greenhouses I shade net I hydroponics I aquaponics
I once asked a former open land tomato producer what his greatest change was that he experienced after putting up greenhouses to control his own climate and acquire year round production. The answer was simple; “I used to take my family down to the South coast twice a year; now they are going on their own!” That is what it basically boils down to; to swap from open land to controlled environment production entails your 24/7 attention to your investment. (Ed)
Tomato production in a greenhouse is a devoted trade Uniformly truss of tomatoes – a sign of a healthy plant and good management.
climate over this transition period. During ll of us involved the winter – spring – summer with greenhouses know that transition, changes are often so running a successful greenhouse subtle that they can catch the operation means that the grower unawares. operator needs to have eyes all over the It can be generally stated that place as well as being a plant, climate and successful greenhouse growers are market analyst to be those who can able to second-guess It can be generally stated “pro-actively” whatever may happen that successful greenhouse (vs. reactively) next. Also, he or she avoid potentially growers are those who has to continuously harmful can “pro-actively” (vs. train and mentor conditions reactively) avoid potentially greenhouse assistants to counter harmful conditions to to ensure success potential and minimize losses counter potential plant plant stress through human error stress and harvest reduction. and harvest or neglect. reduction. With spring and summer plants in full The main players in the seasonal production, growers must be everchanges affecting the plants will be watchful to react smartly to all the lengthened day light plus increasing changes taking place in the plant and day and night temperatures. 6
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4 Undercover farming I January/February 2021 I Volume 18 No 1
Unnatural growth caused by EC build- up in the root medium.
