Categories
Technical

Greenhouse Cucurbits

The Last Word

GREENHOUSE CUCURBITS

Dr Mike Nichols

 

On the 13th of December 2019 the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) advised the Queensland government of the suspension of imports of fresh cucurbits from Queensland due to the presence of Cucumber green mottled mosaic virus in a consignment of watermelons. At the current time this suspension still applies, and the price of cucurbits in New Zealand is of course considerably higher than normal because it is not possible to import the cheaper field grown produce and therefore the only product available in New Zealand must be grown under protective cultivation.

Of course, most of the cucumbers consumed in New Zealand are greenhouse grown in New Zealand, and have been for many years, and it is only the out of season zucchini, water melon and rock melon which are normally imported. This is not to say that these crops cannot be grown in greenhouses in New Zealand and in fact some 40 years ago there was considerable interest in the potential of producing rock melons as an export crop for the Japanese market.

Of course, in this respect New Zealand has one big advantage over Australia in that we are free from fruit fly and can export to Japan. At Massey University we grew a number of melon crops at that time both outside and in a high tunnel house and in heated green houses.  More recently I grew seedless watermelons hydroponically in a heated greenhouse.

I have also seen crops of courgettes being produced here in greenhouses near Tauranga up strings, and clearly out of season. I suspect but this is a much more difficult crop to manage then melons or watermelons.    The leaves are much larger, and brittle, and they really do not lend themselves to greenhouse production.  The key to successful courgette production is regular harvesting, and the control of mildew.

How does one grow a cantaloupe in a greenhouse It certainly requires a considerable amount of training of the plants, but the basic philosophy is to grow them up a string to a height of about two metres, and to remove all the laterals and flowers up to the 9th or 10th leaves. Cantaloupes produce separate male and female flowers, and the male flowers develop mainly on the main stem and the female flowers on the lateral shoots. If the lateral shoots are only allowed to develop above the 9th or 10th main leaf, this is where the fruit will be formed. Therefore, everything produced in the axiles of the leaves up to that level are removed, lateral shoot and any male flowers and because there are plenty of male lowers produced further up the mainstem at the time when the female flowers are open.  The laterals are stopped after 2 leaves, and because the fruit behaves as a very strong “sink” vegetative growth on the plant virtually ceases after pollination.  The number of fruits allowed to mature per plant can then be decided, with surplus ones being removed.

My first attempt to pollinate the flowers with a small artists brush were a complete disaster—it became covered in nectar, so I reverted to using bumble bees, which did an excellent job.    If the melons are then bagged into small nets, they can be harvested at optimum maturity for the particular market.  Full slip for local and slightly less mature for more distant markets.

There are essentially two types of watermelon available, the standard seedy watermelon, of which the variety “sugar baby” is an excellent example, and the seedless type, which requires very special treatment if it is to be grown successfully.  Seedless watermelon is always higher priced, because it is much more difficult to grow.  Of course, how well it sells depend on whether one likes to swallow the almost non-existent seeds or prefers to spit out the black seeds from the conventional watermelon.

Watermelon are prone to some serious root borne diseases, and in many countries, they are grafted onto a disease resistant root stock. (See picture)

 

 

Seedless watermelons also require higher temperatures than standard varieties in order to germinate and grow.  They also require a pollinator, because they are triploid (produced by crossing a tetraploid with a diploid plant), and are therefore self-sterile.    This means that about 1/5 of the planting will need to be of a pollinator, which will have little or no economic value, however once the pollination has occurred then the pollinator can be removed to allow the triploid to fill the ground more effectively.  Obviously using hydroponics is likely to produce a superior crop than the soil, and coir might provide the most suitable medium.   I consider growing the watermelons up strings as being unworkable and allowing them to spread over the floor of the house the simplest training solution. 

Pests such as spider mite can be a potential problem for cucurbits, but useful biological control methods (eg using Phytoseoelius for spider mites), can reduce the need for any spraying.

Harvesting is the next problem, and this requires experience, to ensure that the watermelon is mature, but not overmature.    The drying of the tendril closest to the melon, the colour of the ground spot, and the sound of the melon when tapped are all useful means of knowing when to harvest. 

 

Article written and supplied by Dr Mike Nichols 

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Categories
Greenhouse News Supporting Services

Medicinal Cannabis Propagation Trials

“Research on mother plants and propagation essential for the Cannabis sector”

In recent years more and more research on Cannabis sativa L. is conducted with the industry trying to make up for the lack of scientific research in the past due difficult legal compliance situations. Cultivators is contributing to these research efforts by conducting medicinal cannabis propagation trials at the research facilities of the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in 2020.

Nowadays, research on cannabis cultivation especially focusses on the flowering stage, aiming to manipulate phytochemical production in the plants. The goal of this research primarily focused on achieving high quality young plants with the ultimate goal of higher yields and consistency, assuring safe and sound products for medicines and recreational cannabis products.

Our consultants are regularly that the importance of taking care of mothers and propagation is underestimated. Between growers, there is a big difference in quality of propagation materials. Developing an optimized propagation plan with standardized procedures would improve this situation and take the cultivation of cannabis to a higher and consistent level. Also, in research propagation of medicinal cannabis did not get extensive attention. From other horticultural crops it is known that good starting material is essential for a successful cultivation. Therefore, propagation trials were conducted by Felix Akens, intern of Cultivators, at the research facilities of the WUR under the supervision of Filip van Noort (WUR) and Sonny Moerenhout (Cultivators).

