New annuals in the landscape Observations from the 2022 Guelph Trials | 8
The 2022 poinsettia season Despite challenges, season ended with strong demand | 14
A blooming business
F’Laura n’ Company is growing | 28
Unique aeroponics cultivation
SUMO Cannabis’ four-layer aeroponics cultivation is found nowhere else in the world.
the editor 4 Industry news 6
New annuals in the landscape 8
Observations from the 2022 Guelph Trials
Good plants by good people 24 Huron Ridge’s secret to 50 years
The permaculture greenhouse 32 Don’t let this invasive species take over your greenhouse 40 CFIA on lookout for spotted lanternfly A new approach to cooling greenhouse irrigation water 44
SUMO Cannabis specializes in innovative aeroponics cannabis production. See page 20. Photo: SUMO Cannabis.
Despite challenges, season ended with strong demand.
BY MEL SAWAYA
F’Laura n’ Company Greenhouse is growing in central Alberta.
BY ANDREW SNOOK
Understanding tomato plant signals and making decisions for better productivity Part 1: Plant head.
BY DR. MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
Get ready for Grower Day!
I’m excited to announce that the agenda has been officially set for this year’s Grower Day event taking place on June 20 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Centre in St. Catharines, Ont.
For 28 years, the Grower Day conference and tradeshow has offered great line-ups of speakers sharing their expertise in cultivation, production and business management with growers of ornamental plants and vegetables, researchers and students.
Grower Day is a great opportunity to speak with exhibitors about the latest technologies and services available in the greenhouse sector.
As an added bonus, there will also be the presentation of the Grower of the Year Award and the Top 4 Under 40 Awards!
For those of you interested in the sessions, here is a preview:
9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Lighting in Greenhouse Ornamental Production
Speaker: Dr. Youbin Zheng, Professor (Horticulture & Environment),
11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The effect of light quality and quantity on Brix in greenhouse strawberry production
Speaker: Rose Séguin, Agronomist, Sollum Technologies.
1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Enrichment in Controlled Environment Agriculture – Is it always a good idea?
Speaker: Dr. Fadi Al-Daoud, Greenhouse Vegetable Specialist at Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for greenhouse IPM Speaker: Jacob Basso.
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Novel media amendments: How well can they reduce fertilizer use?
“There will also be the presentation of the Grower of the Year Award”
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph.
9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Surge and lighting protection for greenhouses
Speaker: Ruud Roeleveld, President, R3&A Ltd.
10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
How AI can be used to drive meaningful ROI for your operation
Speaker: Adam Greenberg, CEO, IUNU.
Speaker: Christine George, Research Lead, Research & Innovation, Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre.
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Metabolomics analysis supports the development of new pest control strategies
Speaker: Rose Buitenhuis, Senior Research Scientist, Biological Control, Vineland.
For more information or to register, visit: www.growerday.ca.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Structure Design
Installation
Heating & Ventilation Systems
Rolling Benches
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership launched
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) went into effect on April 1. The agreement has set $1 billion in federal programs and activities, and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities funded by federal, provincial and territorial governments, up 25 per cent from the 2018-2023 agreement. The federal, provincial and territorial governments collaborated in the renewal of the five-year policy framework to ensure that there’s
no gap between the end of the former agreement and this new one. The renewed federally funded programs under Sustainable CAP launched on March 6. Details and applications are available online for AgriAssurance, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriDiversity, AgriInnovate, AgriMarketing and AgriScience. Sustainable CAP also includes $2.5 billion in costshared programming that will be delivered by provincial and territorial governments.
LEAMINGTON GROWER SUMMIT DRAWS A CROWD
More than 135 growers and industry representatives attended the recent Leamington Grower Summit in Leamington, Ont., hosted by horticulture leaders Grodan, Growtec, Philips LED Lighting, Priva, and Svensson. During the halfday event on March 9, sponsor company representatives shared information on their latest research, products,
technology, and how each company is supporting growers in the never-ending pursuit of operational efficiency.
The event closed with representatives from HydroOne and Enbridge speaking about their programs that are available to growers in the region.
“Having hosted a similar event several years ago, we were extremely happy to once again offer this in-person
summit, and happy to have the opportunity to share our expertise with growers in the Leamington area,” said Henry Vangameren, Priva North America marketing manager. “We believe that by working together, the ACT companies can help growers meet the growing demand for fresh, locally grown produce in the most efficient way, and stay ahead of the curve.”
Grodan, Growtec,
Philips LED Lighting, Priva, and Svensson have come together as the ACT group; the acronym meaning Advancing Cultivation Technology.
The group is focused on bringing together growers, suppliers, and knowledge leaders to provide education on the latest cuttingedge horticulture technologies and best practices, as well as provide networking opportunities.
BY
THE NUMBERS
Farmland value increases override concern over higher interest rates
Average farmland values continued to increase in most parts of Canada, despite higher interest rates in the first half of 2022, according to a mid-year review by Farm Credit Canada (FCC).
Canadian farmland values continued to increase in 2022
The highest average provincial increases in farmland values were observed in Ontario, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, with increases of 19.4, 18.7 and 17.1 per cent, respectively. Saskatchewan followed with a 14.2-per-cent increase.
Five provinces had average increases below the national average at 11.6 per cent in Nova Scotia, 11.2 per cent in Manitoba, 11.0 per cent in Quebec and 10.0 per cent in Alberta. British Columbia is the only province to have recorded a single-digit increase at 8.0 per cent, but it is also a market where land values are the highest on average.
There was an insufficient number of publicly reported sales in Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon to fully assess farmland values in those regions.
SOURCE: FARM CREDIT CANADA
Croptimus Has Your Back
AI powered pest & disease detection for increased profitability.
Croptimus™ automatically scouts for Aphids, Spider Mites, Thrips, Powdery Mildew, Bud Rot (Botrytis), Mosaic, nutrient issues, general plant health, and both mechanical and pest damage, and more. Croptimus™ dramaticaly reduces scouting costs, pesticide/chemical usage, and crop losses, increasing the efficiency and prifitability of
New Annuals in the Landscape
Observations from the 2022 Guelph Trials
BY RODGER TSCHANZ
In the University of Guelph trials, annuals are tested in both containers and under landscape conditions in multiple locations within an hour’s drive of the University of Guelph. While not perfect, this multi-site testing process can help us picture how different cultivars perform under different growing conditions in southern Ontario. It’s interesting to note that greenhouse and container performance isn’t necessarily reflected in landscape performance. Sometimes we even notice differences in landscape performance between different colours within a series. The selection of plants highlighted in this article demonstrated excellent performance in both containers and the landscape under our trialling regime.
ABOVE
BEGONIA
Dragon Wing White F1 (1) from PanAmerican Seed is the new colour in the series to now accompany the ever popular red and pink colours. This selection performed well in the landscape spreading up to 76 cm and reaching heights of 50 cm. From our observations it appears to be slightly more vigorous than the red colour.
The Hula F1 (2) series is available in four colours: Bicolour (Red White), Blush, Pink, and Red. In our trials, all colours in the series reached heights of 25 to 30 cm with landscape spreads ranging from 54 cm for Red and up to 80 cm for the Blush. This is another begonia form PanAmerican’s begonia program.
Coleus Main Street Shibuya Street from Dümmen Orange stood out this year. Beautiful upright habit reaching heights of 73 cm by summer’s end. No visible bloom was observed before frost ended the trial.
The GreenPower toplighting force is here
Now you can achieve the light levels needed to support production of a quality crop while maximizing yield and efficiency with the Philips LED toplighting force. In fact, you can achieve a 4.0 µmol/J efficiency with the Philips toplighting force when dimmed to 50% of its power — accomplished easily with Philips GrowWise Control System. Dimming the toplighting force boosts light efficacy, allows sunset-to-sunrise mimicking for a smoother temperature build-up, and responds to energy management-related load shifts. Plus, the Philips GreenPower LED toplighting force is powered by an internal Philips driver to ensure reliability and quality unlike other LED products on the market. Reliability and quality that always comes with the Philips brand name.
www.philips.com/horti #growwiththepros
Canna (3)
Cannova Red Golden Flame, from American Takii’s breeding program, is available from Ball Ingenuity. This seedpropagated selection has green foliage and a unique bicoloured flower: scarlet red bloom edged in golden yellow. Great landscape and container performance. Compared to other seed cannas in this series, Red Golden Flame was 20 to 30 cm shorter with height reaching 106 cm and a spread of 84 cm.
