown directly in the soil
o Soil on site should be fertile with enough nutrients to support the plants.
o Good quality water supply, proximity to transportation.
o Trees and shrubs grown for a relatively long period of time 1-10 yrs
What are the requirements for a container nursery?
o Plants grown in containers
o Require level surface, adequate water supply, close to transportation roots
o Trees and shrubs stay for 1 to 2 years
o Plants suffer less from transplanting shock because they don’t have to be dug up from the soil.
What is the formula for # of plants to grow?
production quota/estimated return % = number of plants to grow
for ex. 5000 / (100%-10%) –> 5000/.9 = 5556
What are some considerations for harvesting?
Reducing erosion (make sure slope and rows are perpendicular)
Maximize plants per area, efficient use of land while reducing competition between plants
Group plants with similar cultural requirements
Reduce difficulty of cultivation and harvest
Length of growing time and size of grops when mature
Complete or partial harvesting?
What are the 2 patterns for field planting?
- Evenly spaced/Side by side
- Staggered pattern
What are the three types of irrigation systems and which parts are moveable/stationary?
Permanent – all stationary: pump, irrigation line, power source
Semi-Portable – waterlines are portable but rest is stationary
Portable – all portable: pump, irrigation line, power source
How often should pruning be done?
at least once a year
When + how should pruning for evergreen trees happen?
pinch candles off in spring to maintain more compact growth
When should pruning for evergreen growth happen?
pruned in the spring before annual growth burst
How should pruning for deciduous shrubs happen?
pruned using a sharp cutting bar passed down the row
How is root pruning accomplished?
in fall with an underground blade
Why is root pruning done?
o Done to ensure better survival rate during harvesting, handling and transplanting
o Maintain root ball that is relatively small so when you remove it you take out as much of the roots as possible.
What is one way to prevent the spread of roots?
Trench under base of plant filled with sand – discourages roots from growing into the sand area and maintains a more intact root ball
Describe the 4 methods of overwintering:
Heeling in: placing root balls of plants in loose material; wood shavings, sawdust, covering rootball or containers
0ver-wintering houses small plastic covering greenhouse
Bordering pots: group container plansts surrounded with pots filled with soil
Pot-in-pot production: burying large empty pots in the ground, placing container plants in smaller pots inside. In spring remove from this location.