 

Two propagation methods are investigated, namely vegetative cuttings from mother plants and multiplication by tissue culture. A final propagation plan where both propagation types are combined has also been kept in mind. Both techniques have their pros and cons, but vegetative cuttings from mother plants is still most commonly used in the industry.

The experiments were conducted in the period of May to August 2020, exploring both propagation methods, but also two different varieties (White Widow & Afghani), the effect of topological manipulation on mother plants, rooting speed and cold storage of cannabis cuttings. Creating mother plants out of tissue culture with a standard set-up in terms of plant architecture results in more uniform root and shoot development. Creating protocols per variety in mother plant age, number of active meristems per plant is required for high success rates in propagation. Cold storage of fresh cuttings at 7°C is possible without significant differences in rooting speed. Findings of this research offer new insight when it comes to the production of propagated material, but also raised new questions and challenges which we are addressing in new research.

 

 

We continue with our research programs for cannabis cultivation. Results of other trials we will be spreading as we believe in growing together. In cooperation with our customers, our consultants, industry partners and research institutes. If you need support with research questions we are there to help you.

 

For more information:

Cultivators

info@cultivators.nl  
cultivators.nl  

 

Felix Akens, Mother plant research

 

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Categories
Category

Greenhouses 2030

A fully circular production system in the next ten years?

 

It’s not hard to be excited about the possibilities that greenhouse production has for becoming the most sustainable, circular and lowest carbon emission way to grow food in the future.  The possibility to combine agriculture and horticulture waste products to reclaim fertiliser could be a game changer (urban mining).  The possibility is, that by 2030, greenhouses in the Netherlands could make the transition to a fully circular production system.  Dutch growers could be producing exotic fruits, potentially reducing their carbon footprint massively simply by cutting the transport required to ship produce from far away countries. 

New Zealand is an island nation, isolated and rich in resources.  We have the ability to produce enough crops without having to rely on foods being imported.  Agriculture could play a vital role supporting the horticulture sector, not just from methane extraction for energy but also recycling fertiliser (see 1. Bioreactors, urban mining and microbiology in the article below)

Horticulture and Agriculture are simply two major ingredients for food security.  The mining of fertiliser is not infinite, it will end and when it does will we be ready? 

Below is an article I highly recommend.   No matter what your involvement, in the protected cropping industry, this is well worth the 5 minutes to read.

 

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Source: State of Green https://stateofgreen.com/en/

https://stateofgreen.com/en/partners/rockwool-group/solutions/the-greenhouse-in-ten-years/

 

The greenhouse in ten years

The horticultural sector is already a pioneer when it comes to sustainable, clean and safe food production. But how is the sector going to make the transition to a fully circular production system in the coming ten years?

While the industry is well on its way to become circular, there are a few bottlenecks we still need to overcome if we want to truly close our production cycles. The sector’s main challenge is to manage the in- and outgoing (material) flows in the greenhouse, including those of fertilizers and CO2. Additionally, greenhouses also have high energy needs and too much plastic is currently being used and thrown away in the sector. How can we overcome these bottlenecks? In this Food Forward we discuss the bottlenecks and possible solutions for this transition with three experts from the sector: dr. Wouter Verkerke, senior scientific researcher at the Business Unit Horticulture at the Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Peter Spoor, Director Applications and Development at Grodan and Sander van Golberdinge, Public Affairs Manager at Grodan. They also discuss new research and opportunities in the sector, including the potential use of micro-organisms and organic growing solutions in rootzones, the development of the ingredient farm and the cultivation of strawberries and lettuce in the greenhouse.

For Wouter Verkerke, Peter Spoor and Sander van Golberdinge the future is crystal clear: within ten years the horticultural industry will be circular. Local cultivation will become more prominent, the ingredient farm will be a new business model and it’s likely that in just a few years we will be able to buy exotic fruits from the Netherlands in our own supermarkets. These developments will allow production cycles to become shorter and truly closed. But how is the horticultural industry going to make this transition?

Circularity as a revenue model

Verkerke is optimistic about the horticultural sector’s transition to a circular economy: “What’s exciting is that there are already many solutions and ideas available for this issue, so I have a lot of faith that we as a sector can make this transition.” Verkerke emphasizes the important role the Netherlands can play in this transition: “Circularity is a revenue model. I see a lot of willingness in the Netherlands to invest in circular systems because we can sell our knowledge to the rest of the world as well. Corporations and growers are realizing that they have a responsibility for the continuity of the sector because, whether they like it or not, natural resources are going to run out at some point. This is a worldwide issue, so we need to think of new solutions together. In the Netherlands we already have a good idea of how to organize this. I see a rich breeding ground for innovation, an intellectual playing field and healthy rivalry here. We inspire each other, love to take on challenges and make sure we create business models that actually result in extra income for us.”

Demand for healthy, safe and sustainable food

While the horticultural sector is making the transition to a circular economy, the demand for healthy, safe and sustainably produced food will increase as well. The good news is that the horticultural industry has already taken great steps to meet this demand. Van Golberdinge: “The horticultural sector is the most promising sector when it comes to the sustainable production of healthy food. We grow out of the soil on growing media solutions, so we can control all the elements in order to produce clean and safe vegetables and fruit. With this production method the use of water and nutrients in the greenhouse is kept at a minimum and we mostly use biological crop protection products. Because of this, I think our sector is best positioned to meet the increasing demand for healthy, safe and sustainable food as the first, or maybe even the only, industry.”