Coleus (4)
Coleus Main Street Shibuya Street from Dümmen Orange stood out this year. Beautiful upright habit reaching heights of 73 cm by summer’s end. No visible bloom was observed before frost ended the trial.
Coleus ColorBlaze Mini Me Watermelon (5)
From Proven Winners, this cultivar has a compact growth habit, small leaves, and brilliant reddish colour and narrow green and yellow margins. It did produce small quantities of bloom late in the season, but foliage colour continued to dominate the visual show. Got to love this fun great marketing name as well!
PETUNIA
I trialled the first colour in the Supertunia Mini Vista (6) series just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Proven Winners has released new colours every year since with Red, Yellow and Midnight (dark purple) being trialled in 2022. This series is typified by vigorous spreading (80 to 90 cm) and mounding growth (height of 30 to 49 cm), small bloom diameter (up to 3.5 to 4 cm) and a reliable bloom habit. It has been a long time since I trialled a petunia that was selected for its large bloom diameter. If anything, in recent years there has been a trend amongst breeders to develop smaller diameter blooms. With bloom diameter of up to 8 cm, this Sanguna Mega series is breaking that trend. 2022 wasn’t a great summer for testing rain response amongst petunias since we rarely had rain, but Sanguna Mega Pink Vein and Mega Purple Vein (7) blossoms rebounded well from the rain we did have. This petunia also has reasonable late season tolerance allowing it to bloom into late October. Garden height of 27 to
35 cm and spread of 74 to 84 cm.
The Smartunia Windmill (8) from Dummen Orange is the first Tobacco Mosaic Virus resistant petunia series to be released to the market. Of the series, Windmill Hot Pink had the best landscape performance in our trials.
Of the six colours in the new SureShot series of petunia from Ball, I was most impressed with the landscape performance of Blueberries & Cream, Dark Red (9) and White. These cultivars bloomed consistently throughout the summer and well into October. Growth in the landscape saw these colours reaching heights of 27 to 38 cm with a spread of 67 to 83 cm; bloom diameter reached 5.3 cm. The dark red and white colours would suit Canada Day planting applications very well.
IMPATIENS
The Ball Horticultural company has released two exceptional impatiens series for the landscape and containers.
The Glimmer series from Ball FloraPlant has a double flower and is highly resistant to Impatiens Downy Mildew (IDM). It is available in seven colours: white, appleblossom, bright red, dark red, burgundy, hot pink (10) and salmon. In the landscape heights ranged from 27 to 35 cm with a spread of 59 to 72 cm. Flower diameter reached 5.5 to 6.5 cm depending upon the colour. These plants were grown in beds that had experienced severe IDM infections in past years and showed no IDM symptoms at any point throughout the 2022 season.
Solarscape (11) is a new seed propagated New Guinea-like interspecific impatiens from PanAmerican Seed that is truly sun tolerant. In the landscape, this series did very well with heights at the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) trial site reaching 22 cm with a spread of 32 cm for most of the colours. Salmon Glow XL (12) reached a height of 28 cm and a spread of 42 cm. It is resistant to IDM as well.
SEDGE
Cyperus ‘Queen Tut’ (13) is a new member of Proven Winners’ “Graceful Grasses” collection. Botanically, it’s not a grass but a sedge and is a close relative to papyrus. As such, it can grow well under waterlogged soil conditions, but our experiences show it can grow just as well in our main trial beds and containers. Compared to other members of this collection such as ‘King Tut’, ‘Prince Tut’ and
‘Baby Tut’, this selection has a finer texture and more compact growth habit. Queen Tut reached a height of 59 cm and a spread of 60 cm at the RBG trial site by October.
MISCELLANEOUS FOLIAGE
Muehlenbeckia complexa. Proven Accents ‘Big Leaf’ (14), commonly called big leaved wire vine, caught my attention in 2022. It works well as a “spiller” and background for showy floral components in a mixed container. In the landscape it creates a spreading monochromatic ground cover. The leaves are mostly round with diameters reaching 3.5 cm. Its bloom isn’t spectacular but since you are growing this selection primarily for its foliage and habit, that’s not a problem. It is able to survive light frosts without a problem but is not as cold tolerant as is, for example, petunias foliage.
The licorice plant selections Helichrysum stoechas , Sylvita Patio (15) and Sylvita Basket from Benary Plus have excellent cold tolerance. Sylvita Basket has more of a trailing habit and while Sylvita Patio is more upright with denser foliage. The narrow, silver coloured foliage provided a great background in the garden for plants such as the blue mealycup sage. It has great late season performance brightening up dark garden areas in the late fall and early winter.
LATE SEASON BLOOMERS
The large number of bidens in the trial this year impressed upon me the value these plants have in adding late season colour to containers and the landscape. When many of the summer annuals have perished, bidens are still blooming. In addition to being a great choice for autumnthemed plantings, bidens provide pollinators with late season food. Some of my favourites for flower density this fall included the Brazen Samurai (16) and Eternal Flame from Syngenta Flowers and Namid Compact Yellow 23 from Selecta One.
The vegetatively propagated calendula Caleo Orange (17) from Syngenta Flowers is another cold tolerant bloomer that only stops blooming when confronted with extreme cold. During the summer this selection bloomed extremely well in the heat and was resistant to powdery mildew. Height: 34 cm. Spread: 76 cm.
Lobularia or sweet alyssum is known for its cold tolerance. Although I had only one lobularia entry in the 2022 trial, Stream Violet (18) from Danziger, stood out for its reliable all-season bloom and vibrant colour. This vegetatively propagated selection continued to draw attention late October.
MARIGOLD
AmeriSeed is an Asian plant breeder known for its large-flowered marigold releases – i.e., the Big
The interspecific Zydeco (20) series of zinnia from Syngenta Flowers has one of the largest bloom diameters (bloom diameter of 7 to 9
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The 2022 poinsettia season
Despite challenges, season ended with strong demand.
BY MEL SAWAYA
Poinsettia season 2022 in a summary would have been a successful season if it was not for:
• White flies on a very limited but popular variety shipped with the cuttings but nothing compared to 2021 poinsettia season
• Shipping costs still going up.
• Boxes prices doubled if you did not order and received them before poinsettia shipping season.
• Stores did not want to give enough display area for poinsettias, which lead to frequent smaller orders.
Despite these few but costly hiccups the season ended up with strong demand for this year’s poinsettia crop which was helped by mild weather or at least no snowstorms to stop shipping or shopping, yes poinsettia season is as dependent on the weather as much as the bedding plant season is. Was any profit in this year’s poinsettia crop?
ABOVE
Pots of 152 varieties were trialled.
It would have been a good year except the cost of producing the crop kept increasing due to many factors that normally you know about early in the season, like shipping costs, heat, packaging and imported white flies.
With all the increased costs poinsettia prices next year must be increased by at least 15 to 20 per cent. On the positive side, all that was grown was sold, with a two- to three-per-cent shortage, which that where the market should end.
Stores reduced pre-booked orders to realistic numbers, learning from Spring 2022. You cannot increase 10-per-cent growth and another 10 per cent, which was a situational increase due to COVID-19. That led to a 20-per-cent shrinkage to many spring bedding plant producers.
No diseases through the whole crop, even without any fungicide applications.
No bract edge burn, which we haven’t seen for
the past 10 years, which coincides with the adoption of biocontrol to control pests; mainly white fly. This is a success story where we solved the problems by eliminating the cause and didn’t concentrate on the treatment, which is more economical and had greener growing by avoiding the overuse of chemicals.
Bract edge burn was due to the use of Thiodan for the control of white flies in addition to high humidity in the greenhouses, and the Accademia and chemical companies fast remedy most of the time for how to treat the problem rather than how to prevent it. Tons of calcium chloride was the go-to cure where, in my opinion, it was only a bandaid and the results were barely satisfactory. I am writing all of this to stress the need to always find the cause of any problem along with dealing with how to remedy it in the meantime.
