STUDENTS LEARN FROM GREENHOUSE OPERATIONS

from NZ Grower I April 2023

GETTING THE SCIENCE TO THE SOIL

This month in NZGrower, TomatoesNZ shares an update on horticulture students visiting Wing Shing Farms in Papakura, as well as resources for covered crop growers interested in reducing their energy demands. We also share a guideline for managing broken glass in greenhouses.

NZ Certificate in Horticulture Level 3 field trip

Mike Saklani, a glasshouse grower of tomatoes and cucumbers at Wing Shing Farms and also a TomatoesNZ board director, recently hosted a group of level 3 NZ Certificate in Horticulture students on his property. This was a chance for the students to get out of their classrooms and see first-hand all the different aspects of busy greenhouse growing operation. Discussions centred around irrigation and nutrition management, pollination, pest and disease management including the use of beneficial insects, cost-benefit economics, target market and demand for produce.

If you would be happy to host a group of students, please contact course tutor Dipen Hadiya on Dipen.h@skillsupdate.co.nz or 027 329 2661

Vegetables NZ is inviting all covered crop growers to attend an energy workshop either in person at the Franklin Club, Pukekohe or online on 19 April 12pm – 5pm. The presentations will follow a complimentary lunch and will focus on how glasshouse growers can reduce their energy demands – an important topic as the temperatures across the country, especially overnight, decrease. Some of the learnings from six recent Energy Reduction Reports undertaken at a variety of glasshouses in both the North and South Islands will be presented.

For a full line-up of speakers and to RSVP please head

Glass breakage management guideline

In the light of dramatic weather events over the first quarter of this year, we have taken the opportunity to develop a guideline for how to manage broken glass in greenhouses. Several growers have input into this document and it may well cover practices that you are already carrying out, but it’s always a good idea to have a refresh for both yourself and staff members.