Bottlenecks and solutions

The horticultural industry is well on its way, but there are a few bottlenecks we still need to overcome if we want to truly close our production cycles. According to WUR’s Business Unit Horticulture, the main challenge is to manage the in- and outgoing (material) flows, including those of fertilizers and CO2. Additionally, greenhouses also have high energy needs and too much plastic is currently being used and thrown away in the sector. How can we overcome these bottlenecks? Below, Verkerke, Van Golberdinge and Spoor share a few examples of possible solutions.

 

1. Bioreactors, urban mining and microbiology

Crops grown in a greenhouse need fertilizer, and for fertilizer we are currently dependent on potassium and phosphate from mines. But these will run out at some point. That’s why we need to find ways to reuse these existing resources. “As we speak, two companies are building prototypes for bioreactors (= a barrel in which biological processes take place). With these, we can remove fertilizers from the residual streams of the livestock and horticultural sector and reuse them in the greenhouse. The bioreactors can also release CO2 during this process, which can in turn be used to feed the crops in the greenhouse,” explains Verkerke.

“In addition to this, I think urban mining has high potential. This is a process in which we reclaim the fertilizers that are released from the drain (for example from digested tomatoes and cucumbers). To close the cycle the urban mining systems of the future can harvest the valuable fertilizers from the drain and lead them back into the production process of the greenhouse. The advantage of this is that these fertilizers can be used in the bioreactors as well. In that way, we create new and closed production cycles and we connect the agricultural and horticultural sector to each other. This is actually a solvable problem, which makes me very enthusiastic!”, adds Verkerke.

Grodan is also part of a study that looks into reducing fertilizers in the rootzones of stone wool growing media solutions. Spoor: “We want to establish a more balanced ecosystem within the rootzones. That’s why we participate in research on the use of micro-organisms and organic growing solutions in rootzones. We also want to have more control of the microbiology in the crops’ rootzones. As a result of this, you will get healthier, better balanced crops. As a member of the Club of 100 from the Wageningen University we are able to get in touch with companies and researchers who study the micro-organisms in rootzones. Together we look at ways to apply our findings in our growing media solutions.”

2. Plastic reduction

Currently, high amounts of plastic are being used in the greenhouse: plastic foil on the ground, plastic straps around the crops and plastic foil around the substrates. This is an important point of concern for Grodan. That’s why the business is currently conducting several studies with the goal of reducing the use of plastic in their products, while maintaining the substrate’s quality. As of today, Grodan has already reduced its plastic usage by ten percent in comparison to last year by making adjustments to their growing media solutions. But the company has even larger ambitions. Spoor: “Ultimately, our goal is to find the most sustainable solutions. That’s why we explore several different solutions to reach this goal. For example, we are currently testing foils which consist 30 percent out of recycled plastics. We are also investigating the use of
prototypes of degradable paper covers around our substrates.”

3. Recycling

Additionally, Van Golberdinge and Spoor are very excited about the steps Grodan has made in the area of recycling. “In Western Europe, 90 percent of our product is currently being recycled into red bricks, a high quality product. At the moment we’re also working hard outside of Western Europe to recycle as many of our products as possible. This is a challenge because we’re dealing with different rules and regulations in each country,” explains Spoor. “A major step for us is that we started this year to recycle our used projects in our own factories in Russia. We also set up a new system in the United Kingdom, where all our used substrates are being brought back to red brick factories for recycling. We’re very proud of these developments,” says Spoor.

4. Energy-neutral

At the moment, many greenhouses in the Netherlands operate on gas, but a transition in this area is on its way as well. Verkerke: “I see the sector is already working more efficiently with gas. For example, growers are looking into better isolation materials, LED lighting, and alternative energy sources such as geothermal energy.” The WUR built a demonstration greenhouse in Bleijswijk (Netherlands), the “Greenhouse 2030”, which operates 100 percent on electric power. In this greenhouse, strawberries, gerberas fresia and potanthurium are grown emission-free, without the use of fossil fuels. Verkerke adds: “Also here you can see that the solutions are already available. I expect the sector’s pioneers will get inspired by this greenhouse and will start experimenting themselves as well. They are likely to find new, additional solutions and the sector as a whole will take important steps towards an energy-neutral production process. However, it’s important to mention that we can only become fully CO2-neutral if there’s enough wind and solar energy availability.”

5. Local cultivation

Besides from finding solutions to the above mentioned bottlenecks, Verkerke, Spoor and Van Golberdinge expect the sector will also develop more in the area of local cultivation in the coming years.

Van Golberdinge: “If we keep on importing vegetables and fruit from countries across the globe, we will continue to have a negative footprint on the environment. Moreover, the corona virus and the current political climate have made it clear that we should be less dependent on other countries. That’s why I believe we are moving towards more local cultivation. And the horticultural industry will play an increasingly larger role in this development, because this sector can guarantee the production of safe and healthy food products. And the great thing is: as a result of this, other crops will also be grown circularly and the distances – or in other words, production cycles – will get shorter as well”.

