Hints and Tips

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 […]

By Kevin Cooper, Grower Advisor From my experience as a past grower and now as a Grower Advisor for the Berger Technical Services team, I will share my thoughts and experiences on the subject of growing media for perennials. What Purpose Does Growing Media Serve? The first function of growing media is to provide support for the plant. In other words, it anchors the plant in place. It also needs to create an environment where roots can thrive. Growing media typically consists of a blend of ingredients with different physical and chemical characteristics. This combination of materials creates a structure designed to provide porosity (air space) as well as water and nutrient-holding capacity for plant root uptake. To create the desired porosity and water retention for a given type of production, particle size is critical. Ingredients must be selected carefully […]

Optimizing Yield and Potting Practices By Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Director – Technical Services Berger adjusts the chemical and physical characteristics of its growing media to match grower needs. However, it is the grower’s responsibility to manage the structure of the growing media in the containers. Proper handling before, during and after potting is critical for optimizing the root environment. Advice no1 Storage Bags or bales should be stored in a cool area out of direct sunlight as much as possible. If the material is stored for long periods (> 4 months), the wettability of the growing media should be verified before use. Advice no2 Growing Media Handling When handling, the goal is to prevent damage to the growing media as much as possible. Fluffing and potting equipment should be selected and adjusted with care. Advice no4 Adjusting the Water Content […]

Equipment Validation by Brian Cantin, Senior Grower Advisor Whether it is pH and salts meters, environment control equipment, new fertilizer injectors and/or equipment for disease and insect management, these tools need to be understood and validated if we are to optimize their handling and get the most bang for your buck. Trade magazines, trade shows, conferences and extension personnel can provide us with valuable information encompassing all facets of the greenhouse industry. However, as growers, it is our responsibility to understand and maintain the equipment we use for our operation. Validation no1 E.C. and pH Meters In crop production, understanding and managing substrate pH and electrical conductivity (E.C.) requirements should be a top priority. There is quite a selection of bench top and portable pH and E.C. meters that are available on the market. The operational information can help you […]

Making PGRs Work for You Many factors contribute to the success or failure of PGR applications. Regardless of what chemical is chosen, it is important to realize that improper application, excessive rates; stressed plants and weak root systems have an impact on the efficacy of a PGR. Recommendation no1 A well-planned program Success with plant growth regulators is based on a well-planned out program that incorporates PGRs into your production practises rather than a hit and miss approach. Growth regulators should be used as part of a preventative program where early applications coincide with the start of stretch. I prefer to shape a plant rather than holding a plant that got away from me. To shape a plant, low rates of PGR are applied more frequently at early stages. This approach is most effective if you have reliable records with […]

Disease Management: Be Proactive, Not Reactive by Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Supervisor Technical Services New plant introductions are launched annually and some can grow and finish differently from what the grower is accustomed to pertaining to previous releases of the same species or plant group. If problems are suspected when growing a new crop, don’t wait to ask questions or allow the problem to go unchecked. Utilizing horticultural and company internet resources and/or consulting with a technical advisor that supports the crop line should be done immediately. If available, obtain a picture of the plant showing normal growth and review crop cultural data information to ensure that proper growth parameters are being met, and then compare to what is being observed. Recommendation no1 Diagnosing the Problem Once it is determined that the crop has a problem, diagnosing the problem is the […]

Berger puts a lot of emphasis on the quality of its products; at each production stage, rigorous quality control is performed in the lab.

Hidden Costs of Making Your Own Growing Mix by Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Director – Technical Services Because most ingredients are sourced naturally, uniformity can be hard to obtain in a mix. The selling price of crops has not drastically risen over the past decades, but the cost of everything else has increased at a much faster pace. Growers have been very good at optimizing their production in order to maintain decent margins in spite of the increasing expenses for transportation, labour, equipment, chemicals and much more, including growing media. When you are looking at ways to cut down on your production costs, producing your own growing mix may seem like an attractive way to save some money, especially for large-scale growers. It certainly appears to have fewer implications than molding your own containers or manufacturing your own water-soluble fertilizers. Although […]

Substrate Selection Criteria Criteria no1 Type of Production The first criteria to take into consideration when selecting the ideal substrate for your production needs is the sector of activity. The characteristics of a growing media used to produce a Holly tree (Ilex) in a nursery will greatly differ to those required to produce an Orchid (Orchidaceae) in a greenhouse. Interior productions give a lot of control to growers, allowing them to steer productions towards specific results. Exterior productions are cheaper, but the grower loses some control as the crops are at the mercy of the weather, therefore substrates must be more forgiving to compensate for bad meteorological conditions. It is important to determine the type of production in order to narrow the types of substrates that could be used adequately. Criteria no6 Consistency and After Sales Services Quality Control, Analytical […]

31 Tips & Gardening Techniques One growing tip per day. by Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Supervisor Technical Services