PRODUCTION
It was the optimum weather conditions for flower initiation, cool nights and higher than average light levels. Every greenhouse crop was ready, on average, a week earlier than other years. In addition to the optimum weather conditions for flower initiation, the new varieties are bred to flower much earlier. In our trials this year, 96 per cent of the varieties were ready for sale by November 1.
Micro drenches of Bonzi can be used at any stage of production and it will not decrease the bracts to be unsalable. Proper application of Bonzi will produce a much better-quality product. Like every treatment, if done properly, it is an enhancement to the finished product.
The use of Bonzi micro drenches is a standard procedure, so using it properly is important. This year I have seen some plants treated with Bonzi with not much of an effect, while with other operations the effect of Bonzi is too much.
Here some guidelines to consider when you are using Bonzi:
• Application should be uniform especially if you are using drip system. Use lower rates with high volume so the whole root ball is covered. This is also important in normal irrigations with drip systems.
• Treatments when the plants are in the fast-growing stage are more effective. This goes with using any growth regulator.
The size of this 6-inch pot could easily pass as an 8-inch pot.
• Avoid any Bonzi applications over head, but if that is the only way you can apply it, then rinse with clear water using your sprayer, not the watering nozzles.
• Timing is the best growth regulator. You cannot delay planting too much to have shorter plants because the bracts will not colour properly in low light conditions.
• If later crop sale date is required, use a later flowering variety in its own section where you can control the temperature to suit without affecting other cultivars. Some crops that were shipped later in the season but not programed for that showed signs of botrytis on the bracts,
Other factors to watch for
• If you are spraying cycocel be aware of your clear water EC. because high water ECs added to the cycocel EC could be phytotoxic and will cause leaves damage.
• Still the best Botrytis control is lower humidity.
• Best crops happen when all aspects of production are done on time.
• Yes, I am saying it again and it will not be the last time: growing crops is 15% knowledge, 15% knowing how to apply this knowledge, and 70% doing everything on time.
• Doing things on time is a major part of growing green, because then fewer or no chemical treatments needed.
to the West!
Garden Centres Canada National Summit 2023 is in Vancouver, British Columbia from July 9-12. This is an amazing networking and educational opportunity for owners, operators and managers to come together and discuss the latest trends, consumer patterns, and share innovative ideas with fellow colleagues from across Canada.
We have planned an energetic schedule of engaging events, unique locations and industry professionals to share their knowledge and insight.
Meet our Speakers
EK1726. A promising new variety that has vertical habit
TRIALS
This is the second year the poinsettia trials took place at our brand-new greenhouse and location at Sawaya Gardens.
Over 150 varieties all propagated by Linwell Gardens planted in 6” pots on week 31, pinched week 34. Twenty-four pots of each variety, all watered the same, no growth regulator was used. This way, the true growth habit of every variety was clearly evident. Here my observations.
• All varieties could be commercially acceptable to ship.
• Varieties first shippable dates were recorded, which varied from October 15 to November 25, but most of them were still shippable past December 15.
• Not long ago, we had a maximum of 20 varieties to choose from. We had in our trials over 150 varieties and that is not all of them. The choices are vast, which makes the trials more crucial so we can decide on the cultivars that suit our production practices, and more importantly, our customers needs.
• Only if we try some of these varieties in our production and present it to our customers, we can capitalize on different packaging with unique colours and habits that the breeders came up with that can change look at poinsettia as just red, white and pink. In bedding plants, mixed containers are so popular that have almost 50% of the large container market. Why not in poinsettia?
• In my opinion 85 per cent of the poinsettia sold are red because we are not introducing the new cultivars like we do with bedding plants.
• After we were done with the trials, we open the greenhouse to the public for two days. The customer comes looking for red poinsettia and goes out with four colours and one red, and that was the case for the majority. This was because there were so many colours in the trials they could not leave without selecting two or three other colours or shapes. Poinsettia sales could net another 10-per-cent increase if we market it like bedding plants. Well displayed and taking advantage of all these new varieties.
• No chemicals were sprayed to control whiteflies. Some of the varieties had whitefly eggs and larva on them, but the team at Bioworks took charge of the whitefly control. By the time of the open house, I could not see any whiteflies.
• The bracts on most varieties were larger than normal most probably because:
o No growth regulators were used.
o Temperature heating to 19 degrees and venting at 22.
o Full sun from sunrise to sunset independent of what the temperature is.
o No delay in bud set and full sun, which increases the average temperature and maximum light intensity is a recipe for large bracts.
A new biocontrol.
When the plants are compressed with a ring, it’s a recipe for the consumer to fail.
PROBLEMS Diseases
All growers experienced no issues with any kind of diseases except for few Erwinea incidents that were directly related to the plant stressed before sticking.
No issues with root problems and no preventative fungicides were applied. Diseases do not want anything to do with happy plants, and happy plants do not welcome diseases.
Proper watering, checking ECs and pHs with proper environment conditions set the plants to be healthy and no need for fungicides.
Insects
The biocontrol was sufficient to carry the crop all the way to the market without any whitefly concerns except for a very few situations.
Advice for next year is to check the cuttings thoroughly upon arrival and to be discarded if whiteflies are detected. No biocontrol or chemical is going to clean heavily infested cuttings.
In our trials, the bioprogram was carried out by plant products and I’m excited to say that the crop could have been shipped without any whitefly without any chemical ever used.
Judy Colly (plant products) gave a presentation at the open house that explained how it was done and what lessons were learned, covering:
• Importance of scouting where Beth Bylsma (Plant Products) done an excellent job with Judy.
• The different varieties attraction or resistant to whitefly.
• The effect of growth regulators on the efficacy of bios.
Reach out to Judy at Plant Products!
Before propagation and planting, the planting areas are to be cleaned thoroughly. And no pest plants or other crops around.
1. Open the boxes in a cool room, dip in Botanigard solution and put in a cool room at 10 degrees overnight or at least four hours before sticking, making sure the cuttings are never dehydrated.
2. Before planting, dip the cuttings in a mixture of horticultural soap.
3. Start bio treatment soon after sticking the cuttings until October 10 to 15.
4. Bios will carry the crop free of, or with negligible amount of whiteflies, unless overwhelmed with leaves loaded with eggs before they have a chance to do their job.
5. Scouting and proper bios management is the only tool to combat the whitefly.
SUMMARY
• Grow varieties that you are familiar with and try new ones on a small scale.
• Calculate your cost for any required specs and do not forget about packaging and shipping.
• Take an order when there is still margin profit and not just dollar sales.
• Never grow on pure speculation.
• When you’re running out of plants at the end of the season and you need to buy some, that is when you are starting to make headways profit-wise.
• Do not cheat on what the crop needs to grow properly, namely space and heat. It will cost you much more at the end.
• Start a study group with the growers in your vicinity, and if you are around southwestern Ontario, join us by sending me an email to include you and hopefully this year, we can make this happen.
Any suggestions that you like to see at the poinsettia trials next year are welcome. Next open house date is November 15.
Greenhouse Technology Network
And this is the tall and short of it.
Unique aeroponics cultivation
SUMO Cannabis’ four-layer aeroponics cultivation is found nowhere else in the world
BY TREENA HEIN
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec is Canada’s oldest industrial city. Its first foundry was established in 1738, and it produced iron and cast iron for 150 years. The city was also known for lumber production, and was named decades ago as the pulp and paper industry capital of the world.
Trois-Rivieres has gained another distinction however: innovative aeroponics cannabis production. In fact, SUMO Cannabis is the first four-layer aeroponic cannabis operation in the entire world.
It was 2013 when co-founder Francis Descôteaux began to dig into the industry and plan his entry. He looked at the evolution of the cannabis market, the products, the regulations and various production systems. By 2015, he was forming a team that included Jonathan Bossé, who eventually brought in Eric Morel, who had a lot of business experience.
Together, these three co-founders officially started the company in 2019. They found about 20 investors to make the company a reality, and have established a solid relationship based on the
ABOVE
core values that unite them – namely integrity, good communication, responsibility, respect and a commitment to quality.
The present 20-strong SUMO team, including management, will soon be ready to kick off sales in Ontario, Quebec and Germany.