6. New (exotic) crops

As the sector moves towards more local cultivation, it’s likely we will also see an increase of new crops in different indoor facilities, according to the three experts. Spoor: “Crops are increasingly being taken out of the soil as more advanced growing techniques, such as vertical farming, are being developed. At Grodan we investigate how we can adjust our growing media solutions so strawberries and lettuce can be grown optimally on our substrates.” For example, Grodan is currently involved in a trial at Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, where strawberries are grown on stone wool growing media solutions.

Verkerke also anticipated this new development and is now business development manager of the “Greenhouse Pharmacy” program. Verkerke: “In the Netherlands, we are crazy about exotic fruits like papayas and mangos, but we still import them by plane from remote countries. Because of this, these fruits continue to have a high CO2-footprint. In the Greenhouse Pharmacy we carry out different trials to grow exotic fruits and ingredients in a Dutch greenhouse. A great example is our collaboration with Sunfresh, which published the first results of papayas grown in the greenhouse earlier this year,” he shares enthusiastically. “We don’t have the ambition to take over other countries’ full production processes with this project. But if we can ensure a small, but guaranteed and constant amount of these types of fruit from the Netherlands, we foresee less fluctuations in prices. This delivery security will bring stability in the food chain, which in turn has a positive effect on guaranteeing food security and safety,” according to Verkerke.

The ingredient farm

On top of all this, Verkerke’s team is also testing the possibilities of growing ingredients for the food and pharma industry, such as medicinal cannabis, aloe vera, vanilla and chili peppers. Verkerke: “I think the ingredient farm is going to be a new booming business. At the moment, some ingredients do not reach Europe or have a bad quality. By growing certain ingredients in greenhouses in the Netherlands, you are assured a high quality, clean production process so it makes sense we will have to start producing these types of ingredients ourselves as well. And we are actually able to do this. The available solutions are endless and I am sure the Netherlands, with its extensive knowledge of the sector, can play an important role in this”.

Ready for the future

Verkerke, Van Golberdinge and Spoor all agree that the horticultural industry is going to make a huge transition in the
coming ten years. Circularity will be a license to operate, as well as a revenue model for many Dutch growers. During this transition, collaboration in the sector is crucial. By forming coalitions between different players, the sector will prepare itself for the future. And the good news is: the horticultural sector is already a pioneer when it comes to sustainable, clean and
safe food production. According to the three experts, the sector’s entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge will definitely contribute to this transition in the coming years and will ensure that existing systems and processes are redesigned to enable a transition to a circular economy.

Categories
Greenhouse News

I am going Bananas

First trial plants arrive soon

 

Last year I wrote the article – ‘Bananas growing in NZ greenhouses”, news/post/bananas-growing-in-nz-greenhouses/

I have recently ordered several banana varieties that I will be trialling.   The New Zealand banana industry/production is in its infancy, I predict it will be a niche market for certain varieties in the near future.  Long term it is still far too hard to tell.

I will be planting in both coir substrates bags and in the soil.   Initially it will be to become familiar with plant growth and monitor the performance of the two different substrates.  With the variety I have been able to source I am looking for a short plant that will not grow too tall before producing.  Older greenhouses in New Zealand are approximately 3.5-4.5 meters to the gutter.  If it is viable, in the future, to grow bananas commercially in protected cropping structures then this will more than likely be tunnel houses that have gutters at a similar height.

Variety wish list: – I would like to achieve a short banana that would be great for kid’s lunch boxes, it has to be sweet and have a smooth texture and easy to peel.  I would like to let the bananas ripen on the plant or very close to that point.  This may depend on how easily the different varieties bruise after picking and transporting.   A banana that does not travel well or have long shelf-life post-harvest may simply be a turn off to the customer.

I am hoping more literature will soon be available to help grow bananas in our conditions.

Is any one interested in growing the following:

Below is a link to an article posted on Hortdaily recently.  The article discusses experiments of growing alternate crops in unheated greenhouses in Canada.

https://www.hortidaily.com/article/9287333/growing-fruit-trees-and-grapevines-in-unheated-greenhouses-the-benefits/

In this greenhouse the grower Dan Boston has experimented with growing cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, figs and table grapes.  New Zealand growers are already covering cherry crops and table grapes were grown in greenhouses as long ago as the 1980’s.  The others varieties on this list I am not familiar with as being grown commercially in greenhouses.  Possibly the climate is too good and the returns not sufficient to cover apricots, peaches and nectarines in a greenhouse, it would be very interesting to know if anyone has thought of this? 

Like any type of produce grown in a greenhouse, plant spacing/row width are very important.  The type of plant that can be trained along crop wires, compact and high producing are the attributes I would be looking for. The ten major benefits of the experiment are all that I would expect from growing in greenhouses.

Let me know your thoughts or if you are growing any non-traditional greenhouse crops in a greenhouse.  I would like to learn of and publish articles on what can be produced within the protected cropping industry in the future.       

 

I appreciate your comments.  Please feel free to comment on the grower2grower Facebook page:

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Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower

Categories
Integrated Pest Management

Future-Proofing thrips management in strawberries

Field Day held on January 14th

 

Background:

Last week I attended a field day, in Whenuapai, to learn more about the Thrips Pest Management Sustainable Farming Fund Project.  The project research and delivery are a collaboration between the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited and Berryworld Limited.   The project started in July 2019 and finishes in June 2022.   There was update and shared learnings from the first 1 ½ years of research, and information was offered regarding the programme schedule for the next 1 ½ years.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and Strawberry Growers New Zealand Incorporated (SGNZ).

