Text Box: Warm the greenhouse and the media before transplanting the tomato plants or other plants into it. Start a couple of days ahead by bringing the greenhouse up to growing temperature. Air warms up much more quickly than the wet media material. Make sure the greenhouse water heater is ready to put some heat into the incoming water so that the plants are not being fed cold fertilizer solution. If plants are cold, growth stops. A little planning ahead can keep the plants on the fast track to earlier production. Text Box: An Advanced Hydroponics Grower Workshop is planned for March 26 and 27, 2008, in Hinckley, MN. Steve Froehlich and Jim Brown will be the facilitators. More information is available on our website at www.cropking.com under Workshops\Advanced Workshop. Although there is a basic program as mentioned on the website, the main emphasis is to deal with grower questions and problems. Over half the time at the workshops, in the past, has been devoted to answering grower questions and addressing grower problems. If you are coming and have a question, e-mail it ahead to Jim Brown at jbrown@cropking.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wisdom for Growing      

Jim Brown, Horticulturist
Text Box: Our ever increasing energy cost is a concern of all our greenhouse customers. Here are a few tips that may help reduce yours. Your heating equipment should be serviced, cleaned and checked yearly by a qualified person. Overhead unit heaters and/or boilers should be serviced, cleaned and checked. Heating equipment with dirty or improperly adjusted burners, incorrect gas pressures affect the efficiency of your heating equipment. This in turn increases Text Box: energy usage. Check and service your air circulation fans and exhaust fans. Often fans are overlooked and taken for granted. Dirt and other debris collect on fan blades and drive belts wear and slip. This reduces air flow and creates an unstable environment which requires more energy to heat and/or cool. Most manufacturers recommend equipment be cleaned and serviced 1 to 2 times a year and drive belts replaced on a Text Box: yearly basis. Check your vent doors for correct operation. When closed, the vent door should close the opening to prevent cold air drafts. Make necessary adjustments to the vent door operating components as needed. My final thought is to visually check the entire greenhouse structure for any areas which allow outside air to enter the greenhouse. Repair or seal any of these areas. Insulating the north wall is recommended to

February 2008

Volume 1, Issue 1

Wisdom for Growing

1

Hydroponic Grower  Workshop

1

Employee of the month

2

Reflections    From our COO

2

$50.00 gift certificate

2

Jeff’s Thoughts

1

Garage Sale

1

· 1 USED AGROMATIC STRAW CHOPPER MODEL KB1000 EQUIPPED WITH A 9 H.P. VANGUARD MOTOR $1000.00

· 1 USED RAYPAK HOT WATER BOILER MODEL H3-0514  NATURAL GAS-120 VOLTS-4199,000 BTU         $1500.00

· 3 GORMAN RUPP MAG DRIVE PUMPS 120 VOLTS   $200.00/EA.

Advanced hydroponic grower workshop      

Jim Brown, Horticulturist

Jim Brown is a graduate of Cornell University with a vegetable Corps Major, a Master’s Degree and an Associate Degree from Nova Scotia Agricultural College He has over 20 years in the hydroponic industry as a Horticulturist, teacher and consultant on     soilless culture.

Jeff’s Seasonal Thoughts

  T h e             H y d r o          V I n e

Garage Sale Specials