Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Vertical Farming:
Why We Think it Might Just Work
1
Reader Service Number 200
Reader Service Number 201
From Your Editor
4
September 2014
EDITORIAL
EDITOR Chris Beytes CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE
MANAGING EDITOR Annie White
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Ellen C. Wells
Jennifer Duffield White
Jennifer Zurko
Jennifer Polanz
INTERNATIONAL EDITOR Ron Van der Ploeg
DE PARTM E NTS
4 | From Your Editor
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Anne-Marie Hardie
David Kuack 6 | Insider
Dr. Vijay Rapaka 31 | New Products ON TH E COVE R
Is vertical farming a viable part of agriculture or
an unrealistic pipe dream? Chris Beytes stops
PRODUCTION MANAGER Kathy Wootton by FarmedHere right outside of Chicago to find
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Chris Truesdale out. Turn to page 10 to read more.
PHOTOGRAPHER Mark Widhalm FEATU R ES
COPY EDITOR Sue Olsen
10 | Vertical Farming: A Critic Asks Some Hard Questions
Story & photos by Chris Beytes
SALES 866.888.4237
Vertical farmingmultiple layers of plants grown under lights in abandoned urban
warehousesis still in its infancy, but its already a media darling. Advocates call it the
PUBLISHER | Paul Black
SALES MANAGER pblack@ballpublishing.com future of agriculture. Critics say its too expensive to be viable. Whats the truth?
ACCOUNT MANAGER Kim Brown 14 | The Local Food Movements Evolution in the United States
kbrown@ballpublishing.com by Rich Pirog
SALES ASSISTANT Adriana Heikkila Consumers wondering about the origin of their food didnt just happen overnight; the
aheikkila@ballpublishing.com seeds of the local food movement have been growing since the Great Depression.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING classifieds@ballpublishing.com
18 | Double Trouble or Twice as Nice? | by Annie S. White
The challenges encountered in organic hydroponic vegetable production are complex
A Friend Remembered and run the gamut from nutrient management, pest control and productivity to
G. Victor Ball, Editor from 19491997
marketing, semantics and politics.
GrowerTalks general offices are located at:
PO BOX 1660, West Chicago, Illinois 60186 U.S.A. 22 | Greenhouse Edibles Taking Center Stage | by David Kuack
ph: 630.231.3675 | fax: 630.231.5254 | Toll-Free: 1-888-888-0013
www.growertalks.com University of Arkansas researchers are getting serious about greenhouse edibles, as an
increasing number of growers look to expand their offerings of locally grown products.
5
Insider
6
Kalettes: Two Certified Greenhouse Growers
Super Veggies Accepting Associate Members
Combine The Certified Greenhouse/Hothouse Vegetable Producers Association of
North America (a.k.a. Certified Greenhouse Farmers), a trade associa-
tion representing greenhouse veggie growers, is now offering associate
memberships to the suppliers of their certified members.
The association says they established this nonvoting class of mem-
bership so that proprietors and firms supplying inputs, including serv-
ices to association members, are able to participate in association
affairs. Associate members must be involved in commercial activity
www.facebook.com/Kalettes
7
Insider
2014 Farm Bill Expands Crop USDA, new insurance options will allow farmers greater flexibil-
ity to make planting decisions on their land.
Insurance for Fruits and Vegetables Crop insurance has been the linchpin of the farm safety
A new risk management option will be available for fruit and veg- net for years and continues to grow as the single most impor-
etable growers and producers with diversified farms. The 2014 Farm tant factor in protecting producers of all sizes from the effects
Bills policy, called Whole-Farm Revenue Protection, will provide of unpredictable weather, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vil-
flexible coverage options for specialty crop, organic and diversified sack.Providing farmers the option to insure their whole farm at
crop producers. The pilot program will be implemented in counties once gives farmers more flexibility, promotes crop diversity and
across the U.S. and will expand in availability over the next several helps support the production of healthy fruits and vegetables.
years. As part of the pilot program, Whole-Farm Revenue Protec-
Basically, whole-farm insurance allows farmers to insure all tion will be available where Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)
crops on their farm at once, rather than insuring commodity by and AGR-Lite are currently offered, and will expand to other
commodity. Traditionally, many fruit and vegetable crops have not counties as data becomes available for ratemaking. The Risk
had crop insurance programs available for them. This has made it Management Agency (RMA) will release information on the
less attractive for a farmer that primarily planted a commodity crop policy later this summer when it becomes available. This infor-
like wheat or corn to use another part of his or her land for growing mation will be announced on the RMA website at
fruits and vegetables or other specialty crops. According to the www.rma.usda.gov.
8
Reader Service Number 202
Cover Story
Vertical Farming:
A Critic Asks Some
Hard Questions
Vertical farmingmultiple layers of plants grown under lights in abandoned
urban warehousesis still in its infancy, but its already a media darling.
Advocates call it the future of agriculture. Critics say its too expensive to be
viable. Whats the truth? To find out, Inside Grower visited Americas largest
vertical farm, FarmedHere, just south of Chicago, to find out what theyve
learned in their brief four-year historyand to find out if vertical farming is a
viable part of agriculture or an unrealistic pipe dream.
10
Story and photos by Chris Beytes
When I sat down in the Farmed- have that [profit] mentality, then
Here conference room with new youre not going to succeed.You FarmedHere keeps a
low profile in this for-
(three and a half months) CEO have to look into every cost that mer corrugated box
Mark Thomann, he looked me in goes into every harvest that facility near Chicagos
the eyes and cut to the chase:At youre doing out there in order to Midway Airport.
the end of the day, the skeptic in make this viable. Were trying to
you wants to know if its viable. do that.
Mark was right. I was skepti-
calor at least critical. Can a Its only grant
warehouse filled floor to ceiling money and nave
with electricity-sucking lights and investors supporting the
HVAC replace tried-and-true
greenhouse or field production? vertical farm movement.
And what about the fancy-pants We built this without subsidies,
crops coming out of these sys- says Mark.And as far as the peo-
temsorganic basil, gourmet let- ple like myself whove invested in
tuce, microgreens? Come on indoor farming, no, we invest
how will these solve the food based on rational business deci-
desert and global food produc- sions and based on whether or
tion crisis that supporters talk not we believe there can be a re-
about? turn. And based on everything
So I asked Mark, along with Ive seen, this business can be
two of his fellow partners and in- profitable and can be replicated
vestors, Mark Weglarz and Steve throughout the country.
Denenberg, to address these I asked Steve Denenberg how
points and more. They did. And long he would stick around if the
now Im a believerat least in numbers werent working.
FarmedHeres business model. Im not going anywhere, he
answered with a laugh.The num-
Vertical farming bers do look goodthey are
is being promoted by good.
