Earlier this calendar month , growers , investigator and diligence come together for the Root Health Symposium , host by the University of Florida , the Florida Nursery , Growers and Landscape Association ( FNGLA ) , and the Root Alliance . At this event , meeter learned about the late onward motion in root zona and controlled environs harvest management .
Shawn Mallen , A.M.A. ’s manager of hydroponics and Berry , and Alex Frew , client serving & sales associate with A.M.A. were among the group . The Symposium showcased come out technologies – including A.M.A. ’s new Strawberry Growing System – and featured insightful presentations by researchers from Florida , Arkansas , Georgia , and Purdue . Alex apportion several insight from the symposium .
Why root health matters?“When it comes to plant character , growers are increasingly turning their attention to what ’s find under the substrate . That ’s because we ’re pick up more about the full of life importance of source wellness " , share Alex . " It can have a major impact on works quality , yield , crop time , mortality rates and profitability . This is true across the plank , from aquicultural cukes to containerize berries to field - grown tree . It does n’t weigh what you ’re growing or how you ’re growing it , healthy roots matter . "
upright farming beyond microgreensUp until now , perpendicular farming has been for the most part colligate with the product of microgreens , lettuces and , more and more , mushroom . " But at the Root Health Symposium , we got a glance of how perpendicular land can be used to improve rooting success in other areas " , he partake .
A study led by Dr. Celina Gόmez at Purdue University trialed cosmetic crop in a erect farming arrangement . By keep cuttings of begonias and poof in a perpendicular system for four weeks past sprouting , growers cut propagation time in half and improved rooting success , which led to reduced mortality of cuttings . They were able-bodied to twist harvest faster , with fewer losses . With finding like these , the future of extension could let in vertical systems .
Researchers are also experiment with row height , lighting and design of erect agriculture organization to adapt more variety and better results . For example , fibre ocular Dominicus tube-shaped structure are being added to systems to transmit natural sun .
" Talk about " the internet of things " ! This is the same technology that transmits cyberspace signals ! Growers may see this applied science come onto the market in the near future " , Alex expects .
Produce by DesignDr . Germán Sandoya from the University of Florida present trends and chance in industrial plant education that can help growers realize more control over product and marketing .
Varieties are being bred for a wide range of general and recess feature , include : high yield , heat and cold tolerance , pest resistance , post - harvest doings , nutritional value and alone marketing characteristic ( for case , super - sweet strawberries and itty - bitty cucumber ) .
Researchers are honing in on key issues , such as pythium resistance , and looking at ways to better execution after the product leaves the nursery . They ’re ask interrogative like : How long can the tomato be confine after harvest in cooler conditions ? Does it go grainy or mushy when it ripens ?
Targeted breeding can give agriculturist heavy dominance over their crops , align product and post - harvest process to the unique specification of the plant . For instance , agriculturist can tailor programs for watering and nutrition , and follow through precise timing around when to pick , when to ship , how long that Cartesian product will last on the motortruck , and how long it can stay on the shelf at the grocery storage .
DIY Disease ManagementDr . Carrie Lapaire Harmon , also from the University of Florida , gave an interesting talk on flora disease diagnosing and training , offering advice on when to call a professional , versus what steps can start off as " grower DIY " .
She encouraged grower that , " If you could name the job , that ’s half the battle ! " describe change to the flora , how it ’s responding to body of water and nutrition – these are the first clues in describe and managing diseases .
" postulate a tip to identify disease ? Just remember : Fungus is fuzzy , bacteria is wet , computer virus is weird . "
Dr. Lapaire Harmon also advised growers to delay vigilant about what decease into the glasshouse . Disease management starts before anything even crosses the room access . Some pourboire included :
sieve cut and " do n’t plant the ugly ones ! " Once disease is in the glasshouse , there ’s a full probability you wo n’t be able to get it out . Have a architectural plan in place . Identify what biologicals you could use on the plant in your crop , and then identify what nebulizer are compatible with those biologicals , if ask . red-hot tips for nursery growers"The Symposium boast eleven presentations , jam - carry with information – and that was just before lunch arrived " , Alex portion . Here are some backsheesh shared by presenters at the Symposium .
Save costs . Consider whether greenhouse lightheaded schedules can be coordinated with casual hydro pace schedules , without compromising plant motive .
Focus on your food market . you may grow a glasshouse full of great plants , but if you do n’t have a plan for selling and grocery store access , you ’re go to struggle to sell them .
How ’s your atmosphere menstruation ? upright air flow above the substrate is critical for CO2 and oxygen exchange within the leaf structure . Below the substrate , it ’s what allow the roots to breathe .
plant life are what they eat up . Test your water , leachates and nutrient more than once a week .
Emerging technology showcaseAttendees of the symposium dumbfound a prospect to visit different stations and explore new engineering science for greenhouse growing .
A.M.A. Strawberry Growing System
A.M.A. Strawberry Growing SystemThe unexampled A.M.A. Strawberry Growing System was designate . " We were pleased with the amount of interest from agriculturist who had never get word a system like this before " , enjoin Alex . " It ’s a professional - tier strawberry growing system – exactly the kind of system you ’d see in a 40 - Akka nursery operation – but with one fundamental conflict : It can be scaled down and customize for small production . "
As the strawberry market continues to expand , the A.M.A. Strawberry Growing System is a result for grower starting out in strawberry yield ; grower move some of their product from field of view to tunnels to extend their time of year ; enquiry and educational institution ; and market agriculturist serve their own community . It comes double-dyed with everything needed for table - top hemangioma simplex output ( brackets , irrigation emitter and pipage ) , and fits grow pocketbook or troughs .
Pioneer Pots for Containerized Blueberries
Pioneer Pots for Containerized Blueberry ProductionPatented Pioneer Pots ™ were also among the showcased innovations . investigator from the University of Florida ran a containerized blueberry trial using Pioneer Pots and other nursery containers . The goal of the written report was to show the impingement of different container on the beginning structures of blueberry industrial plant . The lesson ? Researchers saw greater branching in the solution structure of plant grown in Pioneer Pots .
Pioneer Pots are useable in pitch-dark , but they also come in livid . " This is to help avoid preparation stem in spicy climate . Cooked solution pull in water from yield and leaves and try the industrial plant . A.M.A. Horticulture is proud to issue Pioneer Pots to our customers as part of our line - up of solutions for healthy rooting , " Alex shares , adding she wants to partake in a big thank you to the University of Florida , the Florida Nursery , Growers and Landscape Association ( FNGLA ) , and the Root Alliance for host this symposium .
For more information : Alex Frew(instagram)A.M.A. Horticulture2011 Spinks DriveKingsville , ON N9Y 2E5CanadaT : 519 - 322 - 1397 or 800 - 338 - 1136F : 519 - 322 - 1358[email protected]www.amahort.com
