Issue 31
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Table of Contents:
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1. Greenhouse plastic covers are changing to fight insects, fungi and other pests
Experimenting with different filtering methods and thereby cutting out or toning down the light waves which attract pests is the first step that has been taken in experimentation. Thus filtered light is now being used to control how plants grow, their architecture and growth regulation.
The main problem, however, is the useful life of the plastic film being used for a particular job. So far, that life is short - just a few months. What needs to be done is to find a method which will make the desired film last 3-4 years. Experimentation is under way for placing the desired film between two regular polythene layers to see what happens.
The results of using filter film can be dramatic. For example, tomatoes, when grown under infrared-absorbing film produced these statistics: nearly 50% decline in root and foliage diseases, fruit yield went as high as 250% more than normal, immature fruit began to appear 35 days ahead of the normal time and fruit was ready for harvest almost 70 days ahead of the normal time.
Keep in mind that these are experimental results. Filter plastic film can't do the job all by themselves. There are other factors involved in such good results. Such other factors are keeping the plant and greenhouse growing area clean by throwing away bad fruit and the lower leaves of the tomato plants, keeping the relative humidity lower on the scale, using fungicides now and then when and where applicable. Also, a plastic film which absorbs Ultra Violet light can be useful.
Most commercial greenhouses now use plastic film cover which lets in the whole range of Ultra Violet light. This in turn makes fungi grow very rapidly as well as causing plants to work overtime producing defense mechanisms.
In a word, the tomato plants spend all their time fighting and just a little time producing. In Israel growers have discovered that insect pests stay away from greenhouses which are covered with Ultra Violet absorbent plastic film. If they do get inside the greenhouse, they aren't as active as they normally would be.
Blue light has the same effect. The Israelis are now producing a plastic cover film which does two jobs. The Ultra Violet light is filtered out and the blue light is boosted higher.
The Israelis now claim they can produce a film cover which has several layers with each layer doing a specific job. They also state the resultant cover can last as much as three years.
So keep your eyes peeled. That strange looking color on your neighbor's greenhouse roof may be helping him to a bumper crop.
And if you also want to get involved in hydroponics, go to http://www.mayhillpress.com/hydroponics.html
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2. Hydroponic plugs are the coming thing
According to one authority, using hydroponic plugs can give you more crops per year. Nearly a month can be saved in growing time per crop.
But what are they? Plugs are used to plant seeds in and then, in most cases with machinery, can automatically be transplanted, plug and all, into a hydroponic greenhouse setup. This reduces time and expense in growing.
Most of the plug producing firms are in California. These companies produce a plug composed mostly of compost made from fir bark. Growth stimulants are also added to the plugs. The bark surrounds and clings to the roots; starter plants can then be shipped, plug and all. You don't need any special containers, even a bag will do. And there are no biological restrictions for shipment anywhere in the world. The cost? About 2 cents per plug.
Some firms engaged in producing plugs are: International Technologies, Hollister, CA; Santa Fe Nursery, Salinas, CA; Houwelling Nurseries, Ltd, Delta, BC, Canada.
Why plugs at all? Because market conditions have depressed produce prices and a way has to be found to produce more in less time at less cost. Besides that, the plugs help protect plants from disease and give them a strong early start.
A word of caution for those who use rockwool for growing plants. Rockwool is harder than most media. Care must be taken when inserting plugs in rockwool holes. For rockwool, plants are normally germinated in rockwool kiem plugs which are the size of half a little finger. These are placed by hand into a larger block and then carefully inserted into rockwool holes in the greenhouse growing area.
Though plugs are not yet that popular, they soon will be as consumers' taste for hydroponic vegetables increases at a rapid pace. Keep in mind that US growers are just now getting into the act which has been going on for some time in Canada, Australia and Europe.
All I can say is you can hardly turn your back without something new popping up on the horizon.
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3. Here and there
A. Viva, Mexico! Things are going on south of the border. Because of the efforts of Gloria Samperio Ruiz, the small Mexican farmer is now able to grow vegetables other than corn and can now start making a profit. This way he won't have to give up and migrate to the cities. Gloria has done much by way of publishing books on hydroponics and broadcasting the good news.
