Transcript Container Plant Production
Container Plant Production
Commercial Plant Production Build as you go
What do you see in this picture?
Irrigation
• • • • Large quantity of water.
Dependable water source.
Overhead irrigation.
– Drip irrigation on a smaller scale.
Irrigation: – – Plants need water Cool root systems
Planting Density
• • • • High disease pressure.
More plants per acre.
Higher labor cost per acre.
Large amount of plant culture.
Root System Considerations
• • • • • • • Root system is above-ground.
Heating of growing medium during summer months.
May need winter protection in colder climates.
Potential for the roots to become pot-bound.
Confined root volume.
Frequent up-shifting to larger container.
Grower supplies all plant nutrition.
Poly tainer 1BLK Trade Size #1 2 #2 DIA 6 8 ½ 3 3S
Sizes of Plastic Nursery Containers; Injection-molded, Nursery Supplies
H CC CI GAL #3 10 9 ½ 7 8 ½ 9 ¼ 8 2,481 6189 10,440 7,637 151 377 637 466 .66
1.6
2.8
2.0
4 5S #3 Squat #5 Egg Can #5 Squat 10 11 12 10 13,735 13,909 838 848 3.6
3.7
L 2.48
6.19
10.44
7.64
13.74
13.91
Culture
• • • • • • • • Pest control Staking Fertilizing Pruning Watering Weed control – Use herbicides with low water solubilities.
Transplanting Blow over
• •
Weed Control
The more water soluble the herbicide, the faster it moves downward through the mix, and the greater the likelihood of damaging the crop.
Use preemergent herbicides with water solubilities LESS than ONE ppm.
•
Recommended
Herbicides (Whitcomb) Barricade, Factor (prodiamine) @ 0.013 ppm water solubility • Goal (oxyfluorfen) @ 0.1 ppm • Treflan (trifluralin @ 0.3 ppm • Prowl, Pendulum, Southern WeedGrass Control (pendimethalin)@ 0.5 ppm • Ronstar (oxadiazon) @ 0.7 ppm • Gallery (isohexaben) @ 1.0 ppm • Rout is a combination of Goal and Surflan • Snapshot 80 DF is a combination of Gallery and Surflan • Snapshot 2.5 TG is a combination of Gallery and Treflan • Ornamental Herbicide II is a combination of Goal and Prowl
Facilities
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Production areas.
– Gravel floor.
• 4-6 inches base rock • 4-6 inches road gravel Gravel roadways.
Drainage plan including proper grading of site.
State law in CA to recycle all irrigation water.
Retention pond.
Media preparation area.
Equipment storage.
Administrative offices.
Potting area.
Holding area .
Shipping dock.
Pesticide storage.
Parking.
Employee facilities.
Bed and Road Layout
Harvesting
• • • 100% of the root system.
Easier harvest than B&B.
Year-round harvest.
Container Production versus Field Production
Area of Comparison
Number of Employees Production Cycle Harvest Types and sizes of plants
Field
1 per 5-10 acres
Container
1 per acre Longer 1- 6+ yrs Periodic (Spring/Fall) Preferred production system for large caliper trees Shorter 6 mo - 2+ yrs Year-round More efficient production of shrubs, annuals, and perennials
Area of Comparison
Irrigation Overwintering Production centers The future
Field Container
Irrigation not mandatory; but may be needed during periods of drought Frequent to daily irrigation required; manage high root zone temps Little to no protection required All across the country Declining Protection required Most production centered in the sunbelt states Increasing