2012 Annual Report for FNC10-805
Indoor greenhouse trellising system adapted to outdoor use
Summary
WORK ACTIVITIES
Tomatoes were planted in an indoor (greenhouse) and outdoor setting. Outdoors, the tomatoes were grown on the trellising system. General maintenance of plants (string, suckering, and clipping) performed on a weekly basis. Fruit was collected and weighed, making a direct comparison of indoor to outdoor production.
RESULTS SO FAR
My overall impression is that tomatoes grown on the trellising system are somewhat at a disadvantage. This is largely due to the suckering of leaves/lack of shade. However, taking the drought of 2012 into account, the drought and intense heat may be partially responsible for the problem with sunburn. After the tomatoes were finished and we removed them from the trellis, we went back in with a crop of cucumbers. A surprising event: The cucumbers did so well on the trellis that we had the best crop we have ever had. The cukes were straight with great eye appeal for the farmers’ market. We will grow cucumbers on the trellis again.
In actual weights the indoor system produced almost twice as many tomatoes as the outdoor. 2245 lbs. inside vs. 1256 lbs. outside. Please see the attached form for actual weights per variety.
WORK PLAN FOR 2013
This grant will be complete.
OUTREACH
A final report will be prepared to share all of our findings. We will make our information available to SARE as well as Lincoln University’s Innovative Small Farmer’s Outreach Program.
We hosted our annual open house in November 2012 and approximately 65 people viewed and learned about the outdoor trellising system.