“We will then target other Canadian provinces as well as various European markets,” says Descôteaux.
CULTIVATION, LOCATION, EXPANSION
In Trois-Rivieres, they found just the right empty building with a 30,000-sq.-ft. footprint and ceilings of 34 feet.
“This was a perfect space to fully exploit the vertical culture of cannabis, and it also met our electrical needs and expansion potential,” says Descôteaux. “We had great media coverage and no resistance from the community. Instead, we anticipate that the community will be proud of our success. We are in the planning stages to add two more flowering rooms, and if all goes well, the expansion could begin in late 2023 or early 2024.”
There are 160 growing tables in each flowering room, which are 30 feet high with four floors of culture. Staff members work on the upper floors with the help of lifting platforms.
PHOTOS:
SUMO started production in two flower rooms in 2022, aiming for yields of 360 grams per square foot.
They considered vertical rack systems from two companies that offered essentially the same type of product and went with Montel.
“Among other things, they have a factory in Quebec and representatives in our region,” says Descôteaux. “Each room is composed of five rows of Montel racking that can move from left to right on a rail. In the propagation room, the cuttings (coming from our mother plant rooms) are started and are transferred to one of our two flowering rooms when they are ready.”
There are 160 growing tables in each flowering room, which are 30 feet high with four floors of culture. Staff members work on the upper floors with the help of lifting platforms.
Workers are recruited online and staff is retained through striving to create what Descôteaux calls, “a great company culture, where employees feel respected and valued.”
AEROPONICS
The choice of aeroponic cultivation was clear from the start for the SUMO team. It would enable them to offer recreational and medicinal cannabis of superior “precision craft” quality. It would also allow them to save labour, water, nutrient costs and minimize rockwool waste.
“We adapted the AEssence aeroponic growing systems (called AEtrium-4) in the Montel racking, which were designed for us according to the specs of the AEtrium tables,” says Descôteaux. “The AEtrium-4 systems are usually configured on one or two floors, and this is the first time that the system has been installed on four floors.”
About 4,000 litres of water per week per flowering room is consumed. Water is not recycled, but circulates for a week, with the same solution being used with only small adjustments as the week progresses.
“We generate almost no waste compared to other growing techniques,” says Descôteaux. “We’ve been surprised at the speed of plant growth, which requires tight management of the work schedule. It was one inch per day during the flower transition.”
AUTOMATION WORKING WELL
The automated AEssence system allows the SUMO team to monitor and execute different grow programs involving
SUMO Cannabis is the first four-layer aeroponic cannabis operation in the entire world.
SUMO started production in two flower rooms in 2022, aiming for yields of 360 grams per square foot.
nutrients, irrigation level, water pH, ambient temperature and LED lighting levels. Descôteaux says it is quite user friendly.
There have been four harvests so far with two different master growers. “So, these harvests were an opportunity for us to get to know the growing system and
environment as well as our cultivars,” Descôteaux explains.
Both the water temperature and the ambient air temperature is controlled. Descôteaux says in both cases, care must be taken to maintain the ideal temperature, depending on the needs and the stage of growth. Lighting use has been fairly standard. There was one disease issue with a cultivar arriving from another facility.
Now that they have four harvests under their belts, Descôteaux says, “Everything seems to be working very well. We just need to continue to improve our HVAC control (we drilled more holes in the ventilation tubes so far) and our efficiency in cleaning the rooms after harvest. With experience, our procedure is more detailed and precise, and we developed some tricks as well.”
THE BIG PICTURE
From the start, SUMO represented many things for Descôteaux and this hasn’t changed.
“For example, the amazing possibilities that come from the combination of dedicated and committed people,” he
New Construction & Retrofit
SOLUTIONS
explains. “You go a long way with a great team. Also, just living in a time when cannabis consumption and cultivation is being legalized all over the world is a source of joy and gratitude for me. To be one of the pioneers who worked on the historic take-off of the Canadian cannabis market is a great source of pride.”
When asked about a regulatory change he would like to see in the Canadian cannabis industry, Descôteaux points to updating the rules and standards surrounding the production and sale of cannabis. He’d like to see them come a little closer to what already exists with alcohol, which he describes as a much more dangerous drug than cannabis.
“I think there should be some tightening of the rules around the sale and marketing of alcohol, while at the same time giving the cannabis market a bit of a break in that area,” he says. “Moreover, the cumbersome rules and procedures in order to obtain permits to grow, sell and process cannabis do not allow small producers to enter and survive in the Canadian market. It would be very good to have streamlining of the permitting processes.”
The 20-strong SUMO team, including management, will soon be ready to kick off sales in Ontario, Quebec and Germany.
GOOD PLANTS by good people
Huron Ridge’s secret to 50 years.
BY ELISE JOHNSON BELOW
The Steckle family celebrates Huron Ridge Greenhouses’ 50th anniversary. From left: Kevin and Lorraine Steckle, Carol and David Steckle, Sandra Regier.
Surrounded by soybean fields on a county road between Bayfield and Zurich, Ont., sits a familyrun greenhouse that has been drawing plant lovers to the region for 50 years. Since its first run of bedding plants in 1973, Huron Ridge Greenhouses has gained a reputation for growing and selling quality plant products, attracting customers from as far as Kitchener, London and Guelph.
Huron Ridge Greenhouses is proof that success in business depends on more than location.
“We have no curbside appeal. We aren’t on the way to anywhere. Yet we’ve become a destination, with repeat customers travelling just to come to our greenhouse,” says Kevin Steckle, general manager and owner of Huron Ridge Greenhouses.
So what’s Huron Ridge’s secret? It’s all in their motto: good plants by good people.
BECOMING “GOOD PLANT PEOPLE”
Huron Ridge Greenhouses was officially established by David and Carol Steckle in 1973, when the first greenhouse was added to their existing mixed farming operation. Today, they have over 70,000 square feet of ornamental greenhouse space, including a full spring mix (petunias, primulas, geraniums, veggies and pansy pots) poinsettias and mums. Their highly successful garden centre offers a full range of
flowering annuals, perennials and houseplants (just no trees or shrubs), and they have longstanding ties in the wholesale market.
From the perspective of Kevin and Sandra Regier, children of David and Carol, who now play vital roles in the greenhouse, flowers are all they’ve ever known.
“We’ve been filling flats since we were kids, and now our kids are in the greenhouse filling flats, too,” says Kevin, whose wife, Lorraine, is also pivotal in the success of the business as retail manager and owner. “It’s a real family affair and a great environment to raise kids in. I remember my Dad walking up and down the rows, one of my kids sleeping in a backpack on his back, watering plants with the wand. You just can’t do that in an office.”
“It’s also a great environment for mental health,” adds Sandra, who handles sales and marketing. “Being surrounded by plants and watching things grow and change, it keeps you fresh and on your toes. Rarely are you doing the same thing two days in a row when you work in a greenhouse.”
Huron Ridge Greenhouses was officially established by David and Carol Steckle in 1973.
EVOLVING AND EDUCATING
Adapting to change isn’t just a nice-tohave, explains Sandra, it’s the lifeblood of the horticulture industry. And it’s something Huron Ridge has embraced.
“We’ve been innovating in retail by leveraging social media and focusing on education. We want our customers to know us as people who can help them grow plants better, and more sustainably,” says Sandra, who is responsible for Huron Ridge’s marketing.
They have seen tremendous interest in their tutorial and educational videos on YouTube, Instagram, and especially on their burgeoning TikTok account, which boasts over 7,500 followers. A video of David Steckle’s potato container gardening experiment has had over
350,000 views and counting!
Other innovative programs, like their “BYOP – Bring your own planter” program, encourage customers to reduce plastics use. Customers and municipalities can store their empty planters in the Huron Ridge greenhouse over winter and receive fresh, custom plantings the next spring, without having to buy a new container. The Weekender Basket, a popular water-saving basket sold by A.M.A. Horticulture, is proudly part of this program.
“Sustainability is top of mind for everyone these days,” says Kevin. “Inside the greenhouse, we’ve been focused on increasing our use of bio-controls and eliminating chemicals as much as possible while maintaining high quality plant production.”
