Greenhouse Horticulture is vitally important:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the single, largest issue facing the planet at present.  It is shocking to see the impact this pandemic is having on the world. However, the fact that New Zealand is a few steps behind China, Italy and other locations in Europe has enabled New Zealand’s government to rapidly learn from what has occurred in these countries and respond as quickly as possible.   No one can accurately predict the final outcome, a vaccine needs to be identified, tested, mass produced and administered before the virus is contained.  Until such point we are in a holding pattern.  Until then the world’s most vulnerable are at risk and must be protected. 

Agriculture and Horticulture are currently playing a crucial role, not only supplying the one thing we all need, which is food, but has an essential role keeping New Zealand’s economy moving.  The support networks that are involved with the primary sector are far reaching.  Jobs and businesses associated with the produce supply chain from seed production right until the final product being purchased from the supermarket shelf is quite staggering. 

Greenhouse vegetable production plays a major role supplying fresh year-round products.  It has always been my opinion greenhouse or protected cropping will play a huge role in sustainable food production long term.  With the outbreak of COVID-19 I am even more convinced it will not only play a vital role in sustainable production long term but could have a major impact to provide food security sooner.  In the near future there may well be financial hurdles to success but the technology is available, we need to invest and support greenhouse growers, government and partnerships is key, not barriers.

Simply the primary sector is undeniably VITAL. 

Horticulture can help with employment

The Kiwifruit industry is in need of 20,000 extra workers, they are offering a fantastic short-term opportunity for workers, who have become jobless due to the Coronavirus.   I understand it will be unpractical for many, short-term affected workers, to re-locate and take up this seasonal work but demonstrates what is available in just one sector within horticulture.

I cannot speak for all horticulture as I am heavily involved with the NZ greenhouse vegetable industry, labour shortages have been a major issue recently.  Protected cropping is generally a 365-day job so if you are serious about finding long term stable employment this is the industry you should consider.  

I highly recommend reading the two articles below. Even though the first is directed to Dairy Farming, there are many similar issues facing protected cropping growers.  The second is another fantastic article by Mike Chapman, Chief Executive of HortNZ

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/video/heather-du-plessis-allan-government-needs-to-help-farmers/

https://www.hortnz.co.nz/news-events-and-media/mikes-blog/time-to-eat-healthy/

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Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower

Growing must go on

Advisory Service:

With the COVID-19 alert system increasing to level 4 on Wednesday the 25th of March, I would like to reassure all growers that I am still available to visit properties if advice, of an essential nature, is required to maintain the wellbeing of crops.  I am well equipped to cope with hygiene requirements.

Growers that use Grower2Grower crop registration services via e-mail will carry on as usual.  If anyone would like to register for crop registration please let me know.

Alternatively, I am available by e-mail chat or phone either with normal voice calls or video calls including Facetime, WhatsApp or Wechat, please don’t hesitate to connect if you require anything.

E-Magazine:

I want to reassure all readers of Grower2Grower, including growers, suppliers, government and our international readers we will carry on providing as much current information pertaining to greenhouse horticulture. 

I am inviting suppliers and growers (if they have time) to provide articles or updates on their business’s opening hours, any supply constraints or availability of any products & services at this time. I am more than happy to run more frequent editions/updates to provide greenhouse growers with up to date information as required.

Please keep safe everyone.

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

HealthCheck App Helps Manage Risk and Ensure Compliance 

The team at BumperCrop have worked in conjunction with growers in the past two weeks on their new HealthCheck  App to help address the new Horticulture NZ rules for operating during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Edward Lee has been using the App in conjunction with his BumperCrop Labour Management system since this Saturday. “This App makes it easy to ask my staff the right questions and have evidence to show that we are in compliance.” said Edward Lee. 

At the start of each day, staff are asked a series of questions designed to address some of the key questions specified by MPI. Asking the staff the questions at the start of each day reminds them what they need to do to help mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.  Answers to the questions are automatically tracked and available in a webpage that can be shared to demonstrate compliance.

BumperCrop has made a version of the App available to growers through their existing phones, tablets or desktop computers without the need for installing the BumperCrop Labour Management System. “We want this to be readily available to as many growers as possible to help stop the spread of the virus.  We are aiming to give this for free to as many greenhouse growers as is feasible during the lockdown period,” said BumperCrop founder Adam Forbes. 