We wouldnt be doing this if
anti-traditional farm we didnt think we could ulti-
environmentalists with mately get to profitability, Mark Much of FarmedHeres aquaponic (fish and hydroponics) growing system
no grasp of reality. continued.And I see, based on was developed in-house. What you dont see (because its proprietary) are the
In some cases. But not at Farmed- the demand that we currently fish enginestanks of tilapia that provide nutrients that are pumped
Here. The five partners and their have, that if we continue to build through the hydroponic growing beds. While they do sell the tilapia, fish is not
our systems, we will be profitable a main focus of what they do; they provide the fuel for the system, Mark
investors have real-world busi-
and, hopefully, a showcase for says. The vertical aspect of the farm is the five to six layers of beds in the
ness backgrounds. John Hall, a warehouse. The beds dont move; worker access is via scissor lift, while plants
lead investor, founded Goose Is- other vertical farms around the
are lifted via forklift. Certainly, theres need for automation here.
land Brewery. Executive Chair- world.
man Mark Weglarz owns a Nor is Mark a nave investor.
portfolio of hotels. CEO Mark I had the same issues going FarmedHere has tested LEDs and
Thomann has launched at least a into this [that you have]. But found a significant increase in
dozen brand-based businesses as once I got here and saw the big- production, so they will be replac-
ger picture and saw the demand ing all the older fluorescent lights
CEO of Riverwest Brands. with LEDs supplied by Illumitex.
Co-founders Paul Hardej and that was there, I knew that this
Steve Denenberg have real estate was something I wanted to do.
investment backgrounds. The same things that bother you
Co-founder Jolanta Hardej has about indoor farming, Ive looked
a marketing and design back- at, and Ive realized we can over-
ground. come them.
These are legitimate, highly
successful business people who There are no
like to make return on their capi- business plans in
tal, says Mark. vertical farming, just
In other words, capitalists
dreams.
which would almost seem to go
against the grain of the low-car- At FarmedHere, the plan was for-
first $100,000 they spent on the ready being used, so they simpli-
bon-footprint,save-the-planet mulated early. Steve told me that
company, he estimated $75,000 of fied it to FarmedHere.)
image of the indoor farming they got a sound piece of advice
that went towards developing the Says Steve,The reason weve
movement. from advisor Jim Slama, founder
brand and packaging. (The origi- achieved a modicum of success
Mark disagrees.There has to of familyfarmed.org, and that was
nal name their agency suggested compared to other people so far
be an equal balance. If you dont to create a brand first. So, of the
was HarvestedHere, but it was al- is because we werent >>>
11
Cover Story
The operating
overheadelectricity for
lighting and cooling
makes indoor farming
too costly to ever be
viable.
True today, but not necessarily for
the long term. The first thing I
noted when touring the farm was
that they used fluorescent lights,
not LEDs. Mark said thats be-
cause the technology was too ex- Partners and investors
pensive when they built the Mark Thomann (front) and
facility. He compares the current Mark Weglarz check out
the current crop of USDA-
state of vertical farming technol-
certified organic basil.
ogy to the first cell phones, which
were bulky and expensive. No-
body ever dreamed that 40 years
later theyd be an estimated 6.8 Expensive when you start looking at the can be viable. And if you can
billion cell phones in use around LED pricing and other factors show that its viable, it will grow.
organic basil and that would make this much more As for replacing other forms
the world.
However, on the day I visited, microgreens wont solve viable. of high-tech agriculture, such as
FarmedHere announced a part- the food desert or world Even in the two years since hydroponic greenhouses, Mark
nership with LED manufacturer hunger problem. constructing their current farm, sees the opposite: partnership op-
Illumitex of Austin, Texas. Illumi- Mark estimates costs could be re- portunities.
True. But lets go back to the cell
tex will be providing LEDs to re- duced by 40% to 50% if they built If were going to be success-
phone analogy. The earliest cell
place FarmedHeres fluorescent another one.Thats a big deal, he ful, everyone else within the com-
phones could only be afforded
fixtures. Mark wouldnt elaborate says. munity also needs to be
by the wealthy. But their interest
on the relationship, but presum- So to answer your question, I successful. We need to embrace
in and support of the technology
ably Illumitex will give Farmed- hope so, he says.I know youre a other growing methodologies,
made R&D investments possible,
Here a deal on the lights in critic and I know you probably other technologies that may be
which led to todays global cell
exchange for being able to pro- would say no. But I think what we out there. People need to learn
phone phenomenon. So it could
mote the relationship and show are doing ultimately will lead to from us what we know and how
be with vertical farming.
off the installation for PR and some part of that solution. we harvest and distribute. Other
I think ultimately we will get
marketing purposes. brands and other forms of green-
to the point where we can pro- Supporters
Theyll be making the conver- house growing could probably
duce things economically that
sion to LEDs over the next few think vertical farms will utilize the brand that weve estab-
are more for the masses rather
months. That will reduce energy replace traditional lished.
than for the Whole Foods shop-
costs somewhat while increasing I absolutely see partnering
per, Mark says. Strawberries, agriculture, which they
production significantly, Steve with other growers and other
tomatoes and peppers are next to say is broken.
said guardedly, not wanting to technologies to enhance what we
experiment with.
give away trade secrets. The LEDs, Its a percentage of [agricul- have here, he concludes. Then he
But he adds,[Vertical farms]
combined with installing addi- ture], Mark says.Its a part of the points at a picture of greenhouse
are not going to solve the prob-
tional growing beds, should help equation. Were happy just to be tomato grower Casey Houweling
lem 100%. Are there things we
them meet the growing demand progressively growing and taking on the cover of an issue of Inside
can do with our knowledge and
from existing customers, such as a small piece of the market share. Grower that Id brought along and
our technology to advance the
Whole Foods, along with new Hopefully, in 30 or 40 years, it will says,Ill call him tomorrow!
