greenhouse pre spring

for those who want to glimpse the soul train of a Senior dibo go to the life walk blog. this here blog be on the plant and garden end of the realm of earthy stewardship and vocation.

the greenhouse is bolging just about have all marches orders produced next week its a start on the aprils and some extra.

we produce starter plants in three sizes 72, 50 and 21. those numbers refer to the amount of cells in one 10×20 inch flat. the 21 are deep and well suited for gallon production one to three.

talked with a customer from the area between ashville and hendersonville north carolina. he was asking about hypericum calycinium whether he could get his liners now or waite for march. ours are warm so cold now is risky he doesnt have heated greenhouses so its a wait till march. he has been growing the villosa type of heuchers or coral bells. these are related to the native southeastern types, so they can take the heat better. maybe we need to test some in omaha?

worker protection

i have been asked to be on a panel of greenhouse growers discussing worker protection safety and handling an EPA audit. our company has been through two such audits with lots of things we needed to change. we did change and have a good relationship with the department of agriculture plant bureau.

so i have been thinking about why we have these laws to adhere to even though they are cumber-sum for the most part and nit picky for another part and sensible for the last part.

as a society we need laws and people to enforce them. industry as a whole has not had a good history of managing the work force. when we had a more rural prewar time it was different. America had a free market atmosphere people valued each other more. since the war and industrial revolution big labor rules. thus the need for worker social advocates like unions. plus humans are basically selfish and not good. its like the speed limit. or the stop sign. what you do affects someone else.

for the greenhouse industry the worker protection standard (wps) revolves around pesticide safety, proper employee notification, pesticide handler protection, etc. there is a well published list of how to comply and it better be or you will be fined.

greenhouse pests

fungus gnat larvea are everywhere it seems. all in the new cuttings and divisions of grasses. the plants over all look good but lifting a cutting up and useing a magnifying glass to view the base of the cuttings and to find a translucent small wigglies. small things eating major profits. so it’s drench time.

always looking and scouting for bugs and disease thats whatits about. i need to develope a better spray schedual. the main problem is my own desire and cold weather blaz

greenhouse

the bug lady came today. our IPM scout. The report is good she had to look very hard to find a live mite. so i am pleased. because my boss is pleased. I know that there is more out there in the perennials that meets the casual observers eyes. like myrothecium, thrips to name two fights that are on going.

Spray pesticides often. accually i am trying more organic approach. using biologicles is a safer more responsible route. yet our profit margin is at stake. the key is to not let any population get out of hand. and to monator the culture environment closely. which i do every one is probrolly sick of me airing out the houses no and then when the out side conditions allow.