 “The aim is to increase knowledge and develop and implement new tools and management techniques to manage thrips, transforming the current Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.  The goal is to enable growers to manage thrips to minimise economic damage of these pests and enable an overall IPM strategy to be implemented across New Zealand strawberry production.

The technical findings of this project will be released by Strawberries New Zealand to its members so I won’t be discussing the findings in detail.   However, I was very impressed with the technical information available.  It is exactly the type of collaboration we need and will be required for many years to come to assist growers and industry to tackle the issues of the day.  Thrips cause damage to many other crops grown in New Zealand.  Research, ascertained to assist with more cost effective and safe ways to mitigate the damage these pests cause will only benefit us all.  Strawberries offer strong export opportunities to several international markets (this year being the exception due to international transport complications), reducing thrip damage will increase plant health reflecting in a higher volume of export quality fruit.  Increasing export, to established markets and providing those markets with certainty of supply is key for long term profitability. 

The day also offered growers and suppliers an opportunity to come together to discuss everything growing.  There is nothing like talking shop with other growers, and even though my knowledge is firmly in protected cropping some of the challenges open air growers face are similar, especially when it comes to a common threat such as thrips.   Greenhouse strawberry production is in its infancy in New Zealand but with high-tech greenhouses being built around the world, to grow strawberries, then it will be a matter of time before it becomes feasible in NZ.  Even if high-tech structures are built in NZ, growing outdoors on open air table tops or using low-tech structures will continue to offer solid returns for many years to come.

A fantastic take home piece of Advice:

The entire day was informative, one brilliant piece of advice that I took away from the day was advice provided by Paul Horne, from IPM technologies from Australia (Via Zoom).  Some products may display compatibility with IPM programmes but you should always ask your supplier which beneficial insects are they compatible/friendly with.   Otherwise, we may discover we are unwittingly having a negative impact on other introduced beneficial insect species. 

 

My two cents:

One, almost fool proof way to prevent thrips damaging strawberries is to 100% physically introduce barriers to entry.  A similar concept to how you keep birds off a crop by using netting.   What role using physical barriers play in the future would be something to consider when looking at this research.  For example, the measures Medicinal Cannabis growers are introducing to prevent pest insects entering their growing zones.  Thrip proof netting attached to vents of greenhouses is nothing new.  Optimal climate control is the stumbling block as large investment would be required; however, it is possible.   

 

I appreciate your comments.  Please feel free to comment on the grower2grower Facebook page:

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Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower

Categories
Energy

Do you have a backup electricity supply?

What happens when there is an unplanned power outage?

 

When I was growing one of my major fears was how to deal with an electricity breakdown. Too lose power on a hot summer’s day, and have no way of irrigating a crop or controlling the environment, could quickly turn into a disaster.  Without a backup generator, that many growers do not have, you will be at the mercy of someone else to help bring the power back.

A few weeks ago a contractor, mowing grass, accidentally cut the main power source to some greenhouses nearby.  The issue occurred close lunch time, the sun was shining bright so it was hot, which is to be expected at this time of the year.  As a result the crops in question were not irrigated until the early evening, when the issues had been fixed and the power was back on.   Something you cannot plan for is unexpected accidents, but the consequences can be quite devastating.

The crops suffered, they wilted quickly.   I visited four days later, and the effects were already visible with miss-set and fruit abortion. It is too early to determine the long-term effects.  When crops are stressed, as they were in this case, it may take several days or even weeks to start seeing the physical effects.  Even though the different crops had recovered in the proceeding days to some degree, long term damage (depending on factors such as the amount of time without water, age of crop, crop load and cultivar) is a very high possibility.   Root systems will potentially die back, fruit abortion will most likely occur, fungus and insects may well become issues, due to the plant’s natural defence systems being subjected to a stressful event.

If insurance is involved then it is not quite as simple as the loss of production, as the production that is harvested from that point onwards may fall short of the expected quality.   Even if the crop is still replaced on the scheduled replanting date the actual loss incurred by the grower will not be just a matter of the production but the extra time spent trying to fix or nurse the crop to its planned termination.

Note: In this case tomatoes and cucumber crop have been affected.  Cucumbers are very sensitive and once they are under this type of stress it will be hard to fully recover without major damage.  Tomatoes will suffer from such an event.  However, if it is an immature crop, with good root systems and good water buffer, the damage may be less severe than for a cucumber crop.

Wilting will occur very quickly if a greenhouse crop cannot be irrigated regularly on a hot day in January.

 

Be prepared- have a back-up plan

A generator.  No matter how big or small a grower you may be you should discuss with your electrician the cost to install a generator at least big enough to supply enough energy to be able to manually irrigate and also run your heating system in the winter. 

 

Insurance

Discuss with your insurance provider regarding crop loss insurance.  I would think it is expensive to have but if you are vulnerable then it may be a solution worth investigating.  I am aware of a glasshouse that lost hundreds of panes of glass during a freak storm, which in turn destroyed the crop.  The grower had an insurance policy that not only meant they were able to get the glasshouse fixed but also compensation for loss of earnings due to the destruction of that crop.

