Greenhouse Operations Management

1. Greenhouse Operations Management

2. Growing Plants in the Greenhouse Environment GOM4

3. Objectives LESSON OBJECTIVE ENABLING OBJECTIVES • Identify common growing containers and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each container • Provide examples of and describe plant propagation methods utilized in greenhouse production • After completing this lesson on Growing Plants in the Greenhouse Environment, students will demonstrate their ability to apply the concept in real-world situations by obtaining a minimum score of 80% on the Plant Propagation Logbook evaluation. 01 02 • Follow irrigation guidelines to meet the nutritional requirements for plants through fertilizer management, analysis, calculations and application 03

4. Key Terms Dibble Pricking Out

5. Observation Walk

6. Objective 1Identify common growing containers and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each container

7. Logbook Checklist • Compiled in a 3-Ring binder • Labeled with Name, Class, and Unit on cover • PowerPoint presentation printed and added to the logbook • Photographs of the experiments are included • Logbook data is used to create and illustrate graphs • Notes Pages • Contains all experiments • All experiments have the following: • Name and group member’s names • Name of the experiment • Date experiment was completed • Hypothesis • Experimental Procedure • Outcome • Written Summary • Assigned Numerical Value (if applicable) • Detailed germination rate (if applicable) • Sketch of results

8. Flats • Plastic trays • Hold the pots in which seedlings grow • Many different sizes available

9. Importance of Flat Size • Common for a particular species of plant to be grown in a standard size pot • This makes it easier for customers to compare prices

10. You are a greenhouse grower. You know most area garden centers (your target customer base) sell culinary herbs in a 3.5"-4" diameter pot. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of using either 1801 flats or 1001 flats.   Click to see an 1801 flat example

11. ANSWER • 1801 holds eighteen 3.5" pots • Pros: Conserves soil due to smaller pot • Cons: Smaller pot means smaller plant, may be seen as less valuable • 1001 holds ten 4" pots • Pros: Smaller number of plants/flat means more likely to sell them all • Cons: Bigger pots means more soil, more bench space for same number of plants

12. ANSWER • Even if two types of flats both hold 18 pots, they can have slightly different dimensions which translates to major differences in how many will fit into a given area • One flat size could allow 9 flats per shipping rack shelf, with the other only allowing 5 • Leads to fewer flats fitting on a delivery truck, higher overall delivery cost • Most supply companies will provide samples of flat sizes so the grower can physically test them out on their benches and shipping racks

13. Flats • 606 Flat • Vinca • Begonia • Lettuce • Marigold • Pansies

14. Flats • 1204 Flat • Kale • Broccoli • Cabbage

15. Flats •  1801 Flat • Culinary Herbs • Tomatoes • Peppers • Lantana

16. Why do greenhouse owners need to estimate how much soil they are going to use for a particular crop?

17. Why estimate soil? • Operators work from a budget • Soil can be ordered at a discount during year-end sales • Helps avoid waste

18. Estimating Soil You are a greenhouse operator working with a small garden supply store. The supply store, Sunny’s, is asking you to supply vinca, begonia, and azaleas on a trial basis this year. Sunny’s wants you to fill one 4’ x 12’ table in their outdoor plant sale. It is up to you to determine the distribution of plants.

19. Estimating Soil Useful information: • Vinca and begonia get planted in 606 flats that are 8.5” x 20” • Azaleas are planted in 4” pots. You have trays that hold fifteen 4” pots. The dimensions of the tray are 12 ¼” x 22” Complete the following steps in your logbook: • Step 1: Sketch out the bench; determine the best plan to fit flats. • Step 2: Determine how many plants of each variety you will need. • Step 3: Use reference sheet to determine how much soil you will need. • Step 4: Use reference sheet to determine the cost of soil.

