Module 11: Greenhouse and Nursery Production Techniques

Question 1

What is the most important factor in crop production?

Answer 1

Timing

Question 2

What are things that could affect crop production?

Answer 2

o Unexpected weather or malfunctions may alter crop development
 Grower’s education and experience comes into play
* Can change light conditions
* Some sprays that can slow the growth etc.
 Malfunctions in the greenhouse

Question 3

Why are economic forecasts important to predict trends in consumer buying?

Answer 3

• Plants are luxury items + people buy more when they have more disposable income
• need to predict how many plants to grow
• plants are perishable items, reduce waste

Question 4

What is the purpose of greenhouse rooting medium:

Answer 4

 Reservoir for nutrients
 Reservoir for moisture
 Allows aeration
 Provide anchorage

Question 5

Soil containing root media must be _________

Answer 5

pasteurized

Question 6

What is a drawback to soils from outside?

Answer 6

unpredictable, especially when taken from different sources.

Question 7

What are soil-less root media often made of?

Answer 7

Bark based or peat based

Question 8

How can soil containing root media be ammended?

Answer 8

with sand, peat, vermiculite

Question 9

What is the difference between soil pasteurization and soil sterilization?

Answer 9

Pasteurization does not kill all organisms in soil.

Question 10

What temperature does soil pasteurization take place at?

Answer 10

82 degrees C

Question 11

How can soil pasteurization be achieved?

Answer 11

Soil could be on benches, run steam from pipes into soil or could have steam ejected on top of the soil with a tarp on top

Question 12

What are two options for soil testing?

Answer 12

o Kits – order online or get at nursery
o Soil sample send to diagnostic clinic

Question 13

What are options for greenhouse containers? (6)

Answer 13

Clay
Plastic
Peat or other biodegradable material
Cell packs
Hanging baskets (solid or meshed)
Trays and flats

Question 14

What are the two options for spacing for growing plants on benches?

Answer 14

Fixed spacing or expanding spacing

Question 15

Describe fixed spacing:

Answer 15

 Plants not transplanted from smaller to larger pot during time in greenhouse
 One container per plant
 Less labour
 More bench space needed from the start
 Roots may develop slowly at the beginning.

Question 16

Describe expanding spacing:

Answer 16

 Multiple pots per plant
 Start with small plants and transplant into larger and larger pots
 Less bench space required at the start
 Root development often better

Question 17

2 reasons never to crowd plants:

Answer 17

• limits amount of photosynthesis
• Could be too humid between the plants. Less air circulation = more likely subjected to disease

Question 18

Hand watering is more useful with _____ crops

Answer 18

potted

Question 19

What are tools available for hand watering?

Answer 19

nozzles, breakers, foggers

Question 20

What are the 3 types of automated watering?

Answer 20

Directed spray system - boom with nozzles goes from one end of greenhouse to the other
Trickle system - main waterline has tubes going into each pot
Ebb and Flood - entire floor flooded for 20 mins, water reused

Question 21

What are the requirements for a field nursery?

Answer 21

o Plants grown directly in the soil
o Soil on site should be fertile with enough nutrients to support the plants.
o Good quality water supply, proximity to transportation.
o Trees and shrubs grown for a relatively long period of time 1-10 yrs

Question 22

What are the requirements for a container nursery?

Answer 22

o Plants grown in containers
o Require level surface, adequate water supply, close to transportation roots
o Trees and shrubs stay for 1 to 2 years
o Plants suffer less from transplanting shock because they don’t have to be dug up from the soil.

Question 23

What is the formula for # of plants to grow?

Answer 23

production quota/estimated return % = number of plants to grow

for ex. 5000 / (100%-10%) –> 5000/.9 = 5556

Question 24

What are some considerations for harvesting?

Answer 24

 Reducing erosion (make sure slope and rows are perpendicular)
 Maximize plants per area, efficient use of land while reducing competition between plants
 Group plants with similar cultural requirements
 Reduce difficulty of cultivation and harvest
 Length of growing time and size of grops when mature
 Complete or partial harvesting?

Question 25

What are the 2 patterns for field planting?

Answer 25

- Evenly spaced/Side by side - Staggered pattern

Question 26

What are the three types of irrigation systems and which parts are moveable/stationary?

Answer 26

 Permanent – all stationary: pump, irrigation line, power source  Semi-Portable – waterlines are portable but rest is stationary  Portable – all portable: pump, irrigation line, power source

Question 27

How often should pruning be done?

Answer 27

at least once a year

Question 28

When + how should pruning for evergreen trees happen?

Answer 28

pinch candles off in spring to maintain more compact growth

Question 29

When should pruning for evergreen growth happen?

Answer 29

pruned in the spring before annual growth burst

Question 30

How should pruning for deciduous shrubs happen?

Answer 30

pruned using a sharp cutting bar passed down the row

Question 31

How is root pruning accomplished?

Answer 31

in fall with an underground blade

Question 32

Why is root pruning done?

Answer 32

o Done to ensure better survival rate during harvesting, handling and transplanting o Maintain root ball that is relatively small so when you remove it you take out as much of the roots as possible.

Question 33

What is one way to prevent the spread of roots?

Answer 33

 Trench under base of plant filled with sand – discourages roots from growing into the sand area and maintains a more intact root ball

Question 34

Describe the 4 methods of overwintering:

Answer 34

 Heeling in: placing root balls of plants in loose material; wood shavings, sawdust, covering rootball or containers  0ver-wintering houses small plastic covering greenhouse  Bordering pots: group container plansts surrounded with pots filled with soil  Pot-in-pot production: burying large empty pots in the ground, placing container plants in smaller pots inside. In spring remove from this location.