WHICH CROPS SHOULD I PLANT UNDER GREEN HOUSES?


The selection of the kind of crops to grow under green
houses is an important decision & should be made carefully.

Field trials & experiance have shown that many crops can be
successfully cultivated under green hous'e. They include:
zucchini squash, chili peppers, cucumbers, cherry & fresh
tomatoes, melons, green beans, Chinese long beans, singua,
moqua & bitter melons. Bell peppers & eggplants are difficult to
grow under tunnels & should be grown by experienced farmers
only.


WHAT FERTILISERS SHOULD DO I USE?

Vegetables grown under green houses must be fertilised with
precision to avoid nutrient deficiencies during the growing
season.

Even though you may plan to apply liquid fertilisersthrough the
drip, it is advisable to consider all options available to maximise
soil fertility prior to planting the crop. Manures & cover crops
should be considered whenever possible. Manures in sandy
soils are particularly attractive since they add a host of nutrients
& micronutrients to the soil. However, if manure is used, care
should be taken to insure that it is free of viable weed seeds &
to leach the salts from the root zone. If this is not properly done,
the crop may be affected by the high salt content of manures, especially from poultry.

Whether you use drip or another irrigation method, highest crop
yield's are obtained when one third of the nitrogen & all the
phosphorous & potassiam the crop will need during the season
are incorporated at planting time. Additional nitrogen should be
applied as needed, as the crop develops & matures.


DOES WEED CONTROL BEGIN BEFORE PLANTING?


Yes! Follow these methods:
Pre-irrigation. The area where the tunnels will be constructed
can be irrigated & the germinated weed destryed with shallow
cultivation. Deep cultivation brings up weed seeds from a
greater depth. If time allows, an area can be irrigated 2-3 times
to germinate weed seeds.

Solarisation. Covering moist soil with clear plastic has been
demonstrated to be effective in killing not only weed seeds but
insect & disease organisms as well. The soil must be wetted or
irrigated before the plastic is installed. The soil must remain
covered for 6-8 weeks when the air temperature above 80°F.
Water can be applied under the plastic cover through low volume emitter drip lines. To obtain good control, the plastic must be in
close contact with the soil: air pockets will reduce it's
effectiveness.