Paper 6/17

Question 1

Greenhouse

Answer 1

Propagation.
Production of a long main season crop of tomatoes.
Production of a cut flower crop.

Question 2

Cold Frame

Answer 2

Propagation.
Production of young vegetable crops e.g. Cabbage
Hardening off of bedding plants

Question 3

Polythene Tunnel

Answer 3

Growing self blanching celery crop.

Production of a crop of lettuce.

Question 4

Cloche

Answer 4

Advance ripening of crop e.g. Strawberries.

Covering taller crops to get them established.

Question 5

Conservatory

Answer 5

Display flowering or foliage pot plants for the home.

Question 6

Bedding Plants

Seed Sowing

Answer 6

Small seed can be broadcast in a seed tray.
Large seed can space sown in a seed tray or sown in modules.
Seed tray should be overfilled with seed growing media, struck off and then firmed with pressing board to create a firm, level seed bed.
Seed is broadcast evenly at a suitable density and lightly covered with growing media as appropriate.

Question 7

Bedding Plants.

Germination environment.

Answer 7

Seeds need moisture, oxygen and warmth to germinate.
Sow in well aerated, moisture retentive seed sowing growing media.
Temp 18 degrees C in greenhouse or growing room.

Question 8

Bedding plants.

Pricking out

Answer 8

Carried out when cotyledon leaves have expanded and can be handled without damage.
The seedlings are teased apart with a dibber and pricked out into seed trays, modules or small pots containing suitable growing medi eg. John Innes No 1.
Make a hole with a dibber, it should be large enough to accommodate the seedlings root system
Plant at a depth so that the cotyledons are just above ground level.

Question 9

Effect on plant growth of good air movement.

Answer 9

Sturdier growth.

Less prevalence of disease.

Question 10

Effect on plant growth of high natural light.

Answer 10

Compact healthy growth with short internodes.

Good bud initiation and flower development.

Question 11

Effects on plant growth of high relative humidity.

Answer 11

Higher incidence of disease.

Less water loss, reduced irrigation required.

Question 12

Erratic irrigation

Effect on plant growth.

Answer 12

Possible splitting or damage to fruit production.

Possible leaf damage caused by leaf scorch or root loss.

Question 13

Effect on plant growth of Carbon Dioxide concentration.

Answer 13

If concentration of carbon dioxide is good rate of photosynthesis will increase. There will be a higher level of crop productivity.

Question 14

Protected environment.

Importance of framework material.

Answer 14

Needs to be strong - skeleton of structure.
Timber eg. Teak or red cedar.
Metal eg. Galvanised steel.

Question 15

Protected environment.

Orientation.

Answer 15

The way in which a structure is aligned in relation to the points of the compass.
East/west orientation is best - presents the maximum amount of glass to the sun, maximises amount of natural light entry.

Question 16

Protected environment.

Supplementary Lighting.

Answer 16

Artificial lighting used to supplement natural daylight.

Examples include high pressure sodium or metal halide lamps.

Question 17

Protected environment.

Cladding material.

Answer 17

This materials covers the protected environment.
Attached to and covers the framework of the structure.
Eg. Horticultural glass, polycarbonate.

Question 18

Protected environment.

Shape of structure.

Answer 18

Will affect the access of people and machinery.
Will affect natural light transmission.
If light strikes the glass at an angle of 90 degrees, 90% of the light will be transmitted.
Mansard shape or high eaves will provide the best angle of light transmission.

Question 19

Potting Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Answer 19

Potted into 9cm pots using growing media e.g. John Innes no 1.
Use sterile media.
Plants should be graded and damaged material removed.
Pot upright, in the centre of the pot to a level just above the top of the plants and firmed.

Question 20

Re-potting a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Answer 20

Do this when plant roots have filled the original pot.
Repot in to larger pot eg. 1 litre.
Use John Innes no 2 or multi purpose potting compost.

Question 21

Watering Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Answer 21

Water when pot is light whe lifted and growing media has shrunk away from the pot edge.
Water from above or by capillary action.
Water moderately during growing season, keep just moist in winter.

Question 22

Feeding a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Answer 22

Required to ensure that plant has supply of PKN.
Can be provided by the inclusion of a compound controlled release fertiliser in the growing media.
Can also be supplied by applying a liquid feed through irrigation system.

Question 23

Control of aphids on Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Answer 23

Controlled by use of soft soap or by the practice of good crop hygiene and providing optimum cultural conditions for the plant.

Question 24

Terracotta containers

Pros and cons.

Answer 24

Benefits.
Heavy compared to plastic - provides stability.
Limitations.
Expensive compared to plastic.

Question 25

Plastic containers.

Pros and cons.

Answer 25

Benefits.
Durable, long lasting and available in many different colours.
Limitations.
Watering is more critical as the material in impervious.

Question 26

Polystyrene containers.

Pros and cons.

Answer 26

Benefits.
Very light weight. White in colour reflecting light back onto the plant.
Limitations.
Very fragile, easily damaged.

Question 27

Peat containers

Pros and cons.

Answer 27

Benefits.
Natural material. Pot can be plunged into soil to avoid root disturbance at planting stage.
Limitations.
Limited use (once only). Non eco-friendly material.

Question 28

Paper pots

Pros and cons.

Answer 28

Benefits.
Inexpensive compared to other materials.
Limitations.
Very short term use.