solution? The answer is yes. Is that
customer Jewel-Osco. going to come within a year or be a much bigger piece of the
two years? Probably not. But 10 pie. But right now were on the
years down the road? Potentially, cusp of actually showing that it
12
Reader Service Number 204
Ag History
The local food movement in the ment Act (AAA) of 1933, which corn and wheat are the primary tional and global supply chains
United States has moved from the spawned todays controversial or secondary ingredients in many developed in response to global
margins to mainstream in recent agricultural subsidies and price of the food products found in the trade laws to capitalize on eco-
years. Riding a wave of farmers supports.1 2 As a result of the middle aisles of a typical large su- nomic efficiency, food that histori-
markets and community-sup- Great Depression and the severe permarket. Commodities are the cally had been provided by local
ported agriculture expansions drought of the 1930s, more than primary feed for many livestock- and regional sources now came
and celebrity chef and restaura- 20% of the Great Plains rural fam- based meat and dairy products from wherever land and labor
teur testimonials, the movement ily farms sought federal emer- found at the same supermarkets. costs were the lowest. By 2004,
has spurred more source-identi- gency relief.3 Originally created Cheap feed ingredients for live- the volume of food imported into
fied food products in small and to protect family farm systems stock made it easier to dramati- the U.S. exceeded the amount
large food retailer offerings, and a from economic failure during the cally scale up the size of livestock exported.9
growing recognition by USDA of Great Depression, these commod- operations through the 1970s and To remain in business, com-
the importance of local food ity price support systems took on 80s to supply a growing demand mon survival strategies used by
commerce in rural and urban a more important role over time for meat as Americans began eat- small and mid-sized farms and
economies. The movement has with the help of the USDA. Over ing more meals outside of the food businesses have included
evolved and matured since the the coming decades and spurred home. The growing availability of selling differentiated food prod-
early 1990s, when it was still con- by the increased production of this meat supply fueled the prolif- ucts directly to consumers or
sidered novel to serve local food the green revolution following eration of franchised fast-food grouping together to sell those
at a farmer conference. Refer- World Word II, the commodity restaurants.5 same differentiated products
ences to local food today can be support system and increased With narrow profit margins in through specialty retailers, food
found everywhere, from televi- productivity allowed the oppor- many food industry arenas, many co-ops and food service compa-
sion shows and comic strips to tunity for corn, wheat, rice, sugar food and farm businesses chose nies.10 These survival strategies
the White House Garden. and soybeans to be purchased at to scale up production and to increase profit margins for
A historical accounting of the low prices by vertically-integrated throughput capacity in order to small and midsize farms con-
emergence of the local food food-manufacturing companies survive. Consolidation and focus verged with a growing preva-
movement in the United States and then used in a wide variety on efficiency and profit, coupled lence of more anonymous food
can be somewhat subjective, of value-added food products. with increasing size of operation, in the marketplace. Increasing
since weve always had farmers The nations agricultural colleges made it harder for smaller-farm numbers of consumers were curi-
markets and our founding laws at land-grant universities, as well and food businesses to compete ous about the farmers who pro-
and constitution were shaped at as USDA, focused their research without specialization.6 7 Many duced their food and how the
a time when agrarian society was and outreach agendas on build- small and midsized farms went of food was grown. This growing
the dominant cultural and eco- ing the efficiency of this com- business during this period, with consumer interest during the past
nomic framework. We can trace modity-based production, the sharpest declines occurring 20 to 25 years has spurred a
back the seeds of the current processing and marketing from the 1950s through the sharp and steady growth in buy-
local food movement to the cre- system.4 1970s.8 As farms and food retail ing directly from farmers. A re-
ation of the Agricultural Adjust- Today, commodities such as outlets increased in size, and na- cent study of grocery shoppers
14
shows that two-thirds of con- farmer entrepreneurs, community
sumers are interested in buying leaders and city planners to re-
local to support local think agriculture as a local com-
economies.11 Weve seen dra- munity development tool and
matic increases in the numbers start new food enterprises in the
of farmers markets, community- city.13 Another critical emergent
supported agriculture enter- trend is the growth in the number
prises, as well as farm-to-school of food hubsbusinesses that ag-
programs. In the 2011/2012 gregate, distribute and market
school year, there were nearly source-identified foods. Food
39,000 schools in the U.S. partici- hubs are a response to the in-
pating in these farm-to-school creased demand in local food by
programs.12 larger volume buyers who prefer
In addition to increased local to not deal with the high transac-
food sales and new businesses, tion costs of multiple small
theres been a groundswell of farms. Hubs also have potential
new urban agriculture enter- to provide a variety of producer,
prises developed throughout the operational and community serv-
Previous page: A recent Above: Weve seen Below: This timeline chroni-
country. Increases in vacant prop- ices related to food.14 study of grocery shop- dramatic increases in cles a sample of important
erties due to the recent eco- In recent years several related pers shows that two- the numbers of U.S. events, policies and sta-
nomic downturn that started in movementsincluding healthy thirds of consumers are farmers markets, tistics that mark the growth of
2008 have spurred innovative food access, food justice, >>> interested in buying community-supported local food within the context
local to support local agriculture enterprises, of evolving conditions of each
economies. as well as farm-to- of the four good food ele-
school programs. ments.
15
Ag History
racial equity and the environmenthave converged with the local food FOOTNOTES
movement to not only broaden the tent, but increase the expectation for 1 Kolar, L.R. (2011, July 2). Historical reflections 8 U. S. Department of Agriculture (2009). 2007
on the current food and agriculture movement. Es- Census of Agriculture. Volume 1. U.S. Summary
local food to bring benefits not only to farmers, but also to low-income
says in History. Retrieved June 30, 2013 from and state reports. Table 1.DA Census of Agriculture
community residents and all those who want a healthier diet thats www.essaysinhistory.com/content/historical-reflec- 2007
within their economic means. Many people who are active in these tions-current-local-food-and-agriculture-movement 9 American Society of Microbiology, (2008, June
movements have come to understand local food through its connection 2 Dimitri, C. Effland, A. & Conklin, N. (2005). The 3). Globalization exposes food supply to unsanitary
and use of the term good food coined less than a decade ago by the 20th Century Transformation of U.S. Agriculture practices. Science Daily. Retrieved September 22,
and Farm Policy. USDA-ERS. Economic Information 2013, from http://sciencedaily.com/releases/
W.K. Kellogg Foundation and its strategic partners. The term good food
Bulletin No. (EIB-3) 17 pp., June 2005 2008/06/080602132248.htm
has been used to describe food that has four key elements: 3 Link, I., Woofter, Jr., T. J., & Taylor, C.C. (1937). 10 Stevenson, & S., Pirog, R. (2008). Values-based
Healthy | Providing nourishment and enabling all people to thrive Research bulletin: Relief and rehabilitation in the supply chains: Strategies for agrifood enterprises-
Green | Produced in a manner thats environmentally sustainable drought area. Washington, D.C.: Works Progress of-the middle. In T. Lyson, G. Stevenson, & R.
Administration. Welsch (Eds.) Renewing an agriculture-of-themid-
Fair | No one along the food chain is exploited in its creation
4 Ventura, S. (2013). Reforming Formula Fund dle: Situation and strategy for the center of the U.S.
Aordable | All people have the economic means to access it food system (pp.119-143). Cambridge, MA: MIT
distribution of USDA funding for research, exten-
sion and education. In D. Atwood (Ed.), Five per- Press.
If local food is only interpreted and referenced in terms of geo-
spectives on improving the U.S. public research, 11 Rushing, J. & Rhuele, J. (2013). Buying into the
graphic proximity (how many miles from farm to point of sale?), one education, and extension system (1-14). Washing- local food movement. New York: A.T. Kearney, Inc.
could imagine a food system that is geographically local but reflects ton, DC,: Agree. Retrieved August 1, 2013, from Retrieved January 2, 2014 from
none of the four above elements used to describe good food.The time- www.foodandagpolicy.org/policy/publications http://www.atkearney.com/paper/-/asset_pub-
line on page 15 chronicles a sample of important U.S. events, policies 5 Schlosser, E. (2001). Fast food nation: The dark lisher/dVxv4Hz2h8bS/content/buying-into-the-
side of the all-American meal. New York, NY: local-food-movement/10192
and statistics that mark the growth of local food within the context of
Houghton Mifflin Company. 12 USDA Food and Nutrition Service (2013). Armto
evolving conditions of each of the four good food elements. We have a School Census 2011-2012 school year. Re-
6 Drabenstott, M., Henry, M., & Mitchell, K. (1999).
tremendous opportunity to thoughtfully rebuild a food system by in- trieved March 1, 2014 from http://www.fns.usda.
