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5/26/2014
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Maximizing High Tunnel Production with grafting, fertility, and more…
Steve GroffCedar Meadow Farm
Holtwood, Pennsylvania
EarlinessQualityYield
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Be prepared and ready to go when there is little to no windThe job will be MUCH easier(picture taken 5:30am)
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3rd week of April
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Determinate4 rows in 24ft wide bay18” on the row4800 plants per acre
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Indeterminate4 rows in 24ft wide bay24” on the row3600 plants per acre
Bracing
Wind- the worst enemy
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VentingDoorsWind directionWind speedSun/Clouds
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Venting
“Baby-sitting” the tunnelCritical 6 week time period
Venting
The summer position
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Suckering
Leave one suckerbelow flower setTake the rest offHeirlooms require a
more aggressive approach
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Bumble Bees
Insect managementSpider mitesThripsAphidsBeneficials?
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IrrigationRegularOften
FertilityRegularOftenAdjust throughout
season
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1st Week of July
Disease managementEarly blightLeaf moldPowdery Mildew?
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Scouting
Over 50 tons Per Acre
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After 3.5” of rain
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Pickin’ in the rain?
NO Problem!
Last picking November 8th
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Picking in the rain
Raspberries
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November 2, 2006
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Pulling off the plastic
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Expandable
Cary Rivard - Graduate Research AssistantNorth Carolina State University-Technical advisor
Where the grafting journey began…
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Grafting
Scion
Rootstock
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High horsepower“Grafted”snow blower!
High horsepower “grafted” boat!
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Grafted Determinate4 rows in 24ft wide bay24” on the row3600 plants per acre
Grafted Indeterminate4 rows in 24ft wide bay36” on the row2400 plants per acre
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Twin Leader
None grafted
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Grafted
Non-fumigatedNon-grafted
Non-fumigatedGrafted
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FumigatedNon-grafted
Non-fumigatedGrafted
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
18-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug 29-Aug 12-Sep 26-Sep 10-Oct 24-Oct
Cu
mu
lati
ve m
arke
tab
le y
ield
(to
ns/
acre
)
Cedar Meadow Farm- Main Effects: Grafting
Non-grafted
Maxifort
P<0.01
These values represent the averages of all of the non-grafted and maxifort throughout the whole experiment (regardless of plant spacing or fumigation)
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Cedar Meadow Farm - 2009
0
50
100
150
200
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21-Jun 11-Jul 31-Jul 20-Aug 9-Sep 29-Sep 19-Oct 8-Nov
Cu
mu
lati
ve
fru
it y
ield
(lb
s/p
lot)
Non-graftedMaxifort
P <0.05
The Bottom line…Average 2008-2009
16.2 more tons per acre Or, 1,296 more boxes per acre @ $12.00 per box (#1’s and #2’s) = $15,552
increase Or, $4.86 per plant increase
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How much does it cost to graft?
Healing chamber Labor costs Grow 2 sets of plants
Grafting costs $1.50-$2.00 per plant more than non-grafted plants
Net returns of grafting ($/acre) : 2008Non-grafted Maxifort (Max-Std*)
18" Spacing $44,525 $47,366 $2,841
24" Spacing $47,827 $3,302
36" Spacing $45,533 $1008
Economics
Net returns of grafting ($/acre) : 2009Non-grafted Maxifort (Max-Std1)
Fumigated $47,739 $60,699 $12,960
Non-fumigated $57,677 $9,938
*Std = 18” plant spacing (2008), Std1 = fumigated at 24” spacing (2009)
Values in white text = Gross revenue – harvesting costs – transplant costs – fumigation costs
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Grow Bags
• Need Disease free soil/compost• Will require increased water management• 2 years?• What is the cost?• Solution to long term tomato production in high tunnels?
Results• Less disease• Higher yields!
– 32 tons per acre with 25 varieties of heirloom tomatoes– 27lbs of marketable fruit per plant
The Big Move!
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Quality tomatoes
EarlinessQualityYield