Greenhouse tomato production
NEWARK, Del. - Taste
conscious consumers tired of
those pale, rubbery pink
balls that make up the
Winter tomato offering at
many supermarkets are
likely to pay a good bit more
to get their hands on a vine
ripe tomato at this time of
year. Delawareans who fit
this category can take heart.
Fresh greenhouse tomatoes
will be available in many
parts of the state starting in-
May. And the lush red orbs
will be worth every cent of
the price charged by local
growers, assures University
of Delaware Extension
vegetable specialist Dr.
Mike Orzolek. 1
Over the past three years,
thanks in part to the efforts
of Orzolek, there’s been
quite an increase in the
production of greenhouse
-tomatoes in Delaware.
Today there are about eight
growers producing a total of
around one acre of this crop.
This^may not seem like
much, but on that single acre
over the next few months
they’ll probably crank out
between 50-75 tons of fruit
(compared to an average
yield of only 20-25 tons per
acre from field-grown
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plants). Most of these
tomatoes will go to area
retail stores, though some
may be purchased directly
from the grower.
Several factors have
contributed to the growth
and interest in greenhouse
vegetable production in
Delaware, says Orzolek. The
cost of energy and tran
sportation has increased the
price of western and,
southern tomatoes
distributed in this part of the
country during Winter and
early Spring months. Labor,
with all of its problems, has
also, contributed to the cost
of producing and
distributing field tomatoes
coming into the northeast.
As a result, a number of
local growers with access to
nearby metropolitan
markets where they’ll have
little or no transportation
cost, have become interested
in going into the production
of greenhouse tomatoes.
While this can be a very
profitable enterprise, it’s not
for everyone, cautions the
vegetable specialist. Not
everybody has the ability or
the time needed to compete
successfully with the less
attractive but also less
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expensive field-grown
product shipped into the
area during the off season.
In deciding whether to get
into greenhouse tomato
production, a grower must
consider many things: Type
of greenhouse, growing
medium (soilless mix or
hydroponics), ventilation
and heating systems,
production practices and,
most important of all,
marketing strategy. Lack of
planning in any of these
areas can result in crop
failure or, more critically,
total net loss.
Based on his experience in
helping a number of growers
get started in production, the
specialist has several pieces
of advice to offer.
For one thing, unless you
have the skills to do the bulk
of the repair and main
tenance work on your
equipment and greenhouse
yourself, don’t even consider
going into this business.
Repairs by professional
people are not only ex
pensive but also impossible
to count on in terms of their
availability. Tomatoes, both
fruit and plants, are a
perishable commodity.
Anything unfavorable to
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their growth such as high
heat, lack of moisture, ex
cess fertilizer, low pH will
reduce yields or cause plants
to die. Therefore, all
systems must be operable
and in use 24 hours a day.
When a problem occurs,
repairs must be made within
hours of the breakdown if a
loss is to be avoided.
Another common problem
in greenhouse operations is
control of the pH and salt
content of the growing
medium. Deviation from a
Concern for farmers voiced
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
Two national leaders have
expressed concern for
economic problems facing
family farmers.
Bishop Maurice J.
Oingham of Des Moines,
lowa, president, National
Catholic Rural Life Con
ference, and Allan Grant,
president, American Farm
Bureau Federation, said the
cost-price squeeze is causing
serious problems for current
fanners and is making it
difficult for young people to
enter agriculture.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday; May 19,1979-
on the upswing
pH range of 5.8 to 6,6 and'' ranges from mid-May up to
high salt levels in excess of August or September. Some
2000 parts per million can people pull their plants after
result in poor plant growth, the first of July because of
yellow leaves, flower drop, developing competition from
poor fruit development, or locally grown field tomatoes.
ail of the above. For this But right now there are
reason, most growers growers all over the state
monitor the pH and salt level Millsboro, Delmar,
of their growing medium on ‘ Felton, and Newark, among
a daily or weekly basis.' other places ah of them
Plants for the present producing tons of juicy red
greenhouse tomato crop tomatoes to
were set out in February or niake a salad-lover’s mouth
March. Harvest period water.
They urged established
fanners, lending institutions
and government agencies to
continue to help and look for
new ways to assist young
fanners in getting started in
agriculture.
They emphasized that,
inflation and other economic
pressures are making it
difficult for present family
farmers to obtain an
adequate return for their
labor and investment..
Among the topics discussed
was the interrelationship of
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technology and spiritual
values.
The joint statement
developed out of a recent
meeting of the two leaders in
Des Moines. Bishop
Bingham of the Southwest
lowa Diocese is chairman of
the church’s organization
that reflects a - religious
viewpoint on rural issues.
The two leaders bad an
amicable discussion and
agreed to continue to]
communicate their common,
concerns and interests in the]
welfare of family fanners. ■