Where have all the packing plants gone? The New
creasing local food that embodies all four elements of good food Meat Geography in Rural America. Bureau of Busi- gov/farmtoschool/census#/national
across America, with special focus on those marginalized by race ethnic- ness Research Publications, Paper 13. Retrieved 13 Hagey, A., Rice, S., & Flournoy, R. (2012). Grow-
ity, gender, size of business/farm or economic class. Local food farmers June 18, 2013, from http://digitalcommons.unl. ing urban agriculture: Equitable strategies and poli-
edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context= cies for improving access to healthy food and
and their advocatesalong with advocates of food access and health, bbrpub revitalizing communities. Oakland, CA: Policy Link.
food justice and racial equityall must understand and embrace their 7 Stevenson, G.W., Clancy, K., King, R., Lev, L., Os- 14 Fischer, M., Hamm, M., Pirog, R., Fisk, J., Farb-
unique, yet interdependent, roles in realizing this opportunity. trom, M., & Smith S. (2011). Midscale food value man, J., & Kiraly, S. (2013). National Food Hub Sur-
chains: An introduction. Journal of Agriculture, vey Report, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
RICH PIROG is Senior Associate Director for the Michigan State University Center for Food Systems and Community Development, 1(4), and Wallace Center at Winrock International. Re-
Regional Food Systems in East Lansing, Michigan. 27-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.5304/jascd.2011. trieved March 1, 2014 from http://foodsystems.
014.007 msu.edu/resources/2013-food-hub-survey
16
Reader Service Number 206
Organic Hydroponics
Double Trouble
or Twice as Nice?
The challenges encountered in
organic hydroponic vegetable
production are complex and run the
gamut from nutrient management,
pest control and productivity to
marketing, semantics and politics.
by ANNIE WHITE
18
The Great DebateShould Hydroponic Crops Qualify for Organic Certification?
The U.S. Department of Agricul- its own advisory board, the Na- associations are angry that hydro- conventional greenhouse vegeta-
tures National Organic Program tional Organic Standards Board ponic growing methods are still bles are grown this way. But it is
(NOP), the organization responsi- (NOSB), which concluded in 2010 certifiable as organic despite the NOT organic, Dave proclaims.
ble for overseeing organic certifi- that hydroponic growing should NOSBs 2010 recommendation. There is no reliance on the mi-
cation standards in this country, not be allowed organic certifica- Keepthesoilinorganic.org is just crobial activity of the soil to pro-
says that organic hydroponic pro- tion in the U.S. Most other coun- one such organization with a peti- vide the biological diversity that
duction is allowed as long as the tries, including Canada and tion urging the NOP to take ac- is the basis of organic growing.
producer can demonstrate com- Mexico, do not permit hydroponic tion. It blames the NOP for failing Despite the debate, Miles
pliance with all USDA organic crops to be labeled organic. to maintain the integrity of the na- McEvoy says that accredited certi-
regulations. The basic require- The NOP continues to work tional organic standards. fying agents are certifying organic
ments for organic certification in- on evaluating and implementing Dave Chapman, owner/grower hydroponic operations based on
volve the avoidance of synthetic a backlog of older NOSB recom- of Long Wind Farm in East Thet- the current organic regulations. In
chemical inputs, including unap- mendations, said Miles McEvoy, ford,Vermont, and founder of the the future, the NOP may provide
proved fertilizers and pesticides, deputy administrator of the NOP, petition, isnt against hydroponics; additional guidance regarding or-
and the avoidance of genetically in a statement addressing why the he just doesnt think it should be ganic hydroponic production and
modified organisms. NOP hasnt acted upon the certifiably organic. how the regulations apply to such
To date, the NOP has not ad- NOSBs recommendation. It is ingenious, and it works methods.
dressed the recommendations of A number of organic farming well, which is why virtually all the
19
Organic Hydroponics
Arizona, says that products avail- tions, including biological con- Williams at Kansas State Univer- any negative stigmas associated
able to organic growers often trols such as using beneficial in- sity, investigated overall plant per- with soilless hydroponic systems.
work slower than traditional sects to prey on harmful pests. formance in a hydroponic system Conventional hydroponic
chemical pesticides. with organic and inorganic fertil- growers, however, are increasingly
Things like oils, sulfur, soaps, Can Organic Productiv- izers. He found that the growth labeling their produce with infor-
bicarbonate products or even ity Match Conventional rate of organic-fertilized Rex but- mation thats important to con-
beneficials (predators and/or Hydroponics? terhead lettuce plants grown in sumers. Even without being
parasites) may be only partially Growing vegetables hydroponi- NFT troughs was slower than in- certified organic, greenhouse-
successful or take some time to cally in climate-controlled green- organic-fertilized plants, allowing grown hydroponic produce is
get the pest populations under houses is both capital and labor the inorganic lettuce to be har- often labeled as GMO-free and
control, explains Patricia.And intensive. The investment per vested about five days earlier. pesticide-free, which some
then it may just be a control square foot of growing space is However, Jason believes that with argue are the most important
rather than eradication. much higher than field-grown or some tinkeringspecifically principles in organic farming.
Many hydroponic greenhouse high tunnel production. To be adding some calcium nitrate to With all these challenges, why
businesses, including Gotham profitable, any controlled envi- the organic nutrient solution bother? Why choose to pursue or-
Greens in Brooklyn, New York, use ronment agriculture practice the plants would catch up and be ganic hydroponic over a conven-
biological controls, combined must maximize productivity, equally productive. tional hydroponic or soil-based
with strict sanitary policies, to growing more per square feet to organic system? High market de-
prevent pest problems from start-
The Marketing Strength mand in tandem with con-
offset the increased greenhouse
ing in the first place. Although and technology investment.
of the Organic Label sumers willingness to pay a
Gotham Greens is not certified Growing challenges aside, that lit- premium for organically grown
Growers have struggled to get
organic, they market their pro- tle organic sticker on a tomato still makes a strong case for grow-
the same growth using organic
duce as pesticide-free. can make all the difference when ing a certifiably organic product.
fertilizers compared to inorganic
Gotham Greens products are it comes to marketability and If designed and managed care-
fertilizer. Although more challeng-
free of any harmful chemical pes- profitability. A hydroponic label fully and skillfully, a fine-tuned or-
ing, some researchers argue that
ticides, insecticides or herbi- holds less appeal to consumers. ganic hydroponic system has the
an organic system can be just as
cides, touts the company on In fact, most hydroponic growers potential to grow premium pro-
productive with the proper man-
their website.We employ inte- dont use the word hydroponic duce year-round and on a small
agement. Graduate student Jason
grated pest management solu- at all in their marketing, avoiding footprint.
