Hints and Tips

How to Overcome Challenges in Berry Growing with CEA By John Bergman, Grower Advisor Berry producers are making great inroads when growing crops, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, in substrates. Some of the advantages they are seeing are: reduced labor requirements, increased yield, and targeted harvest windows to get the best prices for crops. Inevitably, an increasing number of growers are moving in this direction to take advantage of these opportunities. However, there are some significant challenges these growers may face. Challenge no1 Cost One thing to consider is the cost of setting up a proper system. Are you growing strawberries and want to install a tabletop to get the crop off the ground and increase harvest efficiency? You will also need to purchase containers and an irrigation system to deliver the water uniformly. If you are going to […]

From Field to CEA Berry Production By John Bergman, Grower Advisor What are soft fruits? This is a general term for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. This market segment is experiencing unprecedented growth here in North America and around the world. Soft fruits are one of the healthiest foods, low in calories, and high in fiber and vitamin C. What’s more, they are heart-healthy because they contribute to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) provides a better way for growers to meet the increased demand for fresh, tasty, high-quality berries that are available year-round. Growers are aiming to get production closer to end consumers to improve shelve life and give them tastier berries. Some of the better-tasting fruits do not ship very well. That is why growers are transitioning from growing these crops in the field to […]

Benefits of Small Fruit Substrate Production in a CEA By John Bergman, Grower Advisor Interested in making the jump from field production to growing small fruit in containers with quality substrates? There are many advantages to making this change, including crop quality, reduction of labor, increased yield, and reduced pesticide use, to name a few. You can also take control of when you want to schedule your crop to be harvested in order to spread out harvest periods and get the best prices for your produce. Production Advantages With the ban of methyl bromide and the high cost of fumigates that are not as effective for field production, growers are looking for alternatives to deal with soil-borne pathogens, such as phytophthora and verticillium. By switching to growing with substate in containers, the effects of these pathogens can be significantly mitigated. […]

5 Common Soil-borne Pathogens By Hugo Alix, agr., M. Sc. The production of high value-added crops pushes growers to maintain more precise control over their environments, which is even more relevant in a context where the aim is to combine local production with increased productivity per unit of area. Today’s technologies allow us to produce more on a smaller area, but the downside is that when a problem arises, it can have a major impact much greater than on more extensive production. The goal of this guide is to provide you with some tools to better prevent the emergence of soil diseases. Factors influencing the development of diseases DOWNLOAD YOUR TRAINING GUIDE NOW

The impact of growing media and substrate management on CEA crops Once your system is setup, it is time to choose the rest of the material you will need to initiate the production process. Having the best technology doesn’t guarantee quality crops. Although it seems less important, selecting the right fertilizer or growing media is just as critical to your success. An in depth knowledge of your operation should help guide your decision, but some trial and error may be required before you are fully satisfied with the results. With most systems that are being used for baby leaves, leafy greens, and lettuce cultivation, the entire growth cycle from seed to the final product is done without transplanting. This reduces manipulations and saves time, material, and labor. However, this creates an added challenge when it comes to choosing the right […]

Tips on how to choose the best CEA system for your production We’ve established that leafy greens are a growing segment of the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) market seeing significant investments in infrastructure and accompanying growing systems. Although it is an appealing venture, there are major considerations and challenges that will need to be addressed to be successful. For instance, the location and design of your system should allow you to produce and deliver a quality produce, meet current and future demand while minimizing potential logistical hurdles. After a quick internet search, you will quickly notice there are many different growing systems to choose from. Most that have been introduced to the European and U.S. markets are adaptations of existing systems or custom-built hybrid systems. The majority are variations of hydroponics, such as nutrient film technique (NFT), ebb & flow, […]

Considering switching to a hydroponic system? The leafy green industry is thriving. Growers as well as high-tech giants, such as Google and Apple, are investing millions of dollars into this market. Several factors are contributing to this growth: growing world population, climate change, labor shortages, transport constraints, and many more. The need for locally grown produce has led to the high success of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations setup close to urban areas. Leafy greens are one of main contributors to this success. It now makes more sense to move towards indoor hydroponic production systems, such as NFT (Nutrient Film Technique), deep water or multi-level, to name a few. With the advancements in knowledge and technology, CEA has become a more reliable means to consistently produce quality crops. Typically located closer to the markets they serve, they can deliver fresher […]

Spring Cleaning – Greenhouse Sanitation Tips and Check list It has been a great year for horticulture, which means it’s been an extremely busy year for growers. Most crops have now been delivered and sold and activities inside the greenhouse are slowing down. You can start catching your breath, but you also need to start thinking about the next season. Before enjoying some well-deserved time off, there is no better time to tidy up: thoroughly clean and sanitize your growing areas and disinfect everything in the greenhouse, including tools and equipment. By doing this now, you will save you a lot of time (and headaches) down the line. Indeed, a methodical and timely greenhouse sanitation program generates a series of benefits and cost savings. Pests, diseases, and weeds can be avoided. Cleaning should be a priority in professional settings, but […]

When Does Dry Down Turn In To Dry Out By Kevin Cooper What works for one grower does not always work the same way for another. Every greenhouse has its own personality, its own qualities and shortcomings. But there is one constant that applies to every grower and greenhouse, the dry down period. In order to succeed, understanding the dry down cycle is critical. Why is the dry down cycle so important? In order to produce a quality crop, roots need the proper balance of nutrient rich water and oxygen. The nutrients are supplied by water soluble injection into the water source or added to the media in controlled release form. For oxygen to re-enter the media, the dry down cycle must occur. When do you re-apply water and or nutrients? You should re-apply water and nutrients just before wilt […]

7 Greenhouse Irrigation Systems Irrigation is one of the most important controllable aspects of growing and could have a major impact on the quality of the crops. How then to decide which irrigation system is the best suited to our needs? The answer isn’t always simple and will depend on several factors: type of crop, climate, labor, initial investment, growing media and type of soil, container size… Here are some pros and cons of some of the most common irrigation systems to help you to make the right choice. Irrigation System no1 Manual Irrigation Don’t Forget to… Inspect plants before irrigation; feel the weight. Remove the container and touch the media. Don’t only base your decisions on a quick visual inspection; Avoid overflowing the container or using high pressure nozzles as it disrupts the soil structure; certain aggregates will migrate […]