To sign up for the App please contact Adam Forbes.

adam@mybumpercrop.com

To view new HorticulureNZ guidelines visit this website: https://www.hortnz.co.nz/news-events-and-media/media-releases/covid-19-update-for-horticulture/

By Mike Nichols

Some 10 years ago I carried out a small experiment to grow out of season asparagus in a greenhouse (Nichols, 2009)) at Massey University.  I found that if the plants were grown in coir in boxes and were supplied with adequate nutrients and water via a hydroponic system, then some 15 months after sowing the seed I could be harvesting asparagus spears for sale.  

It is clear that outside the normal harvest season (September-December) for asparagus in New Zealand that the price per kg doubles.  I also produced white asparagus at the same time by covering the boxes (during the harvest season) with plastic panda film, which stopped any light getting to the spears.  White asparagus (in season) is double the price of green asparagus, and (presumably) this price would probably double again if grown out of season.

Fern growth stage of tunnel grown asparagus (early-July in UK)

My thinking at that time was to grow the asparagus in bins in old greenhouses during the summer months, and then when the fern growth slowed down in the autumn transfer the bins into a cool store to grow the spears for harvest.  Spears are, of course, produced from buds on the crown, which uses the stored food in the thick roots to grow into spears.     Cool stores are (of course) essentially well insulated rooms, so they could be heated (at minimum expense even in mid-winter) for the spears to grow.  If white asparagus was required, then the cool store would be kept in the dark, and if green asparagus was required, then only a small amount of light would be required to green the spears.  The growth of asparagus spears (and therefor of spear production) is dominated by temperature, so if the market demand is good, then the temperature can be raised (up to 30C), and if demand is weak, then dropped down to 10C.

The idea never really got traction, but in 2016 I persuaded   Allan & Dot Bissett (Wee Red Barn, Masterton) to grow some asparagus in bins filled with old coir from their hydroponic strawberry operation.  During a visit to UK the next summer Allan saw a very successful operation at New Forest Fruit Company, near Lymington, in which the asparagus was grown permanently in tunnels in 1metre wide beds made from coir about 90 cm high.  I visited this property in early July (see photo-showing the fern growth stage), and was most impressed.  On my return to New Zealand I visited the Bissett’s to learn that he had been harvesting asparagus from their unheated tunnels since the end of July, and that the quality was fantastic. 

Harvest stage of tunnel grown asparagus (early August, New Zealand)

The question really is if you can obtain asparagus from an unheated plastic house  in the Wairarapa, how much earlier would it be in Northland?

It would appear to me that the potential of providing New Zealand with asparagus year-round is a real possibility.  Certainly, a major constraint to successfully growing asparagus in the “winterless north” has been the rain spread fern disease Stemphyllium but by growing the crop under a rain cover (high tunnel house) this should no longer be a problem.

Coir and hydroponics would appear to be the key to this type of production, and the economics of using fresh coir is certainly not as good as using older coir which has already grown a strawberry crop.  However, as the planting might be expected to last for up to 10 years, and harvesting commence after 12 months from planting, with potentially 3 crops every 2 years, and with a market price double the traditional season price, the economics would appear to be promising.

A further advantage (at least for the harvesters) is that the spears are harvested 1 meter above the ground, and under cover.  For the consumer the advantages would appear to be a much higher quality product, with much less fibre, due to the young spears not being exposed to strong winds and other deleterious weather factors.

White asparagus is also a possibility, as is the potential of using the sweeter and more tender tetraploid purple asparagus types (eg Pacific Purple), which not only produces thicker spears, but also less fibre.  These tetraploid types are more susceptible to wind damage at the fern growth stage and by growing them in tunnels should reduce such damage.

The green variety used by the Bissett’s (and by me) was Pacific 2000 but there are some earlier varieties available in USA which might well ensure that locally grown fresh asparagus is available ln New Zealand year-round!!

By reducing (or possibly even eliminating) the importation of out of season asparagus would reduce the biosecurity risk of bringing in asparagus rust etc. 

Pacific Purple-a thick speared (sweet and fibre free) tetraploid asparagus.