Nelson, working with Kim
The interest and demand for locally grown grow. Of the universitys students majoring in ested in developing crops that can take South-
foods continues to increase among retailers horticulture, food crop production is ex- ern hot climates. By converting our facilities to
and consumers. The USDA 2007 Census of ceeded only by turf management. focus on greenhouse food crops, we are look-
Agriculture reported that direct-to-consumer More and more students who are inter- ing to become a central institution to study
food (D2C) sales increased three times from ested in greenhouse production want to learn new species of greens, developing new crops,
1992-2007. Sales rose from $404 million to $1.2 about growing food crops, Mike said.To ac- breeding new cultivars and developing pro-
billion. D2C sales grew twice as fast as total commodate this interest, we have started a duction protocols for these crops.
agricultural sales (105% versus 48%). The new class in which we are teaching about the
USDA reports some of the reasons that locally production of tomatoes, cucumbers, greens From field to greenhouse
grown produce is gaining interest among con- and other edible crops. One of the crops that Mike is looking at for po-
sumers include: Mike said the universitys greenhouses are tential greenhouse production are fresh
n Obtain food items with superior quality being equipped with different production sys- greens.
characteristics, including freshness, flavor, tems, including hydroponics. The students will Most of the greens researchincluding
ripeness and longer shelf life. have a well-equipped facility in which theyll breedingbeing done in this country, by-and-
be able to have hands-on experience raising large, is for field production, he said.Those
n Amid concerns about food safety, learn
about farming practices used, often directly various edible crops. same varieties that were originally evaluated
from growers, which engenders trust in the in- in the field are then taken and grown in the
tegrity and quality of the food purchased.
Identifying new crops greenhouse. We typically have not bred vari-
The changes that Mike has seen with the uni- eties for greenhouse production.
n Support agriculture and small business versitys horticulture students reflect similar Mike is interested in identifying greens that
development in the consumers local
changes occurring within the horticulture in- have lower inputsincluding water and fertil-
communities.
dustry. Identifying the major greenhouse food izerare relatively pest- and disease-resistant,
n Preserve local farmland/open space by sup- crops currently being grown, he began to look have a rapid production cycle and are heat-
porting economically productive use of land. at greenhouse food production and found the tolerant. Mike said the issue with heat is a
area of herbs and greens has been neglected. major obstacle for greens grown in the south-
Increased student interest Mike has started working with fellow univer- ern United States.
Just as consumers are showing an increased sity horticulture assistant professor and The problem that growers in the southern
interest in locally grown food, University of breeder Ainong Shi. half of the U.S. run into during the summer is
Arkansas horticulture professor Mike Evans is We are interested in looking at new what kind of greens can they produce? he
seeing a shift in the type of greenhouse crops species of fresh greens and the breeding of said.Greens in the South are more of a fall-to-
that horticulture students want to learn how to greens, Mike said.We are particularly inter- early-spring crop. As temperatures start to get
University of Arkansas researchers are interested in identifying greens Research at the University of Arkansas on green-
that have lower inputsincluding water and fertilizerfew pest and house food crops will include new species of
disease problems, a rapid production cycle and are heat-tolerant. greens, breeding new cultivars and developing
production protocols for these crops.
22
hot, growers either have to stop growing said this will enable them to breed dandelions systems and explaining how they can be used
greens or begin practices such as chilling the with the traits considered to be most impor- for strawberry production. Mike said many of
nutrient solution to try to delay bolting. The tant for greenhouse production. the growers that theyve met with didnt know
question is can we develop greens that can be about the differences in the production sys-
grown in the heat of summer? Strawberry cam show-and-tell tems and didnt understand the differences.
One of the crops that Mike said has a lot of Vegetables and herbs wont be the only crops Two of the universitys greenhouses have
potential for heat-resistance is spinach. Former University of Arkansas researchers will be been renovated to accommodate various
University of Arkansas professor Teddy More- working on. As part of the National Strawberry strawberry production systems. About 4,000
lock did a lot of spinach breeding. Sustainability Initiative, Mike will be working sq. ft. have been converted to hydroponic food
He passed away, but left us with hundreds with professor and fruit extension specialist production with about 1,600 sq. ft. devoted to
of spinach lines, Mike said.Were trying to fig- Elena Garcia. The research theyre conducting strawberries and the remaining used for
ure out what weve got. Teddy never con- is part of a program funded by the Walmart greens.
ducted greenhouse trials or evaluated the Foundation, which is being administered by Our goal is to put in several different sys-
germplasm for production in greenhouses. All the universitys Center for Agricultural and tems and to shoot video of what we are doing
of his evaluations were done in the field. We Rural Sustainability. from the beginning to end, he said.We will
might be sitting on the best spinach variety to Mike said the goal of the project is to shoot video of the assembly of the different
grow in a greenhouse. demonstrate and teach growers about various systems, as well as the production of the straw-
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is an- types of hydroponic systems for strawberry berries in each system. The videos will walk
other plant that Mike thinks may have great production. These systems might include nutri- the growers through all aspects of design,
potential as a greenhouse crop. ent film technique troughs, gutters and Dutch build, manage, maintain and grow the straw-
Dandelion has a higher nutritional value buckets. Mike said some of the hydroponic sys- berries using a specific system.
than spinach, he said.It is loaded with iron, tems offer significant advantages to the pro- Mike said the videos ( which can be
vitamins A and C and beta-carotene. It was duction of greenhouse strawberries. He has viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/sus-
considered a medicinal plant. The early immi- also been working with University of Arizona tainablehydro) will be used as an educational
grants to America brought dandelions with horticulture professor Chieri Kubota and re- tool allowing growers to look at the different
them for food. A lot of people suffered vitamin search specialist Mark Kroggel to prepare production systems and to see the advantages
deficiencies and developed scurvy so they videos on the strawberry production research and disadvantages of each system.
brought the dandelions with them. theyve been conducting at the universitys Not every system is perfect for everyone,
Dandelions are quick growing, dont need Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. he said.Everyone has to look at what they are
a lot of inputs and are very heat tolerant. Another topic of discussion will be the growing or planning to grow and what is their
They are short-day plants so they might type of structures that can be used to grow market. We want to use the videos as a way to
need some night interruption lighting, he strawberries. demonstrate these systems to teach growers
said.Thats not real a concern because the If a grower considers using high tunnels, how to effectively select one and how to effec-
plants would probably be harvested before he can extend the season, Mike said.Or a tively use it.
they flower. grower might consider using drop-wall green-
For more information, contact Mike Evans at
Mike said dandelions have a lot of genetic houses. There is the possibility of providing
(479) 575-3179 or mrevans@uark.edu. Some of the
diversity because theyre spread out globally supplemental heat, which could result in year- information presented in this article first appeared in the
and the plants are segregated from each other. round production. There are a lot of possible July 2013 News from Hort Americas! newsletter,
Because dandelions have a wide range of fla- benefits for our growers. www.hortamericas.com.
vors and traits, the researchers will be collect- Mike and Elena have been traveling
ing germplasm from all over the world. He around the state and meeting with growers, DAVID KUACK is a freelance technical writer in Fort
talking to them about the different production Worth, Texas. He can be reached at dkuack@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of Mike Evans, University of Arkansas.
About 4,000 sq. ft. of the University of Arkansas greenhouses University of Arkansas professors Mike Evans and Elena Garcia (pictured)
have been renovated for the study of hydroponic food produc- have been meeting with growers around the state, talking to them about
tion, including greens and strawberries. different strawberry production systems.
