Issue 35

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Table of Contents:

• 1. Marketing: dividing your chores
• 2. Here and there
• 3. Interesting web sites you should visit
• 4. More about beneficial insects
• 5. Think about it

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1. Marketing: dividing your chores

From my book on gourmet salad greens more details of which can be seen at http://www.mayhillpress.com/salad.html

For two or more people, the chores will have to be equally divided.

Because you're going to have to harvest and sell the crop, and if there's only one of you, it will be difficult to handle a large operation. You could handle a small operation and still make a pretty good living. But two people could make it all go much better. One would market and the other would grow. I would recommend the person who handles the marketing be the one who handles the books also. After all, he or she will be more apt to know prices and costs.

Both could interchange jobs. But if two of you are going to do this, you had better set down some guidelines. You'll have a more efficient and easily run operation if you delegate authority rather than running a "catch-as-catch-can" operation.

The one who is more out-going, the salesman type, would be the natural choice for doing the marketing. He will have the skills for securing contracts from customers and for taking care of their orders and complaints (of which I hope you have few). If one of you likes growing things more than constant contact with people, then that one would be the proper choice for handling the growing part of the operation.

When it comes to how to setup your books and conduct your general business affairs, I'll leave that to you and the library. There are many fine books on how to set up and run a business, any business. Most of them are available at your local library. There is no need for us to go into that here.

I would caution you on one thing: be careful about collecting bills. Set up your deliveries so that you collect at time of delivery. Try to avoid the 30 and 60 day, accounts. That means you'll be holding the bag for 1-2 months. In other words you are loaning them money for that period of time and at no interest.

Once in a while you may have an account (like a super market chain) that will want to be on account for 30 or 60 days. I would avoid any of these at all costs, particularly in the beginning when my capital resources are low. Later, when I have a fatter bank account, I might want to experiment with such accounts who want to delay payment: Remember it isn't yours until you have it in your pocket!

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2. Here and there

A. Don Jensen has developed a system for growing broccoli and cauliflower hydroponically. He discusses his system in a recent issue of Growing Edge (http://www.growingedge.com). His email address is .

B. NFT Lettuce in the great outdoors

The following is discussed at length in issue 44 of Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses, a fine Australian magazine devoted to hydroponics. You can see the entire article for free at: http://www.hydroponics.com.au/back_issues/issue44.html

Roger Fox, the author, states:

"Outdoor NFT systems have never really been embraced by American growers - even in warmer regions. So when Michael Christian from American Hydroponics returned from a trip to Australia in 1994, he started thinking about the fancy lettuce systems he had seen "Downunder".

Given correct crop protection he has succeeded in making a profitable venture for a thriving lettuce business and has pointed the way to more hydroponic activities being done outdoors or, as you might say: "NFT Lettuce California Style".

C. Some ideas from Maximum Hydroponic Gardening Yield

This is a free hydroponic magazine which you can see and read at http://www.maximumyield.com

Supplying nutrients more efficiently:

Your plants' growing conditions dictate how much fertilizer you should use, in what quantity and when. For example there is a ten day "stretching period" when your plants are putting on green growth. Timing is of the essence for supplementation here. Because after that period you will want to cut back on supplementation and allow for bud and flower growth to begin.

During the flowering stage, increased supplementation is warranted. But you must watch and do things carefully and slowly. If all goes well in a few days you can increase the dosage some more. If you have CO2 supplementation in effect and there is a lot of light you can again consider increased supplementation.

"Green Growth Plants Into Short-Day Crop Production"

You might think this a simple matter but there is a long article you should reach which can be found at:

http://www.maximumyield.com/vol3num6/green_growth_plants.htm

Here is where you use various techniques to "grow your plants big enough for crop production". Take a look at the article at the url given above to get a comprehensive idea of what growers must learn to do in order to facilitate maximum production.