Cover-photo, permanant damge/scars appear only a few days later.

 

I appreciate your comments.  Please feel free to comment on the grower2grower Facebook page:

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Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower

Categories
Greenhouse News Seeds

ToBRFV detected in small seed lot

Do you require a Greenhouse Hygiene Audit?

 

You may have recently read the media release below.  It refers to the recent detection and rapid response of ToBRFV in NZ.  It is an extremely good reminder of the risk such viruses pose.  The most probable way ToBRFV will enter NZ is via seed.  It was a great response from all involved and even though the seed in question came with a phytosanitary certificate, further offshore testing identified a very low level of infection. 

Even though the checks and balances had been done it still came onto our shores.  As a result I believe our hygiene levels need to be increased immediately.  I am very concerned by our hygiene levels.  Suppliers must be careful, when entering properties, and growers should be very strict with who they allow to enter properties.  Contract workers should also be looked at very carefully, they can work in multiple sites and be unwitting vectors. 

If you have been to Holland, and many places in Australia, you are not permitted to enter greenhouse sites without full suits, gloves, shoe covers, hair nets and sometimes even beard nets.  It is about following good protocols and protecting your assets.

Cleaning and disinfection between crops is of the upmost importance.  I am more than happy to offer Grower2Grower services to provide a hygiene audit.  It would look at the possible pathways and entry points for viruses and diseases.  It can be very simple recommendations, from a fresh set of eyes that can ensure you maintain the highest levels of safety in the working environment.

Please contact stefan@grower2grower.co.nz if you would like to book a greenhouse hygiene audit, for independent practical advice based on my experience as a grower.

 

Media Release below – Source HortNZ

https://www.hortnz.co.nz/news-events-and-media/media-releases/a-biosecurity-success-story-rapid-response-to-new-virus-detected/

A biosecurity success story – rapid response to new virus detected

22 December 2020

The horticulture industry will be heartened to learn of a biosecurity success story. 

Early detection of a virus new to New Zealand – the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) – in a small seed lot has allowed quick action to be taken to contain and prevent any spread of the virus. All the seeds and resulting plants have been destroyed.

In early December, industry alerted Biosecurity New Zealand to the presence of ToBRFV in seeds imported from Israel. Although these seeds were imported with a phytosanitary certificate declaring them to be free of ToBRFV based on testing completed offshore, further testing identified a very low level of infection.

ToBRFV is a serious pathogen for tomato and capsicum plants and is an Unwanted Organism in New Zealand. As a precautionary measure, Biosecurity New Zealand has temporarily suspended the imports of capsicum and tomato seeds for sowing from Israel.

Biosecurity New Zealand has been able to account for all of the imported seeds and the plants grown from them. There have been no symptoms or positive tests for ToBRFV from the plants grown from the seeds, which have been restricted to three greenhouse sites in Auckland.

Biosecurity New Zealand and affected industry partners have agreed to enter a response under the Government Industry Agreement (GIA). While there is no reason to suspect there has been any spread of the disease, all the plants grown from the contaminated seed have been destroyed to manage any residual risk.  The three greenhouse sites have also been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

As a further precaution, Biosecurity New Zealand has destroyed all the tomato plants grown from uncontaminated seeds that have been in close proximity to the affected plants.

This issue was detected early due to diligent reporting from industry. This a timely reminder to ensure good hygiene practices are in place at growing sites, to regularly inspect crops for symptoms of disease, and to know how to report the unusual via the MPI pest and disease hotline: 0800 80 99 66.

 

Cover Image: Damage from ToBFRV found in Europe. This is what we do not want in New Zealand and must try to protect against.

 

 

I appreciate your comments.  Please feel free to comment on the grower2grower Facebook page:

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Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower

Categories
Industry Profile

In Memory of George Wheeler

In Memory of George Wheeler,

 

It was with great sadness I learnt of the passing of George Wheeler last week.  George had been battling Prostate Cancer for several years.  I visited George in 2018 after hearing of his diagnosis.  Below is the article I wrote about George and I think it is a fitting time to repost the article. 

George was a character to say the least, he was cheeky and witty and brought a smile to everyone he knew.  He will be sadly missed.  Rest in peace George.

 

 

George Kenneth (George) WHEELER

1941 – 2020

 

WHEELER, George Kenneth (George). Born August 29, 1941. Passed away on August 16, 2020. Our beloved and mischievous George; Husband, Father, Opa and friend to many. After a long and difficult battle with prostate cancer, George passed away in his home, at Possum Bourne Village (Pukekohe), thirteen days before his 79th birthday. He was being nursed by his amazing and dedicated wife Rosalie with the help of Hospice. George leaves behind a huge gap in our family, dearly loved husband of 56 years to Rosalie, loved Father to Troy and Briar, Mark, Todd and Sandra, adored Opa to Alisha, Danielle, Kristen and Phillip, Cody, Kent and Jess, Tim, Helaina, Hollie and Toby. Due to current Covid restrictions, funeral arrangements are still being organised and a notification of the celebration of George's life will made in due course. Our heartfelt thanks to George's Doctor of 32 years, David Shand and to the wonderful nurses at Franklin Hospice. In lieu 

Memorial service:

George’s memorial service will be held at 11am next Friday the 20th November at Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club, 78 Nelson Street, Pukekohe.