Cover photo also of harvest stage of tunnel grown asparagus (early August, New Zealand)

Reference

Nichols, M A (2009) “Year-round asparagus production”.  NZ Grower 64(10), 42-44

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Keep on top of Thrips going into Autumn with Zonda Beneficials – Thripex

What is Thripex?

Thripex is the trade name used by Zonda Beneficials for the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris. Thripex is a slightly 'tear shaped' mite, which is beige/pink in colour and is extremely active. Thripex will hunt, kill and eat the eggs and juveniles of both western flower thrips and onion thrips.

How does Thripex work?

Thripex hunt, kill and eat both the eggs and juvenile stages of onion thrips and western flower thrips. They have the added bonus of being able to eat both the eggs and juvenile stages of two-spotted spider mites and other pest mites (such as russet mites and broad mites in capsicums).Thripex perform best in temperatures between 25˚c and 30˚c. At 25˚c under optimal conditions, an adult female Thripex consumes approx. six thrip larvae a day.

As they also feed on pollen, Thripex can be introduced in to some crops, (such as capsicums and eggplants), before thrips are present and can continue to survive after thrips numbers have been reduced. Thripex will survive outdoors quite happily, so are useful in a range of different crops, both indoor and outdoor.

As Thripex feeds on the larval stages of the thrips, a reduction in adult thrips numbers may not be seen immediately.

How is Thripex supplied?

Thripex is supplied to growers in a bran mix that also contains a mould mite, which is used as a food source for Thripex in production.The bran mix is sprinkled lightly over the heads of the plants.From here, the Thripex spread out, and after approximately 3 weeks, you should be able to find Thripex adults and/or eggs on most upper leaves of the plant. Thripex may also be supplied in vermiculite on request.

Standard pack size – 10L bag (min. 100,000 mites)

1L = 10,000 mites = 100m2

Pure Thripex culture can also be purchased by the litre

1 x applicable freight rate charge 1-10L

Freight calculated based on weight and delivery zone – please see FAQs and Ts & Cs for further info

If we experience any unexpected delays or stock shortages one of our team will contact you as soon as possible.

3% surcharge applied for credit card purchases.

Introducing Thripex:

As thrips populations can grow rapidly it is always best to introduce Thripex at either the first sign of thrips, or when the first flowers are to be left on your crop. Thripex should be introduced into a crop with a suitable pollen source, (such as capsicums or eggplants), as soon as there are flowers open, or at the very first sign of thrips.

For crops such as cucumbers or roses, without a suitable pollen source, repeated introductions will be required through the life of the crop.

Thripex prefers a higher humidity than thrips, so misting systems can be very beneficial in hot dry summer conditions.

Several applications of Thripex may be required through the growing system, depending on the thrips pressure.

Release Rates:

First introduction – 2 applications, 2 weeks apart – 50 mites/ per square meter

Preventative / Previous introduction – 500-100 mites/ 50m2 (every 14 days)

Low infestation – 25-500 mites/ 100m2 (every 14 days)

Heavy infestation – 250-500 mites/ 100m2 (every 7 days)

Storage and Handling:

Once received Thripex can be stored for 1-2 days in a cool, dark place at between 10-15˚c.

Biological beneficials should be introduced into the crop as soon as possible after receipt.

The ideal environmental conditions for Thripex are:

– Relative humidity greater than 75%

– Temperatures above 20˚c for some hours of the day. Optimal temperature is between 25-30˚c.

Temperatures above 30 have a negative influence on the development of Thripex. Therefore, Thripex do not generally perform well under very dry and hot conditions.

Before introducing Thripex to any crop it is very important to consider what insecticides or fungicides have been used in the crop within the last two months. Many chemical sprays can have a long lasting residual effect on biological control agents. There is a limited number of chemicals that can be used in a crop when using beneficial mites. Please check the compatibility of certain chemicals before introducing any beneficial. Please refer to the Koppert Side Effects Guide – www.koppert.com/side-effects/.

Photo of Thrips

Contact Zonda for Pollination and Pest Control

Zonda Beneficials

79 Taurangaruru Road, Waiuku- 2683. Auckland

www.zonda.net.nz

zondasales@nzg.co.nz