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3. Interesting web sites you should visit

http://www.hydro-gardens.com

http://www.nahydroponics.com

NORTH AMERICAN HYDROPONICS claims to have the World's Greatest Growing Machine. State-of-the-art home and commercial hydroponic systems, direct from the manufacturer, employing easy expandability, powered reservoir mixing and evacuation, automatic filtering, and emitterless operation, with a long list of additional features. Their proprietary GrowMode baffle allows these systems to support Hybrid, ebb-and-flow, flood, aeroponic, and NFT methodologies... all in the one machine

http://www.astralstar.com

MIRACLE FARMS is included in this very beautiful and useful site which is devoted not only to the commercial grower but is also available for consultation services.

http://www.hydro-techn.com

HYDRO-TECH HYDROPONICS has a catalog which can almost overwhelm you. From halide and sodium lights and accessories to just about anything you'll need can be found at this company's web site. Like fans, media, fertilizer,timers, download section for various growing guides, insect control, and much more.

http://www.pepperjoe.com

PEPPER JOE has a site loaded with ideas about hot peppers and I mean HOT! Like chile! If this suits your taste, then this is the site to visit today.

http://www.rareflora.com

GARDINO NURSERY has some of the coolest unusual tropical plants and lots of free information too. The owners will be constantly adding new plants, information and special offers to this site. The stock the nursery normally keeps on hand includes 357 varieties. And what they don't have they can get for you.

http://hsa.hydroponics.org

THE HYDROPONIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA site is the one organization which solidifies the interests of hydroponic growers, manufacturers and contingent industries and which keeps everyone's eyes pointed toward a future which will most certainly rely very heavily upon hydroponics.

http://www.hydromall.com

THE HYDROMALL is billed as The World's Largest Hydroponics Internet Mall. They have over 600 hydroponic stores listed worldwide in their "Stores Directory", plus "The Info Center" and "Product Profiles" section to give you the latest on what's hot in the hydroponic world.

And let's not forget all that free hydroponic information you can get at http://www.mayhillpress.com/index2.html

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4. More about beneficial insects

For more on beneficial insects go to: http://www.mayhillpress.com/insects.html

A. Controlling fungus gnats and thrips

Hyoaspis sp. are the best natural control. They are very small and brown in color and live in the top soil layer. Hypoaspis sp. eggs are laid in the same area where the gnats and thrips live. The eggs hatch and then feed on the gnats and thrips. Hypoaspis sp. adults also feed on the gnats and thrips. An individual hypoaspis sp. will consume as much as 30 of its prey and eggs every day for the ten day period of its life span.

Supplies are available at
http://www.biconet.com/biocontrol/hypoaspis.htm

B. Controlling navel orange pests

You can and should use both Goniozus legneri and Pentalitmastix for this job. This way you get a two-pronged attack against the navel orangeworm. The Goniozus will attach the living pest larvae while the Pentalitmastix attacks and devours the pest eggs.

The Goniozus are tiny wasps which lay eggs in the living pupae of the navel orangeworm. Special instructions are needed to make sure you incubate Goniozus pupae at the right time. The supplier (listed below) will give you adequate instructions for this.

The Pentalitamastix is also a small wasp which needs special handling.

Supplies and information are available at: mailto:IPM@SIERRAAG.COM or
http://www.sierraag.com/insects/goniozus.htm and
http://www.sierraag.com/insects/pental.htm

C. "A Grower's Best Friends"

That is what Biocontrol Network calls the following. For more details
on the following beneficial insects go to:

http://www.biconet.com/biocontro/metaphycus.html
http://www.biconet.com/biocontrol/lindorus.html
http://www.biconet.com/biocontrol/aphytis.html

Black Scale Parasite

Very small, yellow/black wasps used against soft-bodied pests such as brown scale. Best used in semi-tropical conditions. These wasps lay their eggs on the underbellies of scales in the first or second stage of growth. The wasps' grubs feed on the scales as do the adults.

Purple Scale Predator

This is like a black ladybug beetle which likes its feeding area to be in the temperature range of 59-77 degrees Fahrenheit. The primary prey for both the larvae and adults are soft scales.

Red Scale Parasite

This wasp's larvae's favorite dinner is composed of California red scale but dinner can also comprise ivy scale, citrus yellow scale, San Jose scale, oleander scale and red citrus scale.

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6. Think about it...

Don't force it; get a larger hammer.
- Anthony's Law of Force

Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd want to have dinner with

- Female Author Unknown

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bsaffell@mayhillpress.com...Last Update: 52008 copyright 1996 - 2008 by Hilmur Saffell/P>

WE HAVE THREE BOOKS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU.
They are as follows:
"How to Start on a Shoestring and Make a Profit with Hydroponics"
"Big Dollars Growing Gourmet Salad Greens"
"Beneficial Insects - How to Mass Rear and Make a Profit"
If you would like a copy or copies of your own,
CLICK HERE