LEARNING AND GROWING IN PARTNERSHIP
When Huron Ridge finds partners –especially other local businesses – who share their values, they stick with them.
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started things up at that time,” says Kevin. A.M.A. Horticulture
pandemic in early 2020, Huron Ridge welcomed A.M.A.’s Alex Frew, customer service and sales associate, to spend the day in the greenhouse, gaining first-hand experiences including how to
behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of a grower,” says Alex. “Not everyone would open their doors like that. I am thankful to the Huron Ridge team and inspired by their commitment to
Honesty, quality service, learning, and a positive company culture are just some of the values both businesses share, adds Sandra. “I guess when we think of A.M.A., we see our own motto reflected in how they do business. Only they are all about good
Horticulture never ceases to inspire a sense of wonder. It’s what keeps the Huron Ridge team motivated to continue to
“You put a seed in the soil, you nurture it, and you watch horticulture, and it’s what we try to do in life,” says Kevin.
Sandra agrees, and is inspired by the next generation’s sense
tomato, they are still so proud that they grew it themselves and they can eat it. We want to help them grow and continue to
David Steckle gives granddaughter Samantha a ride through
A blooming business
F’Laura n’ Company Greenhouse is growing in central Alberta.
BY ANDREW SNOOK
The story of F’Laura n’ Company Greenhouse literally started with the planting of seeds.
The successful floriculture greenhouse operation in Vermillion, Alta. stemmed from Laura Waterfield, owner of F’Laura n’ Company Greenhouse, finding ways to save money during a tough economic time 20 years ago.
“I started growing back in 2003. My husband and I farm, and in 2002, there was a major drought in Alberta. And so, money was really short,” Waterfield explains. “I used to help my grandma [gardening], and she used to start everything from seeds. So, I figured I’d save some money if I started some flowers from seeds instead of buying them from a greenhouse.
Almost everything she started grew, and Waterfield ended up with far more than she needed, so she headed to the local farmers’ market to sell the remaining flowers.
“A few months down the road, I ended up with some family and ladies from the community
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contacting me and asking me if I could start some other things for spring. And so, I did that for a few years,” she says.
For years Waterfield grew all of her plants in a small greenhouse that her husband, Dean Waterfield, had built over top of their well house. This continued until 2013, when her husband surprised her with a gift.
“I said to my husband, ‘I need more space, I don’t have enough room to grow all this stuff.’ And so, I was on a field trip with my son, and my husband called me and said, ‘I bought you a greenhouse,’” she recalls. “There was a local grower that was retiring, and my husband had gone to her auction sale and purchased a 26-foot by 100-foot cold frame. Initially, I thought I would use the back half for storage and grow plants in the front half, but my husband said, ‘Well, if you’re going to heat it, you may as well fill it.’ That’s where we started.”
The doors to Waterfield’s first official greenhouse opened to the public on May 1, 2014. The
Laura Waterfield, owner of F’Laura n’ Company Greenhouse, celebrates winning the AGGA Grower of the Year Award with her colleagues Jodi King, Rebecca King, and Carmen Leighton.
PHOTO: ANDREW SNOOK
greenhouse’s inventory and popularity quickly grew. In 2017, Waterfield rented additional space in an existing greenhouse in Vermillion shortly before purchasing that property.
“We tore down the old greenhouse that was there in 2017 and built another greenhouse that was 30 feet by 100 feet. It just kind of snowballed from there,” Waterfield says. “Our business just kept growing and we added another greenhouse space, 30 feet by 100 feet, in 2021. Then we purchased 8.9 acres in 2022 with a plan to relocate the greenhouses that are on our farm and expand further.”
Everything that Waterfield grows in her greenhouses is sold in the retail side of her business.
“I do my own retail sales. We grow everything ourselves – annuals and herbs, that sort of thing. We grow some by seed, and some we bring in as rooted cuttings or plugs. We finish all of our own products and then retail those products. I do bring in a few perennials – there’s only so many perennials you can grow. Then I bring in trees and shrubs and gardening supplies,” she says.
The company’s success comes from a combination of best practices that Waterfield and her staff follow.
“In 2015, we started implementing integrated pest management practices that we weren’t using pesticides. We advertised fairly heavily that our plants are pesticide
free. There’s a lot of people that appreciate that,” she says. “Also, I’ve always pushed quality over quantity with my staff. My goal is always to provide the very best products. Nothing that is inferior is allowed to leave the greenhouse. We have high quality standards.”
Everything that Waterfield grows in her greenhouses is sold in the retail side of her business. Photo: F’Laura n’ Company Greenhouse.
To market her business, Waterfield uses a combination of advertising options, but adds that sometimes getting new customers is all about timing.
“We have a website, my business’ Facebook page, we advertise on the radio and in the newspaper. And yet, every year, I have customers coming from as close as Lloydminster saying, ‘We didn’t know you were here.’ I think people just have to be looking for a greenhouse at the right time,” she says.
Waterfield says there is no more powerful a marketing tool than word of mouth from a satisfied customer.
“I think that has been our best advertising. You can hear about something on the radio, but it means 10 times more if you have a friend that says, ‘Hey, I got the most beautiful hanging baskets from F’Laura n’ Company,’” she says.
The most popular products the company produces include their variety of annuals and hanging baskets.
“The hanging baskets are what draws quite a few people in. I have a few customers that come as far as Sherwood Park, Cold Lake and the Bonnyville area that got to know about me because of people that they know in the area. And they come every year without fail and grab the hanging baskets they want and a few other things, which I think is pretty cool when you consider what the options are for them locally,” Waterfield says.
When asked what her favourite aspect of working in the industry is, Waterfield couldn’t choose just one.
“There are so many things I love about this industry. I love that I do all my own designs. It gives me a creative outlet. I love engaging with my customers. I’m also kind of a science nerd. My background when I went to like post-secondary was in animal medicine. I guess that’s why integrated pest management always intrigued me right from the beginning,” she says.
COST CHALLENGES
Waterfield says one of the biggest challenges right now is controlling costs for her customers.
“With the rising costs that we’re facing, I truly believe there’s got to be a point where people just can’t afford it anymore. When I went through my tree and shrub border, for example, I ended up having to raise my nursery prices pretty much across the board this year because my input costs have gone up so much,” she says. “I feel
Laura and husband, Dean, with sons Quinn, Tyler, and Nathan, and girlfriends Cailey and Jenna.
The most popular products the company produces include their variety of annuals and hanging baskets.
PHOTO: F’LAURA N’ COMPANY GREENHOUSE
there’s a point in today’s society where people are just not going to be able to afford those things. I mean, something has to give. You’ve got to put food on the table, pay rent, maybe that means you don’t buy another tree for the backyard. But then you’ve got the people on the flip side of it, where their way of saving money is by going to the garden centres and buying vegetables to transplant out and adding in a couple of fruit trees.”
A BRIGHT FUTURE
During the 2022 Green Industry Show & Conference in Red Deer, Alta., Waterfield was awarded the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association’s (AGGA) Grower of the Year Award.
“I was not expecting it at all. I joined the AGGA in 2015, and I’ve gotten to know so many fabulous people throughout the industry. AGGA is a fantastic support system. There are always people that are willing to help you out if you’ve got an issue with something,” she says. “There’s so many talented people out there that are passionate about what they do, and doing a very good job of growing as well, so to be chosen was a real honour.”
As far as long-term plans go, Waterfield is setting her latest greenhouse as a yearround business instead of seasonal like her current operations.
When asked if she has any tips for someone who is planning to run a greenhouse and retail business, Waterfield stresses having a solid team in place that have natural customer service skills.
“I found what takes a lot of pressure off of me is having a core group of staff
that you can trust and rely on,” she says. “It’s always been my thought process that I can teach staff to do things the way I want them done, but you can’t teach personality. You can’t teach people skills. They have it or they don’t. And they take pride in what we sell as well. They’re not just there to kill the time and walk away with a paycheque. It’s important to them that the product is going out the way we set it up.”
Lady bug release at the company’s greenhouse in Vermilion, Alta. with local Grade 5 students.
THE PERMACULTURE greenhouse
What, when, where, who, why?