20. Objective 2Provide examples of and describe plant propagation methods utilized in greenhouse production

21. Plant Propagation Key Phrases • The correct environmental conditions for germination • Breaking seed dormancy • How to plant seeds • Germination differences between monocots and dicots 

22. Asexual Propagation • A new plant is created from the buds, leaves, stems, or roots of a parent plant • Faster process than sexual (seed) propagation • Produces identical characteristics of the original plant

23. General Considerations

24. Supplies & Equipment • Sharp knives to cut parts from plants, divide plants, and make wounds in plant materials • Dibbles (sticks) are used to dig holes in the growing medium • Puffer dusters and spray bottles are used to apply the rooting compound. • Keeping propagation benches above the floor helps prevent exposure to pathogens

25. Growing Environment • Sanitation • Tools/knives must be disinfected before use, after each cutting • Cuttings should be placed in sterile container until ready for planting • Rooting solutions must be sterilized after each use • Discard excess plant debris • Soilless growing medium of vermiculite and perlite • Pathogen-free • Promotes drainage, aeration • Retains sufficient nutrients, water • Lighting • Winter vs summer • Temperature • 5–10°F higher than air temperature.

26. Tracking system • Label plants accurately so greenhouse owner can identify plant’s name, variety, date of propagation, any special treatments • Asexually reproduced plants (except tubers) are federally protected • Licensing • Mandatory for those in Missouri who sell, transport, or give away nursery stock (perennials, woody stem plants, perennials, bulbs, roots, crowns, corms, rhizomes, and tubers) • Twice a year, a state entomologist examines nursery stock for pests and diseases

27. Objective 3Follow irrigation guidelines to meet the nutritional requirements for plants through fertilizer management, analysis, calculations and application

28. NUTRIENT

29. Fertilizer Management Plan • Prevents and helps correct nutritional deficiencies • Quantifies amount/frequency of fertilizer given • Matches specific types of fertilizer to the unique nutritional needs of each plant • Requirements vary per species, and development at key stages: seedling/cutting, vegetative, and flowering

30. Organic Fertilizer • From once-living matter • Natural components • Animal manure, decayed plants, decomposed microorganisms • Processed components • Bone meal, fish emulsion, sewage sludge • Large quantities required • Costly, ample storage, people to manage • Rate of decomposition is slow and variable

31. Inorganic Fertilizer • Synthesized mineral salts • Concentration is greater than organic • Releases nutrients rapidly • Disseminates evenly

32. Slow-Release Fertilizer • Significant advantages • Coating allows for the rate of nutrient release to be prolonged • Plants thus receive a steady food supply • Less likely to burn the plant

33. Granular forms • Can be mixed into or applied on top of the growing medium • Some are dissolved in water before application • Stakes or tablets are placed directly into the medium

34. Liquid or Dry Fertilizer • Can be injected into the irrigation system (fertigation) • Amount used is measured in parts per million (ppm)

35. Fertilizer Analysis • Proportion of nutrients in the fertilizer formulation • Helps greenhouse owners select the appropriate fertilizer • A “complete” fertilizer contains: • nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) (N-P-K) • 20-17-16 denotes 20% N, 17% P2O5, and 16% K2O5

36. Calculating the Amount of Fertilizer Concentration rates are calibrated in parts per million, as calculated by the following formula: . Desired ppm . = . #oz. % active ingredient × 75 100 gallons H20

37. Calculating the Amount of Fertilizer To mix smaller amounts of fertilizer, use a proportion. First determine the correct number of ounces per 100 gallons, using the previous equation. Then use the following formula: . #oz = ? . 100 gallons of water calibration ratio

38. Applying Fertilizer • Follow directions carefully • Growing medium must be moist before applying • Apply low concentrations with each watering • Provide a balanced fertilizer to meet the needs of each plant • A constant feed system supplies nutrients at every watering or every other watering • Generally the best irrigation method • Hose-siphoning device • Siphon is positioned between water outlet and hose • Narrow tube extending from the siphon is placed in fertilizer solution • Through the force of suction, fertilizer is drawn from solution into tube and stream of water

39. Conclusion There are several things to consider when growing plants in a greenhouse: growing containers, planting and propagation techniques, and plant growth requirements. Making the connection that a plant’s overall health and success can be controlled through these different factors is vital to successful production in the greenhouse.

40. Exit Card • What did you learn about growing plants in the greenhouse environment? • What questions do you still have about growing plants in the greenhouse environment?