Categories
Consumables/Hygiene

Replacing crops in full swing

Focus on Hygiene

 

Many growers have begun the New Year cleaning and preparing greenhouses for their summer plantings.  Its hot work, the weather has been typically warm for this time of the year, so there is no respite.  It is easy to take short cuts when you are hot but it is very important to make sure your clean-up has been thorough before new plants arrive.  Total disinfection and total removal of plants from as far away from the greenhouse as possible is recommended.  Disinfection of irrigation systems a must! 

With another article in this Grower2Grower edition, discussing the possible incursion of ToBRFV, it is important you take the clean-up seriously.  I remember possibly being over the top, in my approach to cleaning the greenhouse between crops, as it was drummed into me by other growers and advisors.  In saying that I only ever had one suspected case of Bacterial Canker in almost 20 years of growing.    Today it is still important but unless you take everything out of your greenhouse, and I mean everything, you will not 100% remove every bit of debris from your previous crop.   For growers that have pipe rail heating systems, (which is the overwhelming majority) pipe stands are not always lifted between crops and they always have trapped debris underneath which is impossible to clean out 100%!   

The best defence is making sure you remove as much of the previous crops debris as possible and complete disinfection and sterilisation with recommended products.  Every grower seems to have a different regime. However, there is no fixed guideline that is collectively adhered to.  Every grower will have different ideas and protocols in regards to pull outs, cleaning up and preparing for new crops.  Being totally assured you have sterilised successfully or not is impossible to gauge at the time.  You hope that by using best practice available you have killed every nasty that could cause issues on your new plants.

This week yet another cucumber grower commented how difficult issues with grey mould, and Pythium have become.  It proves to me again the need for better hygiene protocols.  Greenhouses are also becoming older, capital investments into our 15-25-year-old structures in the industry is moderate to poor and sometimes non-existent, this makes cleaning season on season difficult as there may be a few leaks appearing and disease may be carrying over and becoming an ongoing issue.

For tomato growers it is even more important than ever to tighten up on hygiene.  It has been pointed out to me that if crops do become infected with the ToBRVH virus then they will either have to look for a new profession or a new crop to grow! If you start as clean as you can and stick to rigorous hygiene measures, you should have a much better chance of controlling high levels of infestation from fungal, bacterial and viral infection.

 

To discuss your hygiene protocols please use my independent advisory services to learn more.

Recently replanted – middle of January 2020. 

 

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
Greenhouse News

POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:

Unfortunately due to current global circumstances and the new self-isolating restrictions for international travellers to prevent the spread of Covid-19, we have no option but to postpone the Grower2Grower Medical Cannabis workshop on the 31st of March.    

Hopefully we will be able to reschedule later in the year subject to the control of the global pandemic.

I will make sure that those who registered for the postponed workshop, have first option to re-register, if and when we are able to proceed with the workshop in the near future.

Regards Stefan Vogrincic, MD Grower2Grower

 

 

 

A unique opportunity for commercial growers

 

Grower2Grower is delighted to announce, in conjunction with Cannabis Cultivators, experts in High Tech Greenhouse and Indoor production of Medical Cannabis, we will be holding an expert one-day educational training workshop, on Tuesday the 31st of March in Pukekohe New Zealand.  This workshop is made possible by our major sponsor of the event The New Zealand Horticentre Trust.

Key note speaker is Sonny Moerenhout, Managing Partner of Cannabis Cultivators, a Dutch consultancy company specialising in Greenhouse & Indoor layouts and crucially the day to day husbandry and cultivation of Medical Cannabis. “Growing Medicinal Cannabis is a different industry; It is pharma, not food. Ensuring safe and sound ingredients is crucial.”   

Source of phtoto above https://investinodense.dk/

 

The programme will cover the following topics:

 

 

  1. Introduction to the medical cannabis industry (applications, quality & compliance, crop physiology).

  2. Growing systems (indoor or greenhouse, Irrigation, heating systems, artificial lighting, plant support systems).

  3. Plant growth and crop planning (Propagation, Plant densities required for different cultivars, lighting, heating, humidity, Irrigation, plant maintenance and labour techniques, harvesting).

  4. Irrigation & substrates (including: irrigation strategies, fertilizer requirements).

  5. Plant Health (IPM, Disease identification and known fungal and bacterial susceptibilities)

 

This is a workshop for those serious about cultivating Medical Cannabis in New Zealand. The number of registrations is strictly limited so please don’t wait to register or there is a chance you may miss out.