B. It's not commonly known but companies are producing plants which will "soak up" contaminants such as toxic metals and other toxic items. A good example is a fern (pteris vittata) which gobbles up arsenic like it was going out of style. A firm named Edenspace is producing the hydroponic version of this fern and is marketing it commercially. Smaller cities buy it to help clean up their drinking water.
C. Have you checked your light meter lately? For us newcomers, a light meter's gives readings in footcandles or Lux. Most growers use the Lux function because it is metric. Since manufacturers put out lamps which are graded in lumens, it's nice to know that lux is one lumen which evenly lights up one square meter. The lumen output is the lux reading divided by ten.
That takes care of that. But what about light quality or color? This is measured in Kelvins. If you don't know the Kelvin rating of your bulbs, you can use a cooking thermometer or, better yet, a Thermocheck. And then apply the following formulae.
K = [{Degrees Fahrenheit-32} divided by 1.8]
K = Degrees Centigrade + 273.15
D. Here are some greenhouse construction tips from a successful New Zealand herb grower.
4. This retired couple left Long Island and moved upstate where now they enjoy the fruits of their hydroponic business
Carolyn and Leon Bruckner are still growing plants, like they've always done. But this time their activities are bringing in a very nice supplemental income. They do it all with a 27 times 96 foot greenhouse which is made of metal hoops and polythene covers, all of which was designed by Leon.
They call their new home Bruckner's Acres which is located in Schoharie County, New York. After original startup costs, the cost of keeping things up has amounted to a few hundred dollars.
Both of the Bruckners work together. Leon takes care of construction, harvesting and customer delivery. Carolyn does all the growing, such as planting seeds and transplanting. She maintains the quality control. Together they average about 25 hours each a week. Some weeks it is more, some others it is less.
Their success has been so great that they have contemplated making their operation larger. But to date they have resisted that temptation and are content to keep it a two-person operation. That way they don't have to contend with labor problems.
(You'll find more about two-person operations in my book the details of which you can find at http://www.mayhillpress.com)
The Bruckners' customers come from their local community, particularly the CSA or community supported agriculture groups. These groups, three of which are supplied lettuce by the Bruckners, are composed of customers who subscribe for 22 weeks. Every week each customer gets a bag of produce which is furnished by area farmers. The Bruckners also supply mixed greens in bags weighing one pound each. The usual mixture here is pak choy, spinach and chard.
The Bruckners started out selling basil and greens to restaurants in the surrounding area but more or less limit their activities to the CSA groups. This helps them plan their schedule and be more efficient.
This couple also sell basil for up to $8 a pound, watercress up to $9 a pound, and spinach up to $4 a pound. These crops are sold through the farmer's co-op and eventually to New York City.
Think you'd like to try what the Bruckners did? Well it can and, as you can see, is being done. Just remember to get your ducks all in a row before you start. Know what you're doing - or learn all you can about it.The Bruckners had a lifetime of plant experience before retiring and doing what they do now.
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5. Beneficial bugs of the month - Pirate and Spined Shoulder bugs
The Minute Pirate Bug
This bug is very tiny but quite effective against such pests as small caterpillars, thrips, aphids and mites. Living about 4 weeks, the adults lay eggs in the tissue of plants where the young nymphs hatch and grow to adulthood in about 8-9 weeks. They are very good for control of the above pests, especially inside a greenhouse.
The Spined Soldier Bug:
This bug is known commonly as a stink bug but what it does to such pests as Colorado Potato Beetles, Mexican Bean Beetles, Cabbage Worms as well as armyworms and webworms not to mention others will make you forget the stink. The Spined Soldier Bug virtually spears its victim with a "harpoon", injects a fast-acting paralyzing fluid and then sucks out the body contents through the "harpoon".
The nymphs start attacking prey within 5 days after hatching and continue to feast for three weeks. Because of cannibalism, it is best to spread them out evenly over an area to be treated. Let them eat prey, not each other
You can learn more about beneficial insects at: http://www.mayhillpress.com/insects.html
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6. Think about it...
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
- Author Unknown
I will be the gladdest thing under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
- Edna St. Vincent Millay
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bsaffell@mayhillpress.com...Last Update: 52008 copyright 1996 - 2008 by Hilmur Saffell
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,
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