The greenhouse and hoophouse grower's handbook
Subtitle: organic vegetable production using protected culture
By: Andrew Mefferd
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 264
ISBN-13: 9781603586375
Subjects: Vegetable gardening; Greenhouse gardening
Description: The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower's Handbook shares best practices for both large- and small-scale production of the eight most profitable crops - tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, leafy greens, lettuce, herbs, and microgreens. Every year, more growers are turning to protected culture to deal with unpredictable weather and to meet out-of-season demand for local food, but many end up spinning their wheels, wasting time and money on unprofitable crops grown in ways that don't make the most of their precious greenhouse space. This book levels the playing field with decision-making framework that goes beyond a list of simple dos and don'ts. With comprehensive chapters on temperature control and crop steering, pruning and trellising, grafting, and more, Andrew Meffer's book is full of techniques and strategies that can help farms stay profitable, satisfy customers, and become an integral part of relocalizing our food system. From seed to sale, this book is the indispensable resource for protected growing.--COVER.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (page 247) and index.
Table of contents: title: Why protected culture?; title: Protected culture structures and their features; title: Heating, cooling, lighting, and irrigation; title: The economics and efficiencies of protected growing; title: Protected culture plant basics; title: Propagation, pruning, and trellising; title: Temperature control and crop steering; title: Grafting; title: Tomatoes; title: Cucumbers; title: Peppers; title: Eggplant; title: The leafy crops.