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Thanks for Hot Water Treatment timetable. Great help! On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 7:28 AM, Marie Louka <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hot water seed treatment table - good link to pdf file (I got an error > with the other link) > > > http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/Hot-Water%20Seed%20Trt%20Protocols.pdf > > > On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 6:36 AM, Vern Grubinger <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > >> Vermont Vegetable and Berry News - February 19, 2014 >> compiled by Vern Grubinger, University of Vermont Extension >> (802) 257-7967 ext. 303, [log in to unmask] >> www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry >> >> REPORTS FROM THE FIELD >> >> (Shelburne/S. Burlington) This is definitely the coldest winter I have >> overwintered full grown kale. It is doing fine, just haven't gotten much >> regrowth, since November. Some, but not much. It also has been harder to >> water and I am trying to determine just how much water is needed to help >> the plants recover after the deep freezes. I don't think they need that >> much, but as I have prepped beds, I see how dry the soil has gotten with >> how cold it's been. The increase in light is taking effect on the spinach >> in a positive way, and the kale will follow shortly I hope! Much attention >> to snow removal with a foot of new snow and more in the forecast. >> >> (Dummerston) Overwintered spinach in the high tunnel is starting to grow >> a bit and tastes great. It looks like there's a bit of Cladosporium >> starting to show up though, so I'm harvesting as much spinach as I can >> before that spreads. There also seem to be quite a few small rodent burrows >> in the high tunnel and little or no rodent-like damage to the crops. I'm >> hoping some carnivorous little critters have moved in and are feasting on >> the cutworms that were a big problem this fall and winter. Overall, I'm >> enjoying my first winter of growing greens in the high tunnel. I still have >> a lot to learn about timing the plantings and pacing the harvest for an >> even distribution to CSA members throughout the winter. But I look forward >> to trying it all again next year. >> >> (Charlotte) We are pruning and getting ready for a new season. We are >> hoping to incorporate new things to the farm this year to see what works >> there. We are taking out brush to open up our fields. >> >> (Argyle NY) It's been great having a bunch of sunny days, and the >> unheated high tunnel greens are finally showing some sign of regrowth, and >> the solar dials are spinning nicely. The larger, more mature Salanova >> lettuce, planted in August, fared the worst with the constant below zero >> temps and many died. They were on an outside bed and it was also difficult >> to water with the extreme cold; first time we've experienced frozen ground >> in winter! Many winter leeks (Tadorna) are still in the field under row >> cover (and now 2 feet of snow!) and we need a few warm days to get some out >> as the root cellar supply is low. Placing seed orders, seeding weekly in >> the greenhouse, looking for interns, planning some more washing station >> modifications, enjoying the slower winter days, working on crop plans for >> where we dream rotations will be, and looking forward to warmer days! >> >> (Hampton NY) The greenhouses are cleaned and the wood stoves are running >> with the propane back up. Furnace guy coming this week to clean furnaces in >> all houses. Herbs and perennials are up and happy and waiting for warmer >> weather later in the week to be moved into the greenhouse for >> transplanting. Neighbor is coming with large bucket loader to remove snow >> from between greenhouses and push back the huge piles that have accumulated >> with the last dumping. And so the madness begins. >> >> (Little Compton RI) Now that we are all inside and working in our >> greenhouses, a word to those of you using biological agents like >> RootShield. First, be sure it is this year's stuff! Order from Griffin or >> someone who will have it drop shipped from BioWorks. Second, it only lasts >> six months so divide it up into freezer bags when it first arrives and >> freeze what you will want for later. You can keep it over a year plus, if >> you freeze