(1845) Mon 20 Apr 92 22:02 Re: Florida Commercial Vegetable Transplant Producers (from PennPages) FLORIDA COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE TRANSPLANT PRODUCERS Florida Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida Charles S. Vavrina Greater than 200 million total production volume: Speedling, Inc. P.O. Box 7220, (813) 645-2543 Sun City, 33570 FAX 645-1906 Vegetables, Tobacco, Ornamentals Speedling, Inc. P.O. Box 307 (904) 793-6700 Bushnell, 33513 FAX 793-3410 LaBelle Plant P.O. Box 399 (813) 675-2020 LaBelle, 33935 FAX 675-6052 Tomato, Tobacco, Pepper, Watermelon, Cantaloupe 100 to 200 million total production volume: CollierGro Hwy 29, P.O. Box 379 Immokalee, 33934 (813) 657-6141 Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Tomato, Pepper, Cabbage Plants of Ruskin P.O. Box 994 Ruskin, 33570 (813) 645-2528 Vegetables 50 to 100 million total production volume: Bonnie Plant Farm 3505 Lake Tohopekaligs Rd. St. Cloud, 32769 Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Lettuce, Pepper, Tomato Classie Plants Inc. P.O. Box 1653 Palmetto, 34220 (813) 723-1804 Tomato, Pepper, Cabbage, Watermelon, Broccoli, Onion, Celery Johnny Johnson Greenhouses P.O. Drawer Zero Immokalee, 33934 (813) 657-4779 Tomato, Pepper, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Lettuce, Beets Knox Nursery, Inc. 4349 N. Hiawassee Rd. Orlando, 32818 (407) 293-3721 Pepper, Tomato, Squash, Watermelon The Plant Farm 12638 Fruitville Rd. (813) 371-1179 Sarasota, 34240 (813) 371-1174 Tomato, Pepper Redi Plant #21 6-L Farm Rd. Naples, 33961 (813) 774-6030 Tomato, Pepper, Watermelon 1 to 50 million total production volume: ABC Farms, Inc. Veg. Transplant Div. 807 E. Main St. Immokalee, 33934 (813) 675-1394 Tomato, Peppers Barfield Produce P.O. Box 1089 Immokalee, 33934 (813) 657-3611 Tomato, Peppers Chastain Farms 37800 Wash. Loop Rd. Punta Gorda, 33982 (813) 639-6861 Watermelon, Cabbage A. Duda & Sons, Inc. P.O. Box 95 Lake Jem, 32745 (904) 383-6111 Celery, Carrots, Corn, Lettuce Elsberry Farms 101 Big Bend Rd. Ruskin, 33572 (813) 677-6221 Tomato, Pepper, Onion, Strawberry Harlee Farms Rt. 1, Box 437-G Myakka City, 34251 (813) 722-7747 Tomato, Watermelon Hyatt Farms 26689 E. Hwy. 60 Lake Wales, 33853 (813) 692-1361 Watermelon, Pepper, Eggplant, Tomato Jack Lee Farms Rt. 1, Box 418 E. Palatka, 32131 (904) 328-5315 Potato, Squash Long & Scott Farms P.O. Box 65 Mt. Dora, 32757 (904) 383-6900 Cabbage, Onion, Corn, Potato S. Authur Peterson of Florida 5530 W. Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach, 33484 (407) 498-3500 Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Cabbage Picolata Produce P.O. Drawer 200 Elkton, 32033 (904) 824-1600 Potato, Broccoli, Turnip, Pepper, Collard, Mustard, Spinach, Kale Putnam Farms Rt. 1, Box 229 San Mateo, 32187 (904) 328-4553 Cabbage, Potato Slingerland's Flower Haven 175 S. Orchard St. Ormond Beach, 32174 (904) 677-4481 Tomato, Pepper, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Tomato Superior Plant Co. Jim Myers 15000 Old Rt. 41 N. Naples, 33963 (813) 455-1560 Tomato Canal Road Greenhouse P.O. Box 1087 Palmetto, 34220 (813) 722-8697 Tomato Earl Williams Farms Rt. 3, Box 95 Graceville, 32440 (904) 638)7452 Cole Crops, Chinese Cabbage Zarella Farms P.O. Box 1139 Stuart, 34997 (407) 287-0707 Cabbage Zellwin Farms Co. P.O. Box 188 Zellwood, 32798 (407) 886-1891 Escarole, Endive, Lettuce, Napa, Cabbage, Onion, Cauliflower Less than 1 million total production volume: Benedict Farm 3605 Darby Rd. New Smyrna Beach, 32168 (904) 427-1410 Cabbage, Pepper, Kale, Lettuce, Watermelon Brown's Farm Rt. 2, Box 127 Hawthorne, 32640 (904) 475-2015 Onions, Peppers Flint Farms Rt. 2, Box 675 Arcadia, 33821 (813) 494-5277 Tomato, Watermelon, Cabbage Marion & Marvin Fussell, Jr. Rt. 2, Box 252 Webster, 33597 (904) 793-2142 Eggplant, Pepper Carlow