For those who are unable to attend in person there will be a live stream of the service on George’s Facebook page. The full video will be made available to watch again once the service is finished.

 

 

“I wish I had been in horticulture my entire career” (article first published April 2018)

 

From wool exporting to growing carnations and store manager at Veg Gro.

You may recognise the cheeky smile from one of horticultures character’s.  George Wheeler has been retired for over ten years now, but if you ever purchased products from Veg-gro in Drury from the early 90’s, until 2006, you will possibly recognise him.  When I first started growing in 1995 George was one of the first people I met, he was always welcoming and knowledgeable when I went to buy my supplies at Veg-gro. 

 

George was born in Auckland in 1941. He has lived his entire life in the Auckland region attending Avondale College in West Auckland.  The youngest of three children, he had a brother and sister (twins) who were three years older.   He finished school in sixth form and thereafter attended Massey completing a degree in ‘Wool Classing’.  George then worked 6 years for a wool purchasing, export company.  During this period in his life George was an avid polo player and luckily for George his Dad introduced him to his wife Rosalie Brown, at a polo match in Waimai near Huntly, in the early 60’s.  In 1964 they were married, they had three sons from which they now have nine grandchildren! They are still happily married, 54 years later, living in Buckland Pukekohe. They have recently sold this property, and as George tells me they are “moving to the wrinkle farm” (retirement village in Pukekohe). 

 

 In 1970 George had the opportunity to work for a different wool company, Aotearoa Wool Scourers.  Wool was purchased, washed, then sold to overseas markets. During this time, he and Rosalie also grew table grapes in greenhouses at Mangere, South Auckland.  In 1985 George wanted a change, he was hoping to grow grapes commercially, this did not eventuate as the financing needed was hard to come by.   They decided to purchase a flower growing business in Drury, South Auckland, growing carnations.  The property had 4000m2 of glasshouse structures.  When George took over the property it had been neglected.  The crop was so infested by insects it had to be replaced.  Soon after George and Rosalie had the property back up to a high standard.  The carnations were initially sold for export.  If flowers were sold on the local market it was generally through Turners auctions in Palmerston North and Market Gardeners in Wellington.   George and Rosalie were the first flower growers to start selling ‘ready-made bouquets’ through the local auction system.  This happened as some plants could not be exported.  The local market started making them three times as much return compared to exporting, hence the reason the local market became the preferred destination for the carnations.

During the time growing in Drury they gained their growing knowledge from MAF and from their neighbour and fellow flower grower Graham Rushbrook.    The first few years were hard; interest rates were around 22% at the time they purchased the business and they stayed high for several years.  Hard work and perseverance paid off as the business became very successful.

George has always been a people person, in 1990 he noticed a job advertisement for the store manager at Veg-Gro Drury, he decided to apply for the position.  Rosalie recalls George going for the interview in his work t-shirt and shorts.  Rosalie was so happy when George was offered the job because she said he was only in the greenhouse 50% of the time and spent the rest of his time chin-wagging!  George remained the store manager at Drury until his retirement in 2006.

 

When he became store manager in Drury there were only two staff. By the time George retired there were nine staff at the Drury branch. The total turnover was 2.7 million in 1990 for the two Veg-gro branches and by the time he retired in 2006 the sales from five stores in the North Island exceeded 25 million.  In the early to mid-1990’s the greenhouse vegetable sector started to expand rapidly with the larger properties emerging, creating the need for a lot more greenhouse consumables such as chemicals and fertilizers.   George started making regular trips to Holland.  At events such as Hortifair, George was able to make contacts with suppliers to bring new products to New Zealand.   Growing substrates and clips are just two examples.  George’s previous experience was invaluable moving the Veg-gro business forward.  George recalls in the early 1990’s the biggest change for tomato growers was changing from single cropping to double cropping and using heating systems.

 George was influential in the purchase of Horticentre from Jan Hoefleck who was supplying consumables to flower growers.  George identified this as the perfect opportunity for Veg-gro to branch out and supply the flower growers.  From this came the name we know today. 

During his teenier at Veg-gro George and Rosalie purchased a property in Aririmu, an old burnt down greenhouse was restored and new tunnel houses were built to keep growing carnations as well as chrysanthemums.

 

If you know George, you know what a character he is and how he’s always uplifting and positive, enjoys a good yarn and a laugh.  He hasn’t changed.  George is still passionate about horticulture and likes to know what is happening in the covered crop industry.  He said to me “I wished I had been involved with horticulture my entire career”.

George is currently going through a tough time, last September he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.   Currently he is undergoing chemotherapy.  Unfortunately, the cancer has spread to many parts of his body so he will potentially need treatment for the rest of his life.   He has not told many people about his illness as he does not want a fuss made of him. As soon as I heard about his illness I contacted him and asked to write this article about him.  George has helped many growers over the years directly and indirectly, he and his wife Rosalie richly deserve our support.

George was having regular blood test, but between the time of the tests the cancer developed, rapidly it spread throughout his body.  Every 6-12 months I have a blood test as a precaution, this reminds me I am due for another one.  I hope this encourages you to visit your doctor as it could prevent an unwanted outcome.

I wish George and Rosalie all the best.