BY JOHN DIETZ
Quick quiz: Give me a nine-word definition of permaculture. Now, apply that to greenhouses.
Answer 1: A form of agriculture which can be sustained indefinitely.
Answer 2: A philosophy of working with, rather than against, nature.
One day soon, Rob Avis hopes a new paradigm, permaculture, will emerge for the junction of energy and biology. He’s working on it with a team at his own greenhouse and woodlands. It’s a work in progress.
When he isn’t teaching or studying or consulting, the mechanical engineer is managing 160 acres about an hour south of Edmonton. He prefers to talk about where he’s going, rather than where he’s from, but claims a boyhood in Vancouver followed by a move to Alberta when his family decided to start a cheesecake factory.
“Actually, I’m from industrial food and from industrial energy. Now I teach about decentralized food production and decentralized energy systems,” Rob says.
Rob and his wife, Michelle, former oil and gas engineers, launched Verge Permaculture from their Calgary home in 2008. They converted the property into a living permaculture project. In 2019, they moved to the 160-acre wooded property in central Alberta (Westerose).
Verge Permaculture today is an internationally recognized, award-winning regenerative design, consulting and education centre with a team of 10 people. It offers online webinars, coaching, permaculture design certification, a YouTube channel, a property design and management program, even courses in greenhouse design and rainwater harvesting (Check out: www.vergepermaculture.ca).
Early in his engineering career, Rob says, “I became deeply troubled about energy depletion and how humanity was going to adapt to a low energy future.” That pursuit led him all to all sorts of places, and eventually to permaculture.
Today, Rob has a packed schedule of courses, workshops, and paid consulting time. Michelle’s focus is on the Verge greenhouse and garden, growing microgreens, sprouts, herbs, and veggies for the couple and their two young children.
FIRST GREENHOUSE
“As a mechanical engineer, one of my core interests is where thermal dynamics and biology come together,” Rob says. “Early in
my transition to permaculture and recognizing that I lived in a cold climate (Calgary) with 100 frost-free days, it became clear that if I wanted to grow a bunch of my own food and help other people grow a bunch of their own food, that I had to get proficient at greenhouse growing.
“I started investigating different technologies. That got me interested in passive solar greenhouses, which use a fraction of the thermal energy to keep warm. They are designed around maximizing light collection while minimizing thermal energy loss. Basically, we glaze the south side and insulate the other sides.”
They started with a 200-sq.-ft. backyard greenhouse. It was able to easily supply a growing environment for three seasons, or roughly 250 days in a year. They wanted better.
They built Version 2 at Hull Services, a non-profit organization beside a school in southwest Calgary. It runs four seasons a year.
“They have figs, grapes, tomatoes, and peppers, all the
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Verge Permaculture today is an internationally recognized, award-winning regenerative design, consulting and education centre with a team of 10 people.
conventional greenhouse crops. But then, they are also growing some Mediterranean crops as well. It’s been going at least five years, and it’s going great,” Rob says.
Version 3, another prototype, is at their farm. It covers 800 sq. ft., runs three seasons and has a fully functional geothermal heat
Verge Permaculture offers online webinars, coaching, permaculture design certification, a YouTube channel, a property design and management program, and more.
storage system.
“It collects thermal energy all summer and fall and stores the energy underground. That energy is released in winter to keep the greenhouse from going below freezing. This could easily be scaled to any kind of commercial size. East and west, you can make it as big as you’d like,” Rob explains. “This is primarily for conventional greenhouse crops, like tomatoes, cucumbers, some lettuce, some kale. The primary
Version 3, another prototype, is at their farm. It covers 800 sq. ft., runs three seasons and has a fully functional geothermal heat storage system.
goal for this one is just food production for our family, but also demonstration for our greenhouse business.”
Version 4 began construction in 2021 in Kamloops, B.C. It’s about the same size as Version 3 but far more complex. It is expected to go into operation in 2023.
The experimental design integrates three root cellars and a commercial kitchen with the greenhouse. Each root cellar will operate at a different temperature, using earth
tube technology. Earth tubes are a passive technology, like a ventilation duct, that enable transfer of ground-source energy to heat, or cool, incoming air.
“From an energy perspective, it’s really important that we figure out how to keep our food cold and preserved for long periods of time without having to run high-energy intensity refrigeration systems,” Rob says.
In winter, fresh air that that may enter at -20C will be pre-warmed by the earth
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before it blows into the root cellars. Fresh vegetables in the cellar, like potatoes or carrots, need a steady supply of fresh air. Air through the earth tubes ensures that the storage stays cool while providing enough oxygen for humans to be safe.
“We want fresh air moving through that system, but we want the air to be tempered to the correct temperature, so that the food remains viable for a long period of time,” Rob says. “The waste air from the root cellars will blow into the greenhouse, providing a low-level heat as well as any decomposition gases to feed the greenhouse plants. In principle, the root cellar and greenhouse will work in symbiosis.”
In summer, of course, the system reverses. Hot summer air can be pushed through the earth tubes and cooled by the earth, becoming a healthier temperature when it enters the greenhouse.
Multiple other greenhouses have been built already using the prototypes developed by Rob and Michelle, and more are in discussion in the range of 1,000 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft. “We’re moving toward Version 5 now, and we’re starting to explore pre-fabrication,” Rob adds.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
“From a global perspective, the refrigeration issue is going to exceed heating energy globally within the next five years,” Rob predicted. “We’re collecting all the data on these greenhouses right now just to confirm that our thermodynamic models are correct. The goal is to scale these up to commercial size, multi-acre greenhouses.”
Modern greenhouses are “energy hogs” compared to the permaculture-type greenhouses that Rob is developing.
“We can undercut the thermal energy consumption of conventional greenhouses by between 50 and 90 per cent,” he says.
On the thermal energy component, he is designing for 2030 and beyond, when heating costs with coal, natural gas or electricity will be far more, and when businesses will be desperate for ways to offset the carbon footprint.
“In places like Kamloops, where our $500,000 Version 4 greenhouse prototype is right now, that greenhouse will never need external energy for heat. That’s pretty substantial. We want to eliminate the majority of thermal energy, natural gas, coal, essentially, by moving the extra summer
supply of thermal energy into a supply for the winter months,” he says. “Here’s the challenge that every business owner is facing if you build a greenhouse today: Canada is moving towards net neutral standards. If you build a building today that doesn’t meet the requirements of 2030, that you can’t afford to heat in 10 years, what are you going to do with it? Before building, businesses have to look at the life of the project and do a risk assessment about where energy and carbon prices are going in the next decade or two.”
UNDERSTANDING tomato plant signals and making decisions for better productivity
BY DR. MOHYUDDIN MIRZA
Understanding plant signals is essential to manage crops for higher production. These are visual signals which growers can observe and interpret as to what the plant is trying to tell us if they are happy, balanced, taking up nutrients properly and giving us production consistently. For the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are being developed and our abilities to learn what plants are trying to tell are increasing, and this is in real time. In my experience, understanding those signals is important in quick decision making before all the analytical results come in.
Tomato, indeterminate varieties
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grown in protected cultivation (greenhouse, glasshouse), develop three set of leaves and one cluster per week. Internode length may vary based on temperature differences between day and night and 24 hours averages.
Thus “reading” what leaves’ and flowers’ shapes, sizes, lengths and strength are is important for making decisions. A good read can guide the growers to determine the energy balance of the plant and steer plant in the right direction to achieve higher yields, and thus, better sustainability and profitability. In my opinion, with input costs going high, we must increase yields with the same inputs.
Part 1: Plant head.
When a plant head is too thin, fruit load is so high that the plant cannot supply enough food to the top shoots.
AERIAL ROOTS COMING OUT OF THE STEM
This happens generally near the plant head. The plant is signalling that the relative humidity is very high in the canopy and there is likely not enough air movement. Plants do give a warning before roots come out as small bumps. This may be localized in an area of the greenhouse where air flow is restricted. If condensation occurs on leaves, flowers and fruits due to dew formation, then grey mould can develop as well. Corrective actions include removing a few leaves, improving air circulation and better humidity management.
PLANT HEAD
Thick: Too vegetative. It means the plant’s growth balance is towards producing too many leaves and less fruit. Sizing up of the fruit may also be affected. What to do?