it. Third, wear a good mask and disposable gloves when handling >> this stuff. Just because it is OMRI approved doesn't mean it isn't >> dangerous to your health. I had some RootShield get blown in my face and >> aspirated a good slug of it and I didn't feel right for a few days. There >> is a similar level of danger if you get it on your hands. It is very useful >> powerful stuff but use it safely. If you have ever doubted how quickly your >> skin will absorb chemicals, try putting some fresh crushed garlic in the >> bottom of your shoe. In two hours you will have a taste of garlic in your >> mouth! Buy a good chemical mask, not the paper disposables. Our monthly >> schedule for biological greenhouse treatment is primarily: Actinovate the >> first week, RootShield the second week, Oxidate the third week and then >> just water or a little fish fertilizer to round out the month. I don't like >> to get things too sweet and green this early as it seems to invite aphids. >> Markets are good but greenhouses running out of steam. They are just picked >> over and still feeling the effects of too many cloudy days. Watering the >> beds is a big problem this year, too cold to get water where I need it. >> Stored Cabbage is a homerun this year. It definitely pays to wrap each one >> in news print paper. Watermelon radishes suffering from lack of humidity >> controls. Pouring 5 gals of water on the potato storage room floor has kept >> our potatoes primed up. >> >> MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR GREENHOUSE FURNACES >> Adapted from a fact sheet by John Bartok, many excellent articles are on >> the UMass Extension Floriculture web site: >> http://extension.umass.edu/floriculture/fact-sheets/ >> greenhouse-management-engineering >> >> Service all heating units. The efficiency of most greenhouse heating >> systems can be improved by at least 5%; have a competent service person >> clean and adjust all furnaces. For oil furnaces: Change the fuel filter, it >> is surprising how much sludge and dirt collects in the fuel. Replace the >> nozzle. Wear increases the nozzle orifice opening increasing fuel usage. >> Select a nozzle with the correct spray angle to fit the firebox. Follow the >> manufacturers' recommendations. Replace and adjust electrodes. Inspect >> safety controls including cad cell sensor, transformer, limit switch and >> fan control. On propane units check gas regulators for proper pressure >> settings and to be certain the regulator and gas port vents are not >> plugged. Tank relief valves should be replaced every 5 to 10 years. >> >> Heat exchangers. Soot should be removed from heat exchanger surfaces. A >> 1/8-inch soot deposit can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10%. >> Brush and vacuum surfaces or clean them with special cleaning compounds. >> Exterior heat exchange surfaces, such as tubes, fins and radiators also >> collect considerable dust and dirt in a greenhouse atmosphere. Brush and >> vacuum surfaces to increase heat output. Clean blowers for efficient air >> movement. >> >> Combustion Efficiency. Efficiency testing of a furnace or boiler is a 10 >> minute procedure that can indicate when problems begin to occur. It is the >> key to saving money on the heating bill. Increasing efficiency one or two >> percent can significantly reduce fuel consumption over the year. For >> example, a 2% increase in efficiency of a million Btu/hr burner operating >> 3300 hours from September to May will save about 650 gallons of fuel oil. >> >> Combustion Air. The combustion process combines the carbon in the fuel >> with the oxygen in the air. The lack of adequate oxygen results in >> incomplete combustion and carbon buildup. A 400,000 Btu/hr furnace will >> require about 100 cu ft. of air/minute to operate efficiently. In tight >> poly and glass greenhouses, a makeup air supply of 1 square inch of intake >> area/2000 Btu/hr burner input should be available from a pipe or louver >> through the endwall unless a separated-combustion heater is installed. >> These are installed with a direct connection to outside air. >> >> Flue pipe connections. These should be tight and the chimney should >> extend at least 2 ft. above the ridge of the greenhouse. The top of the >> chimney should be at least 8' above the combustion chamber and have a cap >> to prevent backdrafts and possible air