 

George and Rosalie have built a superb looking garden in Buckland

 

 

 

I appreciate your comments.  Please feel free to comment on the grower2grower Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/StefanGrower2grower/

Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower

 

 

Categories
Seeds

How consumers are shaping variety selection at De Ruiter

Testing Across the Globe

 

At De Ruiter Seeds, our goal is to help protected culture growers bring a masterpiece to market every time. Increasingly, consumer preferences for taste, shape, colour and texture are playing an important role in how growers consider what varieties to grow. Known as sensory science, De Ruiter is at the forefront of this understanding and is undertaking extensive research to uncover what consumers are looking for around the world. 

 

Driven by Consumer Sensory Lead Dr Chow-Ming Lee, these efforts form part of Bayer’s Consumer Science R&D department. Dr Lee and his team conduct scientifically robust consumer studies, to understand regional preferences for taste, texture, sight, smell and more.

 

By conducting consumer testing across the globe, Bayer Vegetable Seeds is learning about taste preferences to enable us to better predict what consumers will want tomorrow. This process has enabled us to pinpoint specific attributes that are most important to consumers in different countries and develop varieties that not only perform agronomically but are adapted to consumer preferences.

In Australia and New Zealand, Dr Lee and his team have partnered with the University of Melbourne to conduct consumer panels in large, medium truss and snacking tomatoes. Since the studies began in 2018, 150 consumers have been sampled on 40 attributes across 15 De Ruiter varieties. Using both qualitative and quantitative feedback, the data collected is analysed and used to create sensory profiles, enabling us to deliver the flavor story of tomorrow’s leading varieties.

 

De Ruiter growers rely on us for seeds that meet them at the intersection of quality and quantity, where we optimise both flavor and yield. Through our Sensory Science programme, we can share what we’ve learned about consumer sensory preferences and breed future generations of varieties that will grow into delicious products consumers will remember.

 

Here in New Zealand, Marinice, Red Delight and DRC564 have performed well in consumer panels and are varieties renowned for their flavour and high concentration of sugar (Brix). We are also trialing other varieties focused on consumer preferences.

 

We are connected with breeders around the world to provide superior taste associated with Agronomic Crop Performance in different segments of tomatoes from cherries to beefsteak, if you would like to know more about our pipeline get in touch with us.

Contact Marco Lozada. (marco.lozada@bayer.com)

 

To Receive a PDF of the Sensory Wheel below please contact Marco 

 

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Categories
Supporting Services

Growers Mitigate Labour Pressures with BumperCrop’s Efficiency System

Big Impact to Bottom Line Performance

 

Labour represents roughly one third of greenhouse growers ongoing costs, meaning that even a modest improvement can result in a big impact to bottom line performance. With rising labor costs and Covid-19 related labour pressures, it is more important than ever to run a highly efficient business that optimises staff productivity.

 

Smart Insights – Data that Makes the Difference

 

BumperCrop’s high-tech labour management focuses on the labour efficiency elements most important for individual operations with its powerful capabilities that allow for customisation, adaption to existing processes and integration with existing systems. By honing in on the key metrics that matter to individual operations, efficiency can be maximised. Some growers have reported labour efficiency gains of up to 20% and saving many hours of admin time per week. 

 

“In addition to providing more efficiency, we wanted to provide a system that delivers a better outcome overall. Most labor management systems have big upfront costs that result in vendor lock-in, poor support and costly upgrade fees down the road. Instead, we offer an affordable subscription model so growers get value at all times, not just when they start out with the system,” said Managing Director Adam Forbes.

Left: BumperCrop Operational Dashboard, Right: BumperCrop Labour App

 

 

Fast to Deploy – Scales as You Need

Growers are busy and don’t have time for extensive meetings or to learn and configure complicated new systems. A trial of BumperCrop’s Labour Management System can be up and running in less than 20 minutes once hardware arrives. After this, it can easily be scaled up as required. This benefits both smaller growers with less staff and large growers who often prefer to start out with a part of their operation.

 

Improves Performance with Technology

A carefully thought out and thoroughly tested design minimizes the time it takes to input data. WorkWave™ tags allow staff to easily and accurately log work by waving a device over a tag at the end of each row and to input data. Growers view the results in near real time and staff become more motivated, as they are able see their performance on dashboards. Growers are then able to use this data to pay staff based on performance.

 

Less Time Spent Managing

Growers realise substantial operational savings by spending less time managing and following up with staff. With all tasks and time worked logged in the system, growers can see an overview of the operation and individual staff performances for any time period.

 

Plan More Effectively

Managers use picking data to more accurately anticipate yields before packing starts, helping to achieve better prices. They can also see an overview of problems identified by staff as they work, or understand how much was picked at the same time last season and which rows yielded the most.

 

A System that Keeps on Improving

BumperCrop’s team of technology and user experience experts has been working closely with greenhouse growers to perfect their system over the past 2 years. The entire system is cloud-based, which means that improvements, once tested and verified, automatically roll out to subscribers. A growing number of greenhouse operators are using the BumperCrop system as it becomes a trusted partner for small and large growers alike.

 

Left: Gourmet Mokai Ltd., a 11.4 hectare tomato site that uses BumperCrop’s system.

 

For more information:

BumperCrop

Adam Forbes

adam@mybumpercrop.com

https://mybumpercrop.com/labour-management-software/