If you are interested in registering simply fill out the contact us form.  Please complete the mandatory fields and type in the ‘Your Message’ box Register for MC Workshop, you will be sent a questionnaire with supporting detail to complete registration and payment.  Once you have completed registration, for the workshop, exact location details will then be provided.

The cost to register is NZ $795 per person including GST. Numbers are strictly restricted. 

Early Bird Rate: NZ $695 per person including GST if registered and paid before the 28th of February 2020 (Please include on the 'contact us form' how many participants you wish to register)

 

Date of Workshop: Tuesday the 31st of March 2020

Time: 8.30 am to 4.00 pm

Location: Pukekohe, New Zealand 

 

This will be an intensive one-day workshop running from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm. It is a unique opportunity to learn about High-Tech Cannabis production from one of the world’s leading experts in the cultivation of Medical Cannabis. 

Morning tea and lunch will be provided.

Introduction on Key Note Speaker Sonny Moerenhout:

Sonny Moerenhout was responsible for the international cannabis business within Grodan. In this position he consulted growers on cannabis cultivation in countries where medicinal cannabis is legalized. His cultivation experience and expertise are strengthened as result of his involvement in trials at Wageningen University. Sonny holds a master’s degree in plant science from Wageningen University with greenhouse horticulture as his specialization.

Sonny was ‘born’ in a greenhouse, his parents were eggplant growers for over 25 years. Whilst at Grodan he was advising growers around the world (Europe, Asia & Pacific). In his last 3 years with them he was fully dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis with a focus on cultivation solutions for cannabis growers. He understands the importance of working with the pharmaceutical, horticultural & hobby industry in the cannabis sector. Through his experience and his extensive network he’s learnt that cultivation expertise is a crucial factor to make growing facilities a success. As a result, he decided to establish with other professionals, the consulting firm Cannabis Cultivators.

 

 

Major sponsor of the event is The NZ HORTICENTRE TRUST

The sponsorship from The New Zealand Horticentre Trust makes it possible to organise this educational event.  We are very grateful for the generous support. 

 

 

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
Greenhouse News Integrated Pest Management

Pest Insect Update

Hot weather sees surge in pest pressure

 

 

Psyllids

Unfortunately, last week I spotted psyllid yellow plants.   I had spotted Psyllids approximately six weeks ago on this crop, while carrying out a routine visit.  Even though the corrective (annihilation) measures were undertaken my fear that Candidatus Liberibacter has been transmitted by those psyllids has come to light.  The full extent of the damage is still undetermined, only in the coming months will total plant losses be calculated.  This is not an isolated case, I have been informed that other growers are removing plants. 

 

White fly

A physical control I have had encouraging results with over the past several months has been de-leafing out the pupa stage before it develops into its adult form. This requires de-leafing approximately three to four leaves in the belly of the plant, alternatively only keep 6-7 leaves plus the head on the plant (varieties may differ).  

This has worked particularly well with cherry tomatoes.   This advice was kindly offered to me by an experienced international consultant, after reading a previous Grower2Grower article.   I was very sceptical at first but with the limitation and resistance to chemicals, and the time involved with spraying soaps and oils, including continual damage from spraying can cause it convinced me to ask a grower to experiment on part of his crop. 

With every action it may change the plants growth/production.   I recommend extreme caution and to discuss with me first before trying or experimenting/implementing this option. I have not tried this strategy for large standard truss or loose tomatoes, it may require removing the flowering truss or prune the three most recently set trusses to half of what you would normally. 

If you time it correctly, with targeted spraying on other life cycles, you can definitely gain some much needed relief, to help reduce whitefly numbers and reduce spraying frequency.  Again, I reiterate please either try on a very small area or contact me to discuss further. 

Removing the leaf area before whitefly develop from the pupa stage of their life cycle may be an option for certain cultivars

 

Aphids

The weather is perfect for these pests, last week a cucumber crop was showing signs of being rapidly infested with aphids.

 

Thrips

The fourth of the insects starting to cause issues, especially for cucumber growers will be Thrips.  Again, not much you can do except make sure you put your Beneficial’s in from day one, and keep the beneficial numbers up.  This will buy you much needed time and drastically reduce chemical intervention. 