• Increase day temperature 1 to 20C, especially during high light periods. This means adjusting the vent setting to a higher temperature.
• Increase the spread between day/night setting up to 1 to 50C. Remember, the greater the difference between the day and night temperature, the stronger the signal to the plant to become generative.
Thin: Too generative. Fruit load is so high that plant cannot supply enough food to the top shoots. Plant’s priority is to fill in the fruit as compared to producing more leaves. What to do?
• Bring day/night temperatures closer together.
• Target a head 10- to 12-mm in diameter. One inch is 25.4 mm. Measure this thickness approximately 15 cm (6 in.) from head tip or at the first fully expanded leaf before the flowering truss.
Head appears to be tight, fist-shaped and leaves are twisting. Leaves do not tend to unfold until late in the day. It is an indication of an imbalance between the vegetative and generative growth. It is more common on young crops where plants have set first two to three clusters. What to do?
• Increase the 24-hour average temperature by increasing the temperature between midnight and sunrise. Raise this temperature between 1 and 20C.
• Target a slightly higher temperature in afternoon (+1 to 20C). Curl should be out between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Purple seedlings.
Purple Heads
Purple tops are commonly seen in young seedlings and early crops. It is an indication of cooler night temperatures. Tomato plants are a very good indicator of cooler temperatures. When they are exposed to a temperature below 16C they will show a purple colour due to a deficiency of phosphorus which is not taken up. The plant will also become strongly vegetative resulting in thicker stems, shorter internodes and big flowers. Catfacing will start appearing on the fruit. Slight purpling is acceptable. What to do?
• If it is happening with the seedlings as shown in the picture, then increase day and night temperatures. Many a times growers try to hold the seedlings before planting because the greenhouse is not ready and also want to keep the plants compact. I recall a grower thought that is a disease and wanted to discard the entire crop. Once it was explained and both day and night temperatures were improved, plants recovered fully.
• If it is happening in rows along the perimeter of the greenhouse, then try to improve heat distribution and air circulation towards the side walls.
Grey Heads
This happens when plants are allowed to grow vertically very high, that is over 8 ft. Generally, it is due to high tissue temperatures combined with higher levels of carbon dioxide. It is frequently observed in April and early May when venting is limited. What to do?
• Lower your plants early.
• Reduce carbon dioxide levels to around 800 ppm.
• Introduce ammonium nitrogen around 20 ppm.
Chlorotic Heads
Young leaves show an interveinal chlorosis. Veins are distinctly green and the area in between is yellow (which may turn white). There are several reasons for this chlorosis: waterlogged conditions in the root zone have resulted in a deficiency of oxygen; uptake of iron and manganese is reduced under these conditions; pH over 6.8 in soilless media may also cause head chlorosis due to deficiencies of iron and/or manganese. Very heavy fruit load is also related with this condition because of transfer of food to the root’s decreases. In summer, we have seen this problem due to warm root temperatures that are over 25C. What to do?
• Improve air in the root zone by adjusting watering practices. Avoid water-logged conditions.
• Check for sodium accumulation which can destroy the texture of the growing medium and encourage root rot.
• Make sure pH in the growing medium is between 5.8 and 6.2 by adjusting the pH of the feed solution.
• Temporarily increase iron and manganese in the feed solution by 10%.
Future issues will focus on flower trusses and flowers, leaves and fruit.
Tight head.
Don’t
let
this invasive species take over your greenhouse
BY ALICE SINIA
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has tasked Canadians with helping protect the country’s vineyards and fruit orchards from the spotted lanternfly (SLF). These invasive insects are plant sap-sucking, destructive to plants they feed on and have the potential to cause millions of dollars in damage. While none have been found alive in the country yet, there have been hundreds of adults found near the U.S.-Canadian border.
The SLF is native to Asia and was introduced to the U.S. in 2014 when the insects were detected in eastern Pennsylvania. They have since spread across many other states and are known to feed on over
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70 plant species.
This is concerning for the agriculture industry, especially viniculture and greenhouse workers and managers, whose main priorities involve caring for and growing plants and tending to the ones already thriving in the environment. They also need to regulate the internal conditions within greenhouses to ensure the plants have the best environment conducive for growing.
HOW TO SPOT AN SLF
Spotted lanternfly adults are distinctive in appearance, easily recognized; are approximately
While no potted lanternfly have been found alive in the country yet, there have been hundreds of adults found near the U.S.-Canadian border.
CFIA on lookout for spotted lanternfly.
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1-inch (25 mm) long and 1/2-inch (12mm) wide at rest. The front wings are light brownish with distinctive black dots at the front and black streaks towards the tip. The underwing is bright red which can be seen through the forewings or when fully spread. Early immature stages are black with white dots while older stages have red spots intermingled with patches of black and white spots. The egg masses are easy to spot, too, are grayish with waxy covering and about 25mm wide. SLF are easy to see during the day since they cluster near the base of plants they feed on. This planthopper feeds on important agricultural and landscape plants including nursery plants, fruit trees and grape vines, and it uses its mouthparts to puncture into and feed on trees and plants. Although its preferred host is the tree of heaven, it will feed on other plants including multiflora rose, cultivated roses, Virginia creeper and the veins of leaves on trees such as maples, cherry, black walnut, willow and birch.
SIGNS OF AN INFESTATION
From late Spring to early Fall, watch for a sudden increased influx of bees and/or wasps due to honeydew attraction as this may be an indication that SLF’s are infesting the plants or crops. Other signs include:
• Finding egg masses on plants and other surfaces.
• Wounded and bleeding trees i.e. visible sap flowing from trees due to SLF feeding.
• Plants that appear to be distressed by the curling of leaves or by decreased production of fruit.
• Accumulation of honeydew, a sugary excrement produced by spotted lanternflies as they feed, that can grow sooty mold
GREENHOUSE PROPERTY FOR SALE BY TENDER WEST PERTH
Property: Part Park Lot 59, Plan 341 Mitchell, Municipality of West Perth
Municipal Address: 160 Huron Road, Mitchell, ON
This successful, long-standing business operated by Scott’s Greenhouses Inc. is located on 5.42 acres This well-maintained property contains a main 62’x120’ greenhouse, 4 additional greenhouses and a 3 bedroom house with a granny suite. The property has its own well and private septic system.
Located right on Highway 8, the greenhouses are setup to grow annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs and features a retail space for local produce and baked goods.
2021 and 2022 Financial Statements are available for those willing to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
Tenders will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. on August 17, 2023. Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.
For tender forms contact:
Monteith Ritsma Phillips Professional Corporation
Attention: Andrew Phillips
6 Wellington Street, P. O. Box 846
Stratford, ON N5A 6W3
Phone: 519-271-6770 ext. 2226
154B Ontario Road, P. O. Box 608
Mitchell, ON N0K 1N0
Phone: 519-348-8112
Email: phillips@stratfordlawyers.com
and attract pests such as ants.
• Congregation or swarming of adults at base of host tree or infested trees.
HOW TO PREVENT AN INFESTATION IN YOUR GREENHOUSE
Spotted lanternflies feed on the sap of trees and a handful of other plants. During the feeding process they can excrete a substance called honeydew. This substance can start to cover greenhouse surfaces and can start growing black sooty mold. Spotted lanternflies can also become a nuisance to greenhouses because of the sheer number that can appear and infest the environment. The biggest threat these pests pose is to the agricultural industry where they have been shown to cause extensive problems to grape growers. Here are some tips on how you can stop a SLF takeover:
• Eliminate eggs: Eliminating spotted lanternfly eggs is one of the most effective ways to control this pest. Late Fall is a good time to look for and remove egg masses on trees, tree trunks, branches, rocks, yard furniture, exterior wall surfaces, sheds and objects/equipment/machinery stored outside. Whenever egg masses are seen on your trees and/or plants, scrape off the egg mass into a bag or container filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. Egg masses that are scraped to the ground without being collected and destroyed may still hatch, so it is important to be certain they have been destroyed.
