Greenhouse and Nursery Production Techniques

Question 1

Why are records kept for crop production scheduling?

Answer 1

Dates for pinching, fertilizing

Flower production timing (Poinsettias/Easter lillies, other annuals etc)

Accurate yearly records to determine whether or not to increase or decrease production

Economic forecasting can help predict trends in consumer buying

Question 2

What is the purpose of greenhouse root media?

Answer 2

Provide nutrients
Retain water
Allow aeration
Provide anchorage

Question 3

What are soilless root media?

Answer 3

Bark-based, peat based

Question 4

What are the benefits of clay pots?

Answer 4

Air can permeate so soil can dry fast

Can be pasteurized

Question 5

What are the benefits of plastic pots?

Answer 5

Pots are light but you may have top heavy plants

Question 6

What are the benefits of peat pots?

Answer 6

You don’t have to remove the plant from the pot when you are transplanting but they can be fragile when wet

Question 7

What are the benefits of cell packs?

Answer 7

Available in different sizes and are firmer and retain moisture better than peat pots

Question 8

What are the benefits of hanging baskets?

Answer 8

Pretty

Can be solid or meshed

Question 9

What are the purposes of trays/flats?

Answer 9

Used to start seeds and cuttings

Also used to hold peat pots and cell packs

Question 10

What is fixed spacing?

Answer 10

Plants aren’t transplanted and are always in the same pots and there is less labour required

One container is used per plant

More bench space is needed at the start

Roots might develop slowly at the beginning (plant needs more time to grow long roots bc of high water content)

Question 11

What is expanding spacing?

Answer 11

Plants are transplanted so more labour is required

Several containers are used per plant as they grow

Less bench space is needed at the start. Don’t crowd plants (humidity issues, photosynthesis issues)

Root development is often better

Question 12

What is the directed watering spray system?

Answer 12

Boom with equally spaced nozzles and it travels

Question 13

What is the trickle watering system?

Answer 13

Spaghetti tube irrigation. Main watering line with tubes that are inserted into one pot

Question 14

What is the ebb and flood watering system?

Answer 14

Floor of greenhouse is flooded with water and through capillary action, water will be absorbed. Water is reused afterwards

Question 15

What are field nurseries?

Answer 15

Plants are grown directly into the soil with trees and shrubs being grown for 1-10 years

Requires fertile soil, adequate water supply, and proximity to transportation

Question 16

What is a container nursery?

Answer 16

Plants are grown in containers with shrubs and trees being grown from 1-2 years

Requires a level surface, adequate water supply and proximity to transportation

Plants usually suffer less from transplanting shock

Question 17

What is the formula to figure out the # of plants to be grown in a nursery?

Answer 17

Production quota / estimated return %

Question 18

What factors should be considered in the layout of field production?

Answer 18

Reducing erosion
Efficient use of the land
Grouping plants with similar requirements
Reducing difficulty of cultivation and harvest
Length of growing time and size of crops
Complete or partial harvesting

Question 19

What is evenly spaced/side by side production?

Answer 19

Cultivation and harvesting can be done in two directions with partial harvesting done diagonally to maximize the amount of space the remaining plants have (minimizes competition between the remaining plants)

Trees and shrubs planted side by side

Question 19

What is the staggered pattern layout in field production?

Answer 19

Harvesting is done by rows with partial harvesting done every other row

Can fit more plants per unit area

Question 20

What is the permanent irrigation system?

Answer 20

Power source, pump, main and lateral water lines are all stationary

Question 21

What is the semi-portable irrigation system?

Answer 21

Lateral water line are portable, power source, pump, and main water line is stationary

Question 22

What is a portable irrigation system?

Answer 22

Power source, pump, main and lateral water lines are all portable

Question 23

What is the goal of field pruning?

Answer 23

Promote and direct branching to grow a fuller plant with pruning happening at least once a year

Question 24

When should evergreen trees be pruned?

Answer 24

Pinch new growth in the spring to add fullness, and remove conflicting branches

Question 25

When should evergreen shrubs be pruned?

Answer 25

Pruned in the spring before the annual growth burst

Question 26

When should deciduous shrubs be pruned?

Answer 26

Pruned using a sharp cutting bar passed down the row

Question 27

What is root pruning?

Answer 27

Done to ensure for a better survival rate during harvesting, handling and transplanting Smaller and compact root ball for transplanting to avoid shock to the plant

Question 28

When is root pruning usually done?

Answer 28

In the fall with an underground blade For bigger trees and shrubs, a trench is dug around each plant and filled with sand Containerized plants do not get their roots pruned

Question 29

What is the heeling in overwintering technique?

Answer 29

Place plants in piles of loose material (wood shavings), covering the rootball or containers

Question 30

What is an over-wintering house?

Answer 30

Small greenhouses are often covered with white film plastic to place container plants inside

Question 31

What is the bordering pot overwintering technique?

Answer 31

Grouping container plants, surrounded with pots filled with soil

Question 32

What is the pot in pot production overwintering technique?

Answer 32

Burying large empty pots in the ground, placing container plants (in smaller pots) inside