Gutschlag Farm P.O. Box 1067 Fairfield, 32634 (904) 629-6358 Pepper, Eggplant, Tomato Hart's Plant Nursery 1404 Blair Rd. Jacksonville, 32221 (904) 781-7910 Mixture of Vegetables Chapman Lewis Farms 2930 SE 41st Pl. Ocala, 32671 (904) 694-4737 Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant Libby Nursery Rt. 1, Box 295-B Hilliard, 32046 (904) 845-3543 Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant Bruce McElroy Farms Rt. 1, Box 520 Newberry, 32669 (904) 493-1088 Muskmelon, Watermelon Morton's Greenhouses Rt. 10, Box 956 Lake City, 32055 (904) 752-9280 Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant Norris Plant Farm Rt. 1 Chipley, 32428 (904) 638-1074 Tomato, Pepper Plant Labs was (Tri-W Farms) 5720 Hamilton Bridge Rd. Milton, 32570 (904) 994-6022 Cabbage Plants Inc. of Sarasota 13011 Fruitville Rd. Sarasota, 34240 (813) 371-8998 Tomato, Pepper Eddie Roberts Farms P.O. Box 184 O'Brien, 32071 (904) 935-1416 Pepper, Eggplant Scherer's Plant Farm 2030 30th St. N. Clearwater, 34620 (813) 531-2973 Vegetables Sheffield Nursery 400 W. Ash St. (904) 584-2088 Perry, 32347 (904) 584-2914 Tomato, Pepper, Squash, Cucumber Sunshine State Growers Rt. 5, Box 941 Tallahasee, 32301 (904)421-8444 Tomato, Pepper, Squash, Eggplant Gary Zachary Farms P.O. Box 33 Bushnell, 33597 Eggplant, Pepper ---------------------------------------------------------------- Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Authors: M. D. Orzolek, Prof. of Vegetable Crops P. A. Ferretti, Prof. of Vegetable Crops Department of Horticulture, Penn State Janaury 1992 PENpages Number: 09401226 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Horticulture Vegetable Newsletters Michael D. Orzolek and Peter A. Ferretti Department of Horticulture Penn State University 1. Vol. 4, No. 1, 1992 (1846) Mon 20 Apr 92 22:07 Re: Environmental tips for greenhouse transplant growers (from PennPages) ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS FOR GREENHOUSE TRANSPLANT GROWERS Vegetable Views, University of Maryland, December 1991 David S. Ross A number of vegetable growers have built small film plastic greenhouses to use during the winter and spring months to start vegetable transplants needed for their summer production. While many of these ventures have proved to be successful, some have had problems and others might be able to make improvements to get better production. This article will discuss factors relating to the structure, cover, heating, ventilation, air circulation and other environmental control considerations. Growers should evaluate their greenhouses in terms of the considerations given in this paper. Structure and Cover: Simple wood frame or metal pipe frame greenhouses can be used, but they must be strong enough to withstand high winds or a heavy wet snow lead. An air-inflated double poly cover gives a 30 percent energy savings over a single cover. Air for inflating a double cover should come from the outside to reduce the condensate between the two poly covers. Air circulation for maintaining temperature uniformity may be difficult in long narrow greenhouses. Heatingthe combustion process and pollutants: Several problems can be related to the heating system. Tomato transplants are very sensitive to some combustion pollutants as growers have found out in recent winters. One major source of problems in some greenhouses is the use of unvented, direct-fired propane or kerosene space heaters. Impurities in the fuel can cause toxic combustion products. In a tight plastic greenhouse, the oxygen may eventually be consumed during the combustion process, leaving incomplete combustion products and toxic pollutants. The flame may actually go out and let the greenhouse freeze. The use of unvented heaters is risky; at some time the environmental conditions may be right for disastrous results to occur. In