23
Food Safety
Greenhouse
Edibles
vamped requirements. Even meet the standards. Every step of
though there are a few excep- food production, from seed to
tions (mainly for smaller grow- shipment, must be carefully ana-
ers), most greenhouse growers lyzed for any type of potential
and conventional field farmers contamination risk. With this risk
are facing similar hurdles to over- analysis, growers are encouraged
come. Food safety regulations are to implement preventative meas-
becoming strict, while more ures in order to abate contamina-
growers move into the green- tion in their product.
house edibles market. With con- Create a food-safety plan | In
sumers seeking higher quality order to cultivate effective pre-
produce, food suppliers such as ventative measures, youll first
restaurants and supermarkets are need to document every single
In order to comply with the looking to accommodate them step in your food safety plan.
by supplying commodities from Check with your fellow growers
Food Safety Modernization Act, their own state. With this rapidly
growing market, its important for
or use the wide array of re-
sources available on the Internet.
growers of greenhouse edibles
youll need to follow these best especially new ones who for-
As a general guide, your plan
should include steps involving
merly focused on ornamentals cleaning, sanitation, water treat-
practices. to be well aware and up to date ment, pest control, packing, visita-
on the new food safety regula- tion regulations, monitoring and
tions that the FSMA has put into testing. A training schedule for
effect. greenhouse employees wouldnt
hurt, either.
By RoB LARoSE
24
Keep it clean | Sanitation and acetic acid, have proven to be companies that do offer water workers should know that food
cleaning are crucial to any effec- very effective in greenhouse sani- testing to help implement a treat- safety is extremely important to a
tive food safety plan. While sanita- tation, along with percarbonates, ment plan. Theyll likely be able business in your industry. Training
tion is important, cleaning copper and chlorine. Its impor- to provide you with or recom- your entire team (as opposed to
equipment and other food envi- tant to note that not all mend testing equipment of your those only handling the crops)
ronment aspects will drastically chemistries kill spores and may own so that you can continue to will yield the best preventative re-
reduce the risks of your product be harmful to the worker or the run your operation independ- sults.Your team should demon-
becoming contaminated. Per- environment. Aim for your sanita- ently. strate understanding of the
sonal sanitation requirements are tion chemicals to have a minimal Keep wildlife out in the wild | fundamentals so that each indi-
equally significant as facility sani- or zero REI to eliminate any Animals and wildlife are not vidual will practice on his or her
tationas every person that delay in production. commonly thought of as able to own, as opposed to just following
comes in contact with food can Treat your water | One of the get into greenhouses, but they the rules. Encouraging employ-
be considered a liability. Many most important food safety meas- have, and will, continue to find ees who are sick to stay away
growers typically sanitize and ures you can take to meet man- ways in occasionally. Establish from produce or simply not
clean their greenhouses in be- dates is proper water treatment. standards in order to prevent come into work is crucial.
tween growing cycles. However, Water that comes in contact with entry from birds and rodents, as These are only general guide-
with the FSMA in place, its essen- food must be tested for contami- well as a plan of action to get lines to follow when setting up
tial that cleaning is performed on nation regularly. Plant pathogens them out in the event that they your own food safety program.
a daily basis, especially in areas are commonly brought on by un- do gain access. A great way to Many choose to add their own
where edibles are harvested and treated water, especially if irriga- keep wildlife out is screening ideas and regulatory practices. In
packed. Its wise to implement a tion is from a well, tank or pond. windows. Setting traps is also ef- some instances, visitors are kept
zero-tolerance policy with em- Antimicrobial chemicals will fective. These intruders pose a away from produce because they
ployees regarding relaxed clean- work best for these specific huge risk of contamination to dont know the preventative
ing practices. Sanitization of cases. The best agent to use for your food, so its imperative that measures being taken for this
equipment, tools and structures water treatment is peroxygen you take any measures necessary cause. Others add in details
are essential, along with making chemistries, according to re- to keep them away from your about how to properly package
sure that greenhouse workers are search. Other options include crops. materials. This includes using san-
meeting sanitation standards as copper ionization, ozone and itary packaging products that are
well. Peroxycompounds, such as Keep insects out | Insects prove
chlorine. new and unused. Recycled card-
to be an even larger issue than
hydrogen peroxide and peroxy- board and plastic arent recom-
Wash your produce | Produce birds and rodents. Insects should
mended for this job. It may seem
must be thoroughly washed be- never be found in growing or
insignificant, but working through
fore packing in order to dispose packaging areas. Of course, its
all these small details will help to
of any lingering pathogens. For nearly impossible to always re-
contribute to making your opera-
maximum efficiency, use an an- main 100% insect-free, but grow-
tion as efficient as possible.
timicrobial treatment (EPA ap- ers must try their hardest to keep
The new regulations in food
proved) that doesnt call for a the populations minimal. A good
safety may come across as too
water rinse. This method effec- quality sanitation program will
strict or overbearing, but making
tively prevents food safety issues, be your best friend in reducing or
permanent changes to the way
as well as food spoilage during eliminating insects inside work
your business is run will offer
transportation. areas. Insect growth regulators
your customers the safest pro-
Test your water | A great way to will help you succeed even more
duce and ultimately get your rev-
reduce food safety risk is to regu- in this process. Azadirachtin-
enues booming. Investing the
larly test and monitor your irriga- based products, some of which
time into writing a carefully
tion water. Testing (at least) are organic listed, are very effec-
thought out plan will ensure that
quarterly should provide growers tive and will eliminate larval and
you can offer the freshest and
with a reliable knowledge of their nymph stages of insects. How-
safest produce for many years.
waters quality. Monitoring ever, its also important to choose
Your business will likely increase
changes and patterns in water products with anti-feedant capa-
because restaurants and other
quality is always a great preventa- bilities so that insects that have
food suppliers are now only
tive measure, along with keeping come in contact with the plants
going to want to work with sup-
records of any sanitation or pest are suppressed. Not all of these
pliers who take the time to meet
management applications. These products are the same, but its
the new FDA regulations in order
records are ideally updated on a best to avoid those with a glyco-
to maintain a desirable image. A
weekly basis. Also, be sure to test gen base, as this can become
detailed and well-executed food
your produce wash and sanita- a food source for unwanted
safety plan will give you the op-
tion treatment levels. Since get- insects.
portunity to offer the best and
ting an accurate reading is so Train your sta | Having a uni- safest products in your market.
important in this process, its criti- versal training program for all of
cal that you use a tester that can your workers is an excellent
record levels, as test strips are method of making sure that ROB LAROSE is the President and CEO
often much less accurate. There everyone has a full understand- of BioSafe Systems based in East
are greenhouse and chemical ing of a food safety program. All Hartford, Connecticut.
25
Grower Profile
Increasing the
Availability of
Local Produce
One grower shows that four-season
farming is possibleeven during
those New England winters.
by ANNE-MARIE HARDIE
All photos courtesy of BARBARA DAMROSCH
26
Spinach in a cold house before being covered for winter. Spring in the cool house. Under the covers, it looks like a
perpetual spring even in wintertime.