 

 

Below is an extract I found on the internet.  Even though it is directed at citriculture it was very interesting to read the effects Candidatus Liberibacter has internationally : Source https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40858-020-00386-1

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) represents a major threat to citriculture due to its rapid spread, difficulty of control, severe yield losses, and substantial increases in production costs in HLB-affected orchards. Successful management depends on detailed knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease, which is associated with phloem-limited bacteria of the genus Candidatus Liberibacter that are transmitted by phloem sap–feeding insects known as psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Candidatus L. asiaticus (CLas) and the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama are the major etiological agent and vector, respectively, in the Americas and Asia. This review provides up-to-date information on the relationships of psyllid vectors with Ca. Liberibacter spp. associated with HLB, with emphasis on D. citri and CLas. Knowledge of the transmission mechanisms of these bacteria, as well as aspects of the biology, ecology, and behavior of the vector in relation to the environment, is essential to gain understanding of the HLB epidemics. Such knowledge provides a basis for developing innovative control methods and establishing sustainable management strategies for HLB.

 

 

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
Greenhouse News

Devastating Damage to South Island crops from Rain

Cherry’s split now worthless

 

It was devastating to watch growers in tears after heavy rain and flooding caused so much damage to orchard crops in the South Island early in the New Year.  Disruptions from Covid-19 has caused endless issues for growers and this must have just been another blow for those affected.  I have heard numerous times how climate change could make droughts longer and storms more severe.  Late last year Napier had a huge storm that brought torrential rain which destroyed many homes. 

Due to the storm early in January, greenhouses or protected cropping structures may not have prevented damage caused by flood water that raced through orchards and market gardens.  Cherry growers, protected from flooding, but not protected from the rain appeared to suffer huge crop losses due to fruit splitting.  One possible solution to reduce or eliminate damage is to use a greenhouse type structure.  An insurance policy against severe weather.

I also wondered about the opportunity of collecting and using some of that rain water (where appropriate) for when you did need it.  Protecting your crop with low to high tech structures is a capital expense, which not all can afford. However, if you can it offers security from extreme weather events, it also gives the grower increased control over the crops.  Protected cropping structures can be erected over existing crops and on uneven ground.   Different structures will have different ratings and some will be able to handle strong winds and rain.

Last week I had a brief chat with someone in the banking industry, they said even with a comprehensive business case it may not be feasible to cover certain crops.   It is true it will depend on a number of factors but with climate change, and the ever-changing environment we grow in, crop protection- from the very basic low-tech structures to the high-tech greenhouse structures, will become common and transform many industries that traditionally grow outdoors.

In the past two years more and more structures have been erected, especially in the berry industry.  Cherries are of huge value (I do not foresee this changing any time soon), some cherry growers in NZ already benefit from protective structures. The growers, who invested in this large capital outlay, deserve recognition and respect for taking the leap of faith to protect their business and the jobs of their employees.  I hope they make heaps of money, our economy needs our growers to be successful and bring export earnings back into NZ. 

In summery – if the devastation, in the South Island, hasn’t convinced businesses to at least investigate the option of protected cropping structures then they are at the mercy of the weather Gods. 

 

Click on the links below to read media reports.  Damage from heavy rain also caused issues in the Hawkes Bay in late December.

 

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/01/weather-central-otago-growers-attempt-to-salvage-unharvested-produce-after-extensive-rainfall.html

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/heavy-rain-hits-cherry-crop-and-threatens-grapevines/46TKRHQPENAP3XKUCTW3ZC3KCI/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/123386319/more-than-100-homes-left-uninhabitable-after-napier-floods

 

 

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
Greenhouse News

Heating and Venting is Ineffective and Wasteful

Greenhouse Growers are Increasing Vegetable Yields by Controlling Humidity

 

Article provided by Brinkman Australia

 

Growing vegetables in a greenhouse has lots of advantages. Protecting your plants from nature’s elements lets them grow faster and larger. But, as every grower knows, it can also become a hotbed for diseases, which are often caused by high humidity.

Traditionally, growers combine heating and ventilation to reduce humidity. But many growers have been making the move to dehumidifiers, which provide much better control and help save energy.

 

Greenhouse Humidity Problems

Humidity is one of the biggest issues in greenhouses. Plants transpire more than 90% of the water they take in, constantly pushing humidity upwards, 24/7.