an emergency, clean or pure fuel and extra ventilation may be adequate precautions for short term use. In plastic greenhouses where a vented heating system is used, a proper flue must be used to achieve success. The flue should extend outside and up two feet above the peak or ridge of the greenhouse so there is a good "draw." Heated combustion gases must rise by convection to escape. A hot exhaust helps; an insulated flue pipe maintains the temperature needed to cause the exhaust gases to rise. Pollutants are largely formed at the "startup" and shutdown" of the burner. It is important that exhaust gases flow up the flue and not be forced back down and out into the growing space. Sufficient oxygen must be available for complete combustion in the heating units. A plastic greenhouse can be made very air tight. A duct from outside the greenhouse to the rear of the combustion chamber is recommended to provide the air (oxygen) needed. A pipe about the size of the flue pipe is adequate. A general rule of thumb is to provide 1 square inch of fresh air inlet for each 50,000 BTU per hour capacity of the direct-fired unit. Regular servicing of the burner, heat exchanger and air-fuel ratio adjustment to avoid incomplete combustion will reduce ethylene production and release of unburned hydrocarbon fuels. Heating and air circulation: The heating unit is controlled by a thermostat. The thermostat must be located in the interior of the greenhouse (in the air stream but not directly in the heated air discharge). Do not mount the thermostat on the outside wall of the greenhouse where the cold air near the wall will adversely affect it. Uniform air temperatures in the greenhouse help to maintain uniform plant growth. Wire the heater fan to operate continuously while the burner unit is controlled by the thermostat. Add additional fans (horizontal air flow) or a fan-perforated tube to provide continuous air circulation during the heating season. See Agricultural Engineering FACTS 170, Greenhouse Air Circulation, for specific details. Check the heater air throw distance capability to see if it is adequate to move the heated air to the far end of the greenhouse. Ventilation: Solar radiation can cause high temperatures in a greenhouse during winter months. Temperature control is needed for control of plant growth. Ventilation rates of 2 cubic feet per minute (CFM) per square foot of greenhouse floor space for minimum winter ventilation and 8 CFM per square foot of greenhouse floor space for summer ventilation should be provided. Greenhouses under 5000 cubic foot in size need up to 12 CFM per square foot of floor space for adequate ventilation. Two speed fans or small and large fans can be used to allow different rates of ventilation. Motorized inlet louvers of a slightly larger size than the fans should be provided. Keep doors and windows closed on the end of the greenhouse where exhaust fans are located while ventilation is occurring. All thermostats should be located together in a shaded box about one-third of the way across the width and down the length of the greenhouse. An aspirated box with a small fan blowing air across the thermostats is desirable. Summary: Inexpensive greenhouses can be built for growing vegetable transplants, but their success depends on the ability to control the environment properly. The functions of heating, ventilating, air circulation, and control must be adequately provided. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Authors: M. D. Orzolek, Prof. of Vegetable Crops P. A. Ferretti, Prof. of Vegetable Crops Department of Horticulture, Penn State Janaury 1992 PENpages Number: 09401226 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Horticulture Vegetable Newsletters Michael D. Orzolek and Peter A. Ferretti Department of Horticulture Penn State University 1. Vol. 4, No. 1, 1992