When I walk to the green- farming and further extending the son bit by bit and learning how Maine. As part of the process,
house, Im in Maine. When I get in- season. At his own farm, he begins the climate impacts the crop de- theyve created their own food
side there, Im in New Jersey. And most of the winter crops outdoors velopment. This can be done rela- hub involving six farms, including
when I reach my hand under that in the fall, while the greenhouse tively simply by involving some one that is a non-profit food bank
inner layer, my hand is in Georgia, continues to house the warmer cli- basic technology (like covers) and farm.
said Eliot.And so anything that mate crops like tomatoes, peppers, making a careful selection of the Each of the six farms will feed
would survive out of doors in the eggplants and cucumbers. Once type of crop grown. Although ex- directly into the food hub, shares
winter in Georgia will survive very everything freezes, the winter pensive technology, like heat and John, elevating both the knowl-
nicely under that double layer in crops are put into the greenhouse. lighting systems, could grow winter edge base of the farmers (as they
Maine. When you put all that money crops, it will substantially decrease get to share best practices), while
Greenhouses not only provide into a greenhouse, if you can get a farmers ability to remain creating a marketing opportunity.
insulation, but are a natural barrier more than 12 months of use out of profitable. The value of the food hub is that
for wind. Plants that may be able it every year, youre getting a great The minute you put heat in, these farmers can now begin to
to survive cooler temperatures are return on your capital investment, boy, thats a slippery slope because target some of the wholesale mar-
often devastated by the strong win- said Eliot. crops I can grow if I keep it above kets, instead of the traditional for-
ter winds. Greenhouse structures 35F in the winter would be even mat of direct sales.
ensure that the plants are pro- The business of better if I kept it above 45F and Small farms have stayed alive,
tected from all of the elements, four-season farming even better if I kept it above 55F, and in many cases grown and
providing a bountiful harvest. Although winter farming is defi- said Eliot.And the next thing I prospered, by selling direct, said
When considering which crops nitely doable in cooler climates, it know, Im Maines largest mango John.The simple truth is that the
to farm, the factor to consider isnt may not always make the best grower and Im in Chapter 11. vast majority of consumers are not
the heat (which can be easily ad- business sense. Those are the things you have to going to get their food by going to
justed), but sunlight. Farmers cant think of produc- try and avoid. a farmers market or being part of
Sunlight is the determinant tion decisions outside of business a CSA. They want to go to a store. A
more than temperaturebecause decisions. Or at least they should-
Know your market lot of us feel that the challenge of
temperature you can control, said nt, said John.So, as theyre analyz- In order to be successful, farmers the next 20 years is figuring out
John.You can add heat with good ing what they can grow, they really must look at four-season farming how to elevate local, keeping the
compost and layers, but you cant need to be analyzing their market. as part of their business plan and best features of localwhich are
add light unless you use the sun Eliot determines whether a discover where the market oppor- not only quality and freshness
lamps. crop is worth investing in by gaug- tunities are. Traditionally, this mar- but ensuring that most of the bene-
John believes that lack of sun- ing what profit each square foot ket has been limited to CSAs and fits flow back to the farmer, rather
light is the one factor that could will bring in. His current formula, direct sales through farmers mar- than flow back to the middle
limit some areas from farming all which he admits should probably kets, but John would like to see men.
year round. He cautions that when be increased, is that a crop has to this extended into other areas.
farmers are considering extending bring in a minimum of $1.50 a In order to expand the poten-
their season, they must look at the tial market for winter farmers, ANNE-MARIE HARDIE is a freelance
square foot for every two months writer/speaker from Barrie, Ontario, and
amount of sunlight available and its in the greenhouse in order to Johnin conjunction with Eliots
part of the third generation of the family-
select crops accordingly. be profitable. daughter Clara Colemanare owned garden center/wholesale business
Years later, Eliot continues to Johns advice is to start off looking at the feasibility of differ- Bradford Greenhouses in Barrie/Bradford,
look at ways of advancing winter small, extending the growing sea- ent food hubs around the state of Ontario.
27
Pest Management
Aphids are common pests of greenhouse But do you know what does repro-
crops. Peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, duce well in greenhouses? Aphids. What
lettuce, herbsthey all get aphids. And if there was a way to pit one aphid
aphids are one of those pests that can against another? What if there were
damage plants in several ways. good aphids that could help manage
First, of course, they damage plants the bad ones? In a sense, this is how
28
need some aphids. Some biological con-
trol companies sell banker plants with
bird cherry-oat aphids, so you could use
this as a starter colony. Depending on
where you live you may be able to collect
some, too. Bird cherry-oat aphids are
common in wheat fields and in fields with
grain cover crops. Here in North Carolina,
Adult bird cherry-oat aphid
and mummy on a grain stem. corn and soybean fields are often planted
in winter wheat or other grain as a cover
crop in fall. In spring, you can find bird
cherry-oat aphids feeding there.
Once you have grain plants and bird
cherry-oat aphids, of course you need
parasitoids. If youre already releasing A.
colemani in your greenhouse, you can
probably just set your banker plants out
29
Pest Management
30
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31
Culture Notes
Hydroponic lettuce is typically a six-week croptwo weeks for young available in different configurations. Because of the process in which the
plant production and four weeks from transplant to finishing. The end foam is made, Oasis cubes are particularly consistent with regular dibble
product is a delicious, healthy and marketable 5 to 6-oz. head of lettuce. hole intervals, which make seeding more uniform and even. Rockwool is
More than any other crop, making the right choices at the earliest de- nontoxic, but can irritate the skin because tiny fiberglass spikes can pen-
velopmental stage can set you up for much success later in the growing etrate the skin during initial handling. Also, the dibble holes arent uni-
process.Your decisions arent limited to choosing the right propagation form, so the seeding can be time-consuming.
media and nutrient blend for your
system. Providing optimal environ- Nutrients
mental conditions, along with proper A water test is the foundation for
irrigation practices and fertilizer tim- grasping the key components of your
ing, is also crucial for successful pro- water and will help you make the
duction of strong young plants. right choice of nutrients for your hy-
The young plant production con- droponic system.Your results will
sists of germination and seedling pro- help you balance these numbers with
duction stage. Germination happens the essential nutrient inputs and keep
during the first 24 to 48 hours. By the them available in solution.Your water
end of 48 hours the radicle (the first alkalinity and pH are related, but not
growing part of the seed to grow) will the same. City and well water can
be penetrating into the propagation have higher water alkalinity causing a
media and cotyledons will be emerg- rise in pH and require a need for
ing. Those seedlings will be ready to acidification; rain or RO water can
transplant in the next 12 days when have lower alkalinity levels that can
they have two to three true leaves cause great swings in pH. The key is
and roots emerging from the bottom to keep your solutions in the pH
of the propagation media. range of 5.5 to 6.2. This allows for the
most optimum nutrient availability to
Media the plants. Remember, if its not avail-
The role of media in hydroponic let- able or soluble, its almost invisible to
tuce production is very limited, but the plant and cannot be taken up.