Without releasing humid air from the greenhouse, it can quickly reach saturation – the dew point. At this point water starts to condense on different surfaces, including leaves and fruit. This is when most humidity related diseases develop and spread.

In tomato crops, for example, humidity leads to diseases such as powdery mildew, Alternaria, late blight, Septoria leaf spot, tomato pith necrosis and various other mildews.

High humidity, even without condensation, hurts the plants’ ability to transport nutrients, slowing down growth and inhibiting development.

These problems aren’t just true for fruits and vegetables, of course. Humidity impacts all crops – herbs, flowers, medical cannabis etc.

 

Heating and Venting is Ineffective and Wasteful

As mentioned, the traditional way to deal with greenhouse humidity is by combining heating and ventilation.

Hotter air can hold more water vapor, so heating effectively reduces the relative humidity. But it doesn’t actually remove any water vapor, so once temperatures drop, humidity will spike.

To deal with this, growers ventilate, releasing the humid air from the greenhouse. This method can be effective under the right circumstances, but it’s also extremely wasteful.

Growers invest a lot of energy into heating the greenhouse. Some of which is aimed towards controlling humidity, but mostly it’s done to provide the right temperature for the plants. Releasing humid air means losing this heat. So, growers must continuously heat the greenhouse, just to avoid condensation. Needless to say, this is a waste of resources and money.

However, the bigger problem with heating and venting is that it often isn’t a viable solution to humidity. For example, during the night, when it’s cold outside, ventilation won’t reduce humidity, only introduce cold air to the greenhouse. Venting also won’t help when it’s raining or humid outside, as is common in many regions and seasons in New Zealand.

 

Controlling Greenhouse Humidity with Dehumidifiers

The only way to control greenhouse humidity around the clock is by using a dehumidifier. Physically removing water vapor from the air ensures low humidity, even when temperatures drop during the night.

Treating humidity from the inside lets growers keep the greenhouse closed, retaining heat, and maintaining optimal temperatures. This makes it extremely efficient in terms of energy. Even though it may sound counterintuitive, using a dehumidifier reduces energy use, saving as much as 50% on heating and energy costs.

Keeping the greenhouse closed increases overall control over the climate, leading to higher quality and larger yields, as well.

 

NZ and AU Growers are Using DryGair for Humidity Control

Many NZ growers are making the move to dehumidification.

Southern Belle Orchard in Matamata, for example, have been using DryGair dehumidifiers to keep their pepper greenhouses dry, increasing yields by 15% due to the improved climate. But owner, Frans de Jong says the extra production is just a bonus. The decision to incorporate dehumidifiers was made for the energy efficiency – “Energy saving is one of the most important factors to keep growing in hothouses viable”.

Since using dehumidification, de Jong reports that his heater usage has gone down, and he’s been using much less energy overall. He’s also happy to add that humidity diseases are no longer an issue for him – “Fungal and bacterial issues are nonexistent, as we have full control over the humidity. This also cuts costs as no sprays are required to deal with any problems.”

Matthew Dent, of Royal Brinkman Australia, understands the difficulty of climate control, “You can’t cheat when it comes to climate, as mother nature always catches you out!”, he declares.

When asked about DryGair dehumidifiers, which Brinkman represents, Dent had this to say: “At Royal Brinkman we take a lot of pride in knowing we deliver real world solutions for our customers. I have total confidence recommending DryGair because it does what it says it does and there are no surprises. We see the benefits it delivers to growers in all crops, on a daily basis, and naturally stand by it 100%.”

To provide tangible information on dehumidifier usage, DryGair has put together a case study, measuring the impact of dehumidification in vegetable greenhouses. The study was conducted in various tomato and pepper greenhouses and presents the differences between dehumidified greenhouses and those relying on traditional heating and venting.

 

 

 

Contact Mathew Dent for more information

 

Matthew Dent | Sales Brinkman Australia

18-20 Jarrah Drive, Braeside, Vic 3195

M. 0447-734654 | T. 03 9587 2566

E.   matthew@royalbrinkman.com.au
W. www.royalbrinkman.com/australia

 

Categories
Technical

Pythium Root Rot, January 2020

New Year Same Issue

 

I am concerned at how much Pythium root rot I am seeing and has been reported.  Cucumber growers may be severely affected by Pythium root rot, which is a visible browning at the base of the stem (See picture). Chemical Fungicides are slowly being replaced by biological fungicides or ‘friendlier products”.  Using biological controls, for all the best intensions, Pythium is still an ongoing issue no matter how big or small the problem is for different growers.   Grafted cucumber trials continue to provide strong resistance to root diseases especially Pythium. However, as discussed in previous articles there is a cost and different growing technique required for grafted plants.

