TUNNEL PRODUCTION OF CONTAINER GROWN TOMATOES AND CUCUMBERS

摘要

This is a report on the second year of a trial designed to develop a system of organically growing tomatoes and cucumbers in a container system under high tunnels. It attempts to solve the crop rotation problem posed in high tunnel production by rotating soil rather than the economic crop, moving the tunnel or grafting plants to resistant rootstocks. Nutrient deficiencies occurred both years despite different fertilization approaches. However, the 2009 trial was not as bad as the 2008. In 2008, plants were grown in polybags and fertilizer applied as a dry product (Nature Safe 10-2-8) in the soil mix. The 2008 plants became nitrogen deficient and suffered from copper deficiency. In 2009, plants were grown in five-gallon buckets and nutrients supplied through compost tea. Nitrogen levels were adequate but plants showed signs of low potassium and zinc. Water management was critical for both trials since containers have little buffering capacity. The 2010 trial will use five-gallon buckets and investigate different soil mixes, compost teas made from the substrates and include a conventional fertilizer treatment for comparison. The system continues to show promise providing nutrient deficiencies and other cultural practices such as plant spacing and water management can be overcome.