plays a crucial role. Media is used to There are many options in provid-
start the seeds and grow the young Effect of fertilizer timing on Butterhead Skyphos seedling growth. Photos ing mineral nutrients and theyre bro-
plants. The media is also used as a taken 14 days after seeding. On the left, Oasis Horticubes XL fertilized with ken into three categories: Mix your
stabilizing material after transplant Oasis Hydroponic Fertilizer 125 ppm N after seed germination (3 days after own; two-part systems; and one-bag
into the production system. For opti- seeding), and on the right fertilized with initial watering. After Day 3, both blends. With any nutrient option, its
mal results, the propagation media treatments were fertilizer similarly. Note: With young plant production, make crucial to choose raw materials that
sure to use high-quality water-soluble fertilizers with low salt index. Using
should hold air for the roots to con- fertilizers with high salt index can cause phytotoxicity. contain minimal impurities and are
duct respiration. The media should extremely water-soluble. The first two
hold enough water and nutrients so categories require more than one
the seedlings dont dry out between irrigation cycles. The physical prop- tank and/or a stepwise recipe for mixing nutrients. The benefits of a mix-
erties of the media should be consistent and free of any pathogens to your-own program (i.e., CropKing) is that it allows flexibility to bend to
produce uniform, strong and healthy young plants. Choosing a media crop needs, but often for a smaller grower, the cost of buying materials in
with these properties will promote rapid seedling growth and be easy to bulk and costly mixing mistakes/labor can be too much.
handle during seedling production and transplant. The next options are blended and guaranteed by the manufac-
The propagation media can be broadly categorized into stabilized turera two-part system (Tank A: 5-12-26, Tank B: Cal Nitrate) allows you
and loose-filled media. Some of the examples of loose-filled media in- some flexibility by ensuring at least two parts are in balance, as long as
clude variations of a typical soilless mix (peat, perlite, vermiculite, etc.). the suggested mixing ratios are followed.
Loose-filled media isnt widely used because of the handling issues at The One Bag blend (Oasis Hydroponic Fertilizer 16-4-17) is designed
transplant. In a word, its messy! Peat-based media in a hydroponic sys- to provide a balanced nutrient blend while using the most advanced
tem will have levels of degrading peat that competes for oxygen and chelating agents, keeping Fe available up to a pH of 9. Not only is it water
can act as a breeding ground for pathogens. Some of the commonly soluble and non-adjusting, but it carries a low salt index, which virtually
used stabilized media include Grodan Rockwool and Oasis Horticubes eliminates any concern about phytotoxicity. When mixing, the one-bag
and XL foam growing media. Whats the difference? Oasis foam is a ther- solution reduces confusion, as theres no specific recipe that workers
moset phenolic cellular material and Rockwool is a spun-bound fibrous are required to follow. This significantly reduces the chance of costly er-
material mined from basalt rock. Both are synthetic, inert and sterile and rors, especially when employing temporary help.
32
Growing conditions Figure 1: Effect of fertilizer timing on seedling growth.
Environmental: After initially watering the Lettuce harvested 14 days after seeding.
propagation media, its not required to water
the seeds during the first 48 hours. The lettuce
seed can be germinated both under light and 260
tray)
ay)
in darkness. However, for uniform germina- germination
Fertilizer applied after ger mination Vertical
Vertical bars denote +/- standard
standard errors
240
seedlingg ss// tr
tion and initial start, keep the propagating Fertilizer applied with initial seeding Current
Current effect: F(5, 24)=20.576, p=.00000
trays in darkness under high humidity at tem- 220
eight in ggrams
and 75F (18C to 21C) and night temps be- 140
tween 55F and 60F (12C to 15C). The relative
humidity should be between 60% and 70%. 120
Lettuce seedlings are very receptive to Daily Weight
Light Integrals (DLI) and light intensity. Let- 100
tuce seedling can handle DLI more than 20
80
esh W
Fertilizer Timing
Typically, its advised to apply nutrients after 0
seed germination (2 to 3 days after seeding)
1 2 3 4 5 6
because the food reserves in the seed fuel the Treatments
Treatments
germination and the nutrient uptake starts
only after the root emerges. However, our re- Treatment details: Treatment 1 was started with tap water and after germination the seedlings were watered
search indicated that its extremely important with 150 ppm N during the course of seedling production. Treatment 2 started with 50 ppm N, treatment 3
to apply the nutrients with the first watering. It started with 75 ppm N, treatment 4 started with 100 ppm N, treatment 5 started with 125 ppm N and treatment
6 started with 150 ppm N right from seeding and continued with their respective fertilizer concentrations.
has to be noted that synthetic hydro- >>>
33
Culture Notes
ponic media is inert and free of any nutrients, which is designed to offer the
grower maximum flexibility when providing nutrients to the plants. By virtue of
this, when the media is saturated with clear water at seeding and followed with nu-
trient application after seed germination, the nutrients are not readily available at
the applied concentration in the root zone for the roots to uptake. As a result,
seedling growth is getting delayed when nutrients arent being applied with initial
watering.
Figure 1 shows a study with Oasis Horticubes XL media where Oasis Hydro-
ponic Fertilizer was applied at 125 ppm N after germination (3 days after seeding)
or with initial saturation of the propagation media. When the fertilizer was applied
with initial watering, the seedling growth was doubled in almost all the lettuce cul-
tivars that were tested. Note: In the case of foam where fertilizer was applied after
germination, those propagation trays were started with clear water. From Day 3 on-
wards, both treatments were treated similarly and watered with 125 ppm N.
Fertilizer concentration
Typically the fertilizer concentration used for young plant production is 75 ppm N,
which is half the strength that is used in the production area. However, our recent Phytotoxicity observed when fertilizer with high salt index was used.
Target Feed Rates (in ppm N) as per crop type and stage findings are that lettuce seedling growth can be significantly
enhanced with much higher concentrations than 75 ppm N.
Type Propagation Production Figure 2 shows the study conducted with Oasis Horticubes XL
Buttercrunch/Boston Bibb 125 150 medium fertilized with Oasis Hydroponic fertilizer. The study
demonstrates that the lettuce seedling growth increased with
Romaine, Red and Green Leaf 125 150 increase in fertilizer concentration until 125 ppm N and after
Basil 125 175 that no improvement was observed.
Culinary Herbs 125 150 Strong start = Profitable finish
Growing a high value lettuce crop takes time and experience
Cole Crops 125 175
in order to fine-tune all the areas that are covered in this
Garlic and Scallions 125 150 quick summary article. Remember, there are useful free serv-
ices out there that can help you improve each section of your
Tomatoes 125 200 seedling production. Use technical help, from your laboratory
Peppers 125 150 to your media provider or fertilizer manufacturer. Keep de-
tailed records and be flexiblewhat works for the guy down
Cucumber 125 175 the street may not work for you. But at least keep talking with
Heavy Feeder your peers; it will help the entire industry improve.
Cabbage, Kale, Spinach, Swiss Chard, 125 175-200
Mustard Greens, Mizuna, Escarole DR. VIJAY RAPAKA is Manager of Grower Research at Smithers-Oasis
Light Feeder Lettuce Company in Kent, Ohio. He can be reached at (330) 676- 4450 or
125 125-150 vrapaka@smithersoasis.com. Visit www.oasisgrower.com. DR. CARI PETERS
Arugula, Watercress, Spring Mix
is vice president of J.R. Peters Inc., in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She can be
As the plant increases in size, the demand for more nutrient uptake increases. reached at (866) 522-5752, ext 14 or caripeters@jrpeters.com. Visit
The chart above depicts suggested fertilizer concentration per stage and plant type. www.jrpeters.com.
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