Sanitizing irrigation systems (using Hydrogen Peroxide based products liked HuwaSan) is a good option, as well as a very clean water source.  One tip, that I have not mentioned before, is to not just sanitise the inside of your irrigation lines and drippers but physically dip your drippers/spikes into a hydrogen peroxide solution.  It sounds like a lot of hard work but I do believe the spike of the dripper could be contaminating crops with Pythium from previous crops.  There is a very fast turnaround with Cucumbers, from removing an old crop to replanting a new crop so possibly the sanitizing in-between could be improved.

I would like research for Pythium root rot controls to be conducted.  I believe this will benefit growers at a time when excessive pressure is heaped upon them.   Independent assessment into Pythium, may help growers understand, at different periods of the year and crop cycle how to better manage this potential crop killer.

Definition: Pythium survives over winter as oospores found in the soil. The pathogen therefore is easily spread with the movement of diseased plants, soil movement, surface water, or even from shoes. Pythium also causes “Damping off”, “seed decay”

 

The Cost:

Despite all the best treatments/products available, Pythium still kills crops.  In a time when costs are rising rapidly, our greenhouse factories need to be running at 100%, every lost plant is a lost opportunity to maximise production.  A one percent loss, due to Pythium, during a cucumber crop cycle is significant, ten to twenty % is not uncommon and border line disaster.   The cost per ha in lost revenue alone could be in the tens of thousands each crop cycle.  The price tag attached to trying to cure the problem will be high, with limited results, the best option is prevention but as stated above we need a better understanding to tackle this issue.

 

This cover photo is also interesting for the weed growing next to the irrigation spike.  Is this an indication of a seed or sporophyte that has travelled via the water source?

 

 

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
Equipment

Automation 2020

Labour costs and available workers- the hottest summer debate

One way for greenhouse growing businesses to remain profitable, with acceptable margins, is to slash energy and greenhouse consumable costs (which is becoming increasingly more unlikely as these keep going up), the other is to reduce labour costs whilst maintaining production. Hence the hot topic at the NZ Horticulture conference last year was automation. 

The positive outcome of increasing the minimum wage is that it is forcing all serious greenhouse operations to continually look at how tasks are done, looking at where automating different types of plant work procedures and the product handling systems can make a difference.  The advantage of the greenhouse industry is the standard layout of most growing operations which will aid the implantation of mechanical tools.

Politicians, in all their wisdom, have forced our industry, and others, to look seriously and make changes.  In the long term these changes may well be positive. However, right now it is apparent that there is a shortage of willing and capable crop workers. This has a major impact on a growers’ willingness to expand their business genuinely concerned about future staff availability.  The knock-on effect, from these decisions, impacts many businesses not just a grower’s prosperity!  

This year I would like businesses/suppliers to use the Grower2Grower e-magazine to showcase innovative ideas and products that may give growers an opportunity to improve their efficiencies, maintain high quality of production at a reduced labour cost.  If you are interested in this opportunity then please contact stefan@grower2grower.co.nz for more information.

 

As an example, the Tomsystem, has achieved a large decrease in labour hours for tomato and cucumber growers.  This is one of the innovative tools helping growers but I want to know of new products and services or even techniques used that may improve any task for nurseries, flower and vegetable growers. 

 

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
Category

2020 to 2040

What may the future of the NZ protected cropping industry look like?

 

I remember the year 2000 celebrations like it was yesterday.  Much has changed since that time, as to be expected.  The greenhouse industry has grown steadily with new structures built, technology and cultivar improvements.  However, has the New Zealand greenhouse industry moved forward fast enough to keep up with the rest of the world?

Late last year Kieran Read and former All Black Captain was quoted saying:  “I think we as a nation are just passionate about little things that we can do because we are a little nation that can punch above our weight and we understand that it is part of our job as All Blacks to try and achieve things for us. I would hate to lose the expectation and all that comes with being an All Black.”

I have thought a great deal about this quote, especially the last sentence, during my summer break.  Having expectation, the drive to consistently create success is expected.  It does not mean you may not lose a battle or two along the way but you will be constantly be looking to succeed.