pollution injury to plants. >> >> Controls. Accurate controls are important to achieve high efficiency. The >> payback of replacing an old mechanical thermostat with a new electronic >> thermostats having a +/- 1 degree F differential is very short. The sensor >> should be shielded and aspirated with a small fan to quickly sense changes >> in the environment. >> >> Heat Distribution. Air circulation will reduce temperature stratification >> in the greenhouse. Installing horizontal air flow (HAF) fans that move the >> air at 50 to 100 feet/min can limit temperature differences to no more than >> 2 degrees at any point in the growing area. Use 1/10th horsepower >> circulating fans located 40' to 50' apart to create a circular flow pattern. >> >> WRITING A PRACTICAL PRODUCE SAFETY PLAN WORKSHOPS: FEB 24 - MAR 12 >> >> This one day workshop will be repeated at 5 locations. You will leave >> with a concise plan (for you, your customers, and your employees) and many >> resources. To register: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/ >> uvm-center-for-sustainable-agriculture-1519520706 >> - Morrisville: Monday, February 24: 9am-3 pm at the Stone Grill. Farmer >> presenter: Jim Ryan, Bear Swamp Farm. >> - Burlington: Wednesday, February 26: 9am-3pm pm at Burlington >> Co-Housing. Farmer presenter: Becky Madden, Intervale Community Farm >> - Newport: Friday, February 28, 9am-3pm at the Gateway Center. Farmer >> presenter: Gerard Croizet, Berry Creek Farm >> - Rutland (Co-Sponsored by RAFFL): Tuesday, March 11: 9am-3 pm at the >> Rutland Opera House. Farmer presenter: Carol Tashie, Radical Roots Farm >> - Bennington: (Co-sponsored by Bennington College) Wednesday, March 12: >> 9am-3pm at Bennington College CAPA Center. Farmer presenter: Karen Trubitt, >> True Love Farm >> >> Though this workshop lays the foundation for a Good Agricultural >> Practices (GAPs) certification plan, it is designed for small, diversified >> farmers who do not intend to become GAP certified in the near future. >> Please contact Ginger Nickerson at [log in to unmask] if you are seeking >> assistance in creating a food safety plan for a GAPs Certification Audit. >> >> HOT WATER SEED TREATMENT WORKSHOPS - MARCH 3 AND 5 >> >> Hot water seed treatment is an excellent tool to help control harmful >> diseases inside and on the seed coats of vegetable seeds. On March 5th Meg >> McGrath, Plant Pathologist from Cornell, is coming to the UVM Horticultural >> Research Center in South Burlington, on Green Mountain Drive, to deliver a >> seed treatment workshop from 9am-1pm. We will have 2 sets of hot water >> baths, thermometers and all the materials you will need to treat your own >> seeds. Check the list of appropriate seeds here, click on 'Table 1' >> http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles)/ >> HotWaterSeedTreatment.html#Table1.) Bring your seeds and something to >> weight them down (bolts, etc.) so they sink in the baths. For more info on >> hot water seed treatment go to: http://vegetablemdonline. >> ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/HotWaterSeedTreatment.html >> >> To register please rsvp to Meg McGrath ([log in to unmask]) and >> [log in to unmask] For growers in the southern part of the state, >> Meg McGrath and Ruth Hazzard at UMass are holding another seed treatment >> workshop on March 3 at the UMass Research Farm in S. Deerfield, MA. For >> more info and to preregister, look under 'upcoming events' at: >> http://extension.umass.edu/vegetable/sites/vegetable/ >> files/newsletters/Feb%206%202014%20Vegetable%20Notes.pdf >> >> PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TRAINING AND INITIAL EXAM - APRIL 8 >> >> This program will take place at Vermont Technical College, Randolph >> Center, VT on April 8 from 9am-4pm. Pre-register by March 28; $20 >> registration fee. The training will review Vermont Pesticide regulations >> and the information covered in the Pesticide Applicator Training Manual >> that is necessary to understand and to pass the VT pesticide certification >> license exam. The Core exam will be given after this training in the >> afternoon from 2-4pm. No 'category' exams will be given but one can be >> scheduled for a later date. For more information, please visit: >> http://pss.uvm.edu/pesp/cert.html or contact Sarah Kingsley-Richards, >> [log in to unmask], (802)656-0475. >> >> >