3. Nutrients Required For Plant
Growth
Macronutrients Micronutrients
C Carbon*
O Oxygen*
H Hydrogen
N Nitrogen
K Potassium**
Ca Calcium**
Mg Magnesium
P Phosphorus
S Sulphur
Cl Chlorine
Fe Iron**
Mn Manganese
B Boron
Zn Zinc
Cu Copper
Mo Molybdenum
*Supplied by CO2 and H2O **Must be supplemented
4. Production Method
Staggered Batch
Allow for weekly harvest
◦ Develops market
Maintains uniform
nutrient uptake
Easier management
Can deplete nutrients
Large greenhouse
needed yet there are
periods when it is not in
use.
5. Seedling Production
Shade house
Greenhouse benches
Seeding flats with plant plug cells in
them
E-Z vacuum seeder
Watering and fertilizer injector system
Media mixing for filling seeding flats
Vermiculite/coir mix NOT SOIL.
Keep greenhouse washed and clean
6. Seedling Production
Greenhouse or shade house
◦ Protected area
Keep it clean
◦ Metal tables
◦ Floor with drain
◦ Weed barrier
Dirt and dead plant material harbor
insects and disease
7. Planting Media
Soilless potting mix
Coir (coconut fiber) + Vermiculite
◦ 60% + 40% of each mixed, respectively
◦ Free from pythium spores
◦ Requires fertilizer supplementation
◦ Labor required to prepare mix
8. Planting Media
Peat potting mix (i.e.
Promis BX)
◦ Inexpensive
◦ Readily available
◦ Uniform quality
◦ Contains micronutrients
for seedling growth
◦ Can have pythium
spores
Jiffy peat pellets
◦ Expensive
◦ Easy to use
◦ Can have pythium
spores
Oasis root cubes
◦ Expensive
◦ Requires additional
nutrients
◦ Dries out quickly in
greenhouse
Rockwool
◦ Expensive
9. Seedling Production
Fill flat with mix
Seed at required depth for plant
variety
◦ Automatic seeder for small and surface
planted seeds
Cover flat until seeds germinate
◦ Many seeds germinate better in the dark
◦ Keeps mice from stealing seeds
◦ Keeping covered too long causes seeds
to elongate and have weak stems (go
‘leggy’)