In relation to the protected cropping industry many growers in New Zealand are without doubt as good as the best I have met in the world, with the tools we have, or can afford. However, in many cases, not all, we are racing in Mark 3 Cortina’s, while even our close neighbours lap us in their Formula One Ferrari’s.   I believe this may change shortly, with the introduction of Medical Cannabis production in New Zealand.  The growing facilities, being proposed, are enough to make my eyes water with envy.   The state-of-the-art facilities may well be kitted out with the latest technology available, including double screens, artificial lighting, dehumidification systems to name a few.  Vegetable growers in Europe and Canada already use much of this super high-tech equipment and this gives them a production and/or an efficiency advantage, therefore they have the ability to produce more or the same for less cost per m2. 

 

 

The potential difference between the Medical Cannabis market and greenhouse vegetable market is obvious, the return per m2.  The potential returns from growing Medicinal Cannabis indicates the initial capital investment, into the structures, is easily justified.  In an already full and very competitive greenhouse vegetable market the returns on investment projections are satisfactory but it would appear a lot less favourable than if you were to grow Medical Cannabis.   Therefore, it is extremely hard for even the best greenhouse vegetable growers to justify such high capital investment. This does not mean they would not know how to use or want these tools if they were given to them.

In the moderate term, if I crystal ball gaze, then I am confident more fruit, and possibly vegetable products, will be grown in either low or medium tech greenhouses and in the long term I think it is very likely high-tech facilities will be the norm.  The last 20 years have been eye-opening and I just hope I am around for the next 20 to continue to be part of this amazing industry.

 

Berry crops may well be grown using only protected cropping structures by 2040 in NZ commercial operations.

 

 

https://www.allblacks.com/news/expectation-support-key-elements-for-all-blacks/

 

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
Shading

Stronger roses in the summer

Under ReduFuse IR the stems were also stronger

Dutch rose nursery, Marjoland of Waddinxveen, saw its summer production rise under ReduFuse. Under ReduFuse IR the stems were also stronger. Fine-tuning the coatings continues.


Marjoland is, with 20 hectares, the largest rose nursery in the Netherlands. It grows five different varieties of the colours red, white and pink. In 2013 the entire roof was coated with ReduFuse.
“We are convinced about the advantages of diffuse light,” says operations director Johan van den Nouweland. “In the summer there is so much light available that the top parts of the plant can’t utilise it all. There are clear advantages to making the lower leaves more productive.”
The result was a greater number of roses in the summer without any loss in length.
In addition the autumn growth continued well and production was high. “Therefore creating diffuse light by using the coating suits us very well. But we did find one disadvantage with ReduFuse: We couldn’t use the roof sprinkler system because then the coating turned transparent. We use the roof sprinklers in the summer for cooling and humidification,” he says. 
The solution was to use ReduFuse IR. Because this coating keeps out infrared light, less heat enters the greenhouse which reduces the need for cooling. In addition this coating does not turn transparent if it gets wet. It was applied in May 2014 and removed 10 August. 

“The result is less heat and less evaporation, while the PAR-light remains at the same level. That led to a stronger stem and a larger bud in the middle of the summer due to the lower plant temperature,” says Van den Nouweland. He is not quite sure if he finds this necessarily positive. Of course, a strong stem and a larger bud are important quality characteristics, but they harvested fewer roses. “It seems that the plant can only produce a certain number of kilos per week,” he says.

The nursery is always trying to make improvements including in this area. He has his own thoughts about the ideal coating: “If I could choose, I would shade half the amount of infra red. Too much shading substantially reduces transpiration and we steer the plants a lot with this. Some varieties transpired too little this (cold) summer. We are discussing with Mardenkro our approach for next year. We are very satisfied with diffuse light and now we are now trying to fine-tune the blocking out of the heat radiation (infrared).”
The coating also forced a change in their screening and ventilation strategy. “With each development you have to look again at how the plant and the climate respond. That is not so complicated. With diffuse light you can screen later or omit it altogether. Because the temperature rises less quickly under ReduFuse IR, you can ventilate less and thereby retain more CO2 inside. We will continue to use a diffuse coating, preferably a combination of regular ReduFuse and ReduFuse IR. We are still looking at ways to improve the system; that’s always our approach.”

