This presentation is on forcing Grape Hyacinths for early spring sales. The general methods can be used by those who want to force small pots for the home as well as those with commercial interest. In the past five years, sales of forced grape hyacinths have doubled reflecting the growing interest in flowering bulbs by…
High tunnels are low-cost season extension technology used for producing a diversity of horticulture crops (Lamont, et al., 2003). Specifically, high tunnels are passively vented, solar greenhouses covered with one layer of greenhouse plastic. Crops are grown directly in the soil beneath the high tunnel, and the only external connection is the drip irrigation system….
High tunnels are low-cost, passive, solar greenhouses which use no fossil fuels for heating or venting. High tunnels can provide many benefits to horticulture crop producers: High tunnels are used to lengthen the growing season of crops. High tunnels protect the growing crop from environmental stress such as drought, driving rain, wind and temperature extremes….
Cost-Return Projection for 6 square foot spacing of 170 Plants This projection is in the initial phases and we welcome any feedback you may have from your personal experience (contact David Coltrain). The information listed below is in summary form, please link to the original PDF containing details for production expenses, fixed costs, income sensitivities and…
A Case Study to Determine the cause of Chlorosis in a Crop of Cut Dicentra spectabilis By Marci Spaw, Kimberly A. Williams, Laurie Hodges, Ellen T. Paparozzi and Ingrid L. Mallberg The Grower The grower, Maria Flint, is forcing Dicentra spectabilis as cut flowers for Valentine’s Day sales for the first time. While Dicentra is…
Vacuum seeders can speed the seed sowing process and save tedious work. We really like this seeder for crops like kale, cabbage, broccoli, and basil–species with small round seeds that are hard to handle. It does not work for crops like lettuce, but we have used it with onions. Our home-made version has a wood…
The Amish use a device to inflate the double walls of the plastic on their high tunnels that does not require electricity–it is wind driven. It has a cone or funnel to catch the wind, a pivot, and a vane to keep it directed into the wind (see photo below). The device in this photo does…
[ngg_images gallery_ids=”2″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_imagebrowser” gallery_width=”300″] Soil temperature is more critical for plant growth than air temperature. For example, growth of tomatoes will stall when the soil temperature is 56 degrees F or less, but begin to grow when the soil temperature hits 58 degrees F. Therefore, releasing heat energy at ground level is usually more efficient…
General Is winter production of cut flowers feasible in unheated high tunnels? Is there a growers’ organization for those who produce cut flowers in high tunnels? What is the best stage to harvest cut flowers? Insects and Diseases What controls can I use for blister beetles that are damaging my cut flowers? Are tospoviruses a…
1. What are some warm season vegetables that can be produced within a high tunnel? 2. What are some examples of cropping patterns for a high tunnel? 3. How are tomatoes grown within a high tunnel? 4. How many tomato plants can I plant in a 20’ x 96’ high tunnel? 5. Is pollination of…