• Limit host trees: Limit the spread of tree of heaven plants. This Chinese greenery is a common weed tree and contains chemicals that make the SLF bad-tasting and inedible, giving them natural protection from predators. Young seedlings may be pulled or dug up; however, be sure to remove all roots and plant fragments. Also, tree injection with an approved herbicide is effective when applied during the summer months.
• Gain control before adulthood: Controlling the SLF while they’re nymphs is most effective if done from late April through early November. You can do this by tree banding using a sticky board or paper wrapped around the trunk of trees or plants to capture the insects as they climb on the plants or trees. Remove, dispose and replace the stick bands regularly to ensure effectiveness. Also, using special treatments and sprays that are specifically labeled for SLF control will help.
• Inspect plants: Thoroughly look over trees and plants for signs of this pest, particularly at dusk and at night when these insects tend to gather in large groups on tree trunks or stems of plants. If you need to transport items into the greenhouse from another location, be sure to inspect the plants entering the area. It’s also important to scan the cars and vehicles transporting plants, including the wheels, wells and underside where egg masses can be laid hidden from view.
These tips will help you in taking the first steps in identifying and combatting spotted lanternflies. However, the best defense against this pest in your greenhouse, or any facility, is to call a pest expert who can help you identify the culprits and offer the best resolution for treatment.
Alice Sinia is a quality assurance manager for regulatory/lab services for Orkin Canada.
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The search is underway for Greenhouse Canada’s Top 4 Under 40. Nominees must work in the greenhouse, horticulture or related equipment and technology sectors and be 39 years of age or under by Dec 31, 2023
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Know someone who brings innovative thinking, hard work and dedication to their craft? Tell us! Nominate a supervisor, staff member or fellow grower to recognize their impact on the farm and on the Canadian greenhouse sector.
RESEARCH UNCOVERS a new approach to cooling greenhouse irrigation water
Under Sun Acres has identified that water from a greenhouse’s stormwater management pond can be used to bring irrigation water to the ideal temperature the crops need
BY LILIAN SCHAER
Aresearch project at a southwestern Ontario greenhouse has found a sustainable method to cool the water that growers use to irrigate their greenhouse vegetable crops – improving both plant health and fruit quality in the process.
Using funding from the Greenhouse Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative (GCII), Under Sun Acres Inc. has identified that water from a greenhouse’s stormwater management pond can be used to bring irrigation water to the ideal temperature the crops need, as opposed to using an electric or gas-powered cooling unit.
Irrigation water used for greenhouse crops is a combination of fresh water from natural sources such as wells and ponds, municipal sources, leach water that is disinfected and recirculated from within the greenhouse environment, and fertilizer. The ideal temperature for irrigation water is approximately 20-22°C throughout the growing season.
“Growers mix fresh water from the municipality with treated leach water to use for irrigation, but when it is 32°C in the greenhouse in the summer, the treated leach water is the same temperature,” explains Lucas Semple of Under Sun Acres Inc. “As you lower the temperature of the irrigation water, it increases the health of the plant by reducing plant stress.”
On top of the heat exchanger equipment, Semple installed a series of temperature sensors into the pond to monitor water temperature at different spots and help track where to take the water from during the growing season for the best results. The key is not being too aggressive in extracting cool water from the bottom of the pond early in the season so the pond water will still be cool enough to meet their temperature requirements during the hottest days of summer.
“This was a new process, and we don’t know of anyone else using pond water in this way,” he says. “Simply put, irrigation water temperatures are too high in the summer, and we’ve been able to prove that it does work to use pond water to cool fresh and treated leach water for greenhouse irrigation.”
A lot of greenhouses, including Under Sun Acres, already use water from their stormwater management ponds to cool the fresh water they get from municipal sources, but they have no control over the temperature of the treated leach water. Its temperature would stay high no matter how much the municipal water was cooled unless they use cooling units.
“We began pulling water from our pond and using a heat exchanger to cool the treated leach water, which lets us cool and control it,” Semple says. “The unknown for us was the pond – how will the pond water react and is the pond cool enough throughout the summer, for example?”
The size and depth and amount of rainfall have a large influence on cooling capacity of the pond. Semple found, for example, that the pond’s average temperature can increase by up to 1°C after big rainfalls. They’re now looking to cover the pond to reduce the impact of rainfall and solar radiation on its water temperature.
When greenhouse operators are planning to build a new stormwater retention pond, which is required for all site plan approvals, Semple encourages them to consider how else the pond can be used. This may require some additional design work related to volume and depth at the onset but can provide added future benefits.
Semple worked with researchers from the University of Windsor on the project, which he feels is one of the biggest benefits from accessing GCII funding.
“Helping us make that industry-academic partnership for a plant health project like this was a really big outcome as a result of GCII,” he says.
This project was supported through the GCII, a cost-share program funded by the Ontario government and delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council, on behalf of OMAFRA.
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You can’t get there from here
There’s an increasing amount of chatter these days about how artificial intelligence (A.I.), automation, and mechanization is changing the way we make our greenhouses operate. And not without good reason: in a recent webinar poll, when asked the question, “What’s the biggest challenge facing our [food] workforce?”, of the three options provided, 41.5% replied “Lack of workers, period!”1 (Sample size not provided.) A close second to this (at 36.6%), was the response “Engaging young people in the industry.” Notwithstanding the fact that this webinar was primarily aimed at the food workforce, and that by their nature, webinar polls offer very limited response options, does the idea that nearly 80% of those involved in the greenhouse industry think that attracting workers, in particular young workers, is a major issue sound reasonable to your business? Why not do a quick ‘poll’ of all owners and employees at your company for a reality check? If nothing else, this would message everyone that you value their opinion (and them).
In a follow-up poll, attendees were provided the statement, “Technology is sweeping through agriculture,” and asked to respond to the opinion “In general, the promise of agritech is…” Two thirds (66.1%) of respondents said that agritech is “Not hyped enough – agriculture will be transformed far
by their employees. Greenhouse ornamentals suppliers like Van Belle’s, Rainbow Greenhouses, and Qualitree here in B.C. are certainly stepping up their game in the way they invest in their people. Companies are, after all, started by people, not machines, and we are hard-wired to relate to other people. The debate continues about whether robots can be (or already are?) sentient beings. Rue the day when we see fresh cut chrysanths or potted Easter lilies, going out with the name of the greenhouse ‘founding robot’ stamped on the side of the box! ‘I Ro-Bot Greenhouses Inc.’. Hmm...
There will always be champions for more automation and technology. Equally, there will always be those who we recognize as leaders, usually because of the impact they had on others’ lives. They made an impact because of how they made others feel valued. As owners, managers, growers or employees, there is probably a balance that we need to find here somewhere. Moving ahead with an eye to utilizing the developing technology that is available, while also investing in our current and future human workforce is surely the smart thing to do. So, to the application.
“There will always be champions for more automation...”
more than we realize.”1
For those who like things ‘old school’, these views are perhaps compelling reasons to consider the changes that are coming down the pipeline. There are interesting things happening as operations move to be less dependent on a difficult-to-find workforce. For example, the pilot project at Great Lakes Greenhouses in conjunction with Ken Tran’s Koidra company resulted in a 28.5% yield increase in eggplant and a 19.6% increase in cucumber yield compared to grower-controlled plots (2022 season).2 While the autonomous ‘autopilot’ didn’t manage all inputs (e.g. irrigation), and the extra costs associated are not provided, these are impressive starting points for further investigation.
But at the same time, there are also some great things happening as companies look to do better
As Ken Tran (Koidra) says, “The most effective A.I. solution will combine the best of human intelligence with the best of A.I. to make decisions.”2 Where is your company investing its hard-earned money when it comes to the workforce? Where are the gaps – technology uptake or personnel development? Or perhaps one aspect is being over-emphasized in relation to another. Tackling these issues well requires multi-tasking skills and leadership. If you want to have your bedding plants or cut flowers continue going out with your name on the box, you have to start somewhere. Maybe a review of where you’re at is a good place to start. After all, you don’t want to be told, “you can’t get there from here,” as a work colleague once told me when giving me driving directions. (Fortunately, she was wrong.)
1. Cityage/Emili “Foods Future Workforce” webinar, March 8, 2023.
2. ‘GrowON’ (Grow Ontario) webinar. Hosted by OMAFRA March 20, 2023.