For more information:

ReduSystems®
013 507 53 99
sales@redusystems.com
www.redusystems.nl

 

Mardenkro products are distributed by Horticentre Group in New Zealand

 

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

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Categories
Industry Profile

Grower Profile – Bruce Nicholls

 

Fancy lettuce and watercress

 

Since the early 1980’s the Nicholls family have been growing produce on the outskirts of Pukekohe, South Auckland, New Zealand.   Well it used to be on the outskirts of Pukekohe, however, now Bruce Nicholls greenhouse operation boarders the new Urban development in Pukekohe West.  Bruce has been a member of the PVGA (Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association) and has served on the committee.  He is currently on the Leafy Greens committee for Vegetables NZ.   

Locally born and bred, Bruce attended a well-known South Auckland school Wesley College.  After completing his secondary education, he then served five years in the NZ Army.  In 1993 Bruce left the Army and joined the family business growing hydroponic lettuce.  Back in the early 1980’s Bruce's father Jim Nicholls, a 50-year volunteer fireman, planted squash on the 6-acre property, this progressed into growing other crops such as artichokes, beans, raspberries, courgettes and passion fruit.  The raspberries were going well until Cyclone Bola decimated the crop in March of 1988.  In 1989 the family imported Fancy Lettuce seed, from Australia, to grow in tunnel houses.  Initially these were grown in the soil but it soon became apparent that washing soil of every root system, at harvesting, was not sustainable! 

The following season the Nicholls were the first growers using lettuce channels raised up on benches in a fully recirculated hydroponic system in New Zealand.   As the years passed the business expanded, the lettuce growing operation grew to approximately 1 ha by 2016. At that time capacity peaked at approximately 250,000 heads.  Plantings are staggered for continuity of supply.  Depending on the weather conditions, between 5-8 crops grow annually.   Plug plants are germinated and supplied by Seedling Systems a local nursery.  Lettuce takes around 4 weeks from planting to harvest, in the summer, and up to as long as 14-16 weeks in the winter.  Bruce believes light is the key element.  This season the mild winter has contributed to an increase in production.  For the past 9 seasons, the operation has been growing Watercress in an outdoor section of the property.  “It is a technical crop to grow” said Bruce, especially to meet the specification required for their market. 

Different varieties of fancy lettuce are planted to meet the demand of the consumer.

 

The Fancy Lettuce, Bruce grows, is highly sought after and his company sells directly to Progressive. They distribute the produce to different parts of the North Island.   The products’ high demand keeps Bruce, and his staff, extremely busy.  The market performance of the Fancy Lettuce has been very stable, Bruce said there was a slight dip in demand when Mesclun salad mixes were in vogue but demand for Fancy Lettuce is now as strong as ever.

 

The business has four staff, with three fulltime staff and one part time.

 

Pest and Disease

Situated amongst some of NZ’s largest potato and onion growers has made controlling Thrips, Aphids and Caterpillars difficult, but with over 30 years growing experience Bruce is well equipped for this constant challenge. 

Pythium has been an issue, in the past, but with new biological products available the growing operation has become easier to manage.  Bruce believes testing for E.coli will soon come into effect for both the leaf and root area of the plant.  Fancy Lettuce needs to be purchased by the consumer with the root system attached to the leaf area to maintain its fresh quality.   This has highlighted the importance of having a clean hydroponic system compared to growing in the soil. 

 

Urban Sprawl

Due to urban sprawl, Bruce’s family business, going back almost 40 years, has come under threat and the family have been left with no choice but to sell their property.  Bruce has leased the property back from the new owner two more years.  During this time Bruce will be looking to relocate his business to another property or seek new opportunities. 

 

The Future

The future for Bruce, in the industry, will change. However, all the valuable growing knowledge and management skills he has under his belt will be invaluable for any operation he becomes involved with.

 

Cricket

Like myself, Bruce is a cricket player and fan.  Over the years I have been fortunate to play many games of cricket against Bruce, he has always been a tough opponent but always has a smile on his face.  Many of my bowling figures were ruined by Bruce’s famous cover drives that generally go for six!  He still plays today and enjoys the social side and time this gives him from his busy life as a grower.

 

Freshly picked ready to be sent direct to the customer

 

 

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Article Written and compiled by Stefan Vogrincic, Consultant, Grower2Grower

Article Edited by Marie Vogrincic, Editor, Grower2Grower