Greenhouse Tomato
by Craig S. Hollingsworth, Linda Massad, John C. Howell and Robert L. Wick
Media Nutrient Management and Cultural Practices
Cultural practices may be of value in management of nutrients,
weeds, diseases or insects.
- Last season's crop residue is disposed of in a manner to prevent
it from providing
disease inoculum to this year's crop. 5 pts - Growing medium used for last year's crop is discarded or steam sterilized. 5 pts
- All plants are removed from the greenhouse at least one month before
introducing
the crop. 5 pts - Minimum and maximum temperatures are recorded throughout the crop cycle. 5 pts
- Greenhouses are managed in a sanitary manner. All surfaces and tools are sanitized with an appropriate disinfectant at the beginning of the season. 5 pts
- The irrigation system is disinfected. 5 pts
- Screening is installed over air-intake louvers and vents to prevent
insect entry.
Note: screening decreases airflow. Before screening is added, the air-intake system design should be re-evaluated. 5 pts - Humidity level is maintained low enough to prevent condensation on
greenhouse parts and plant surfaces. 10 pts - Bag culture: Fertilizer injectors are calibrated a minimum of once
during the
production season. *5 pts - Hydroponics: Status of nutrient solution and medium is recorded daily,
including
the following: Amount fed per plant, electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient solution,
pH of nutrient solution. EC and pH are adjusted to normal ranges. *5 pts - Suckers are removed regularly while still small (less than 2"). 5 pts
- In bag culture or hydroponics, when lowering plants, horizontal stems
are kept off
the greenhouse floor by stakes or other means to reduce Botrytis. 5 pts - Horizontal airflow is maintained to improve air movement through the crop canopy. 5 pts
- If workers come from a tomato field, they change clothes and boots,
and scrub
their hands before entering the greenhouse. *5 pts
Category Total 75 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Pesticide Application and Records
Only pesticides approved and registered in the state are used. Records
of pesticide applications including date, location, targeted pest, pesticide
name, formulation, rate and area treated, and environmental conditions are
maintained. Pesticide drift is minimized. Re-entry and pre-harvest intervals
are adhered to.
- If pesticides are used, application equipment is calibrated for rate and droplet size at least once during the growing season. *5 pts
- If pesticides are used, any worn nozzles are replaced and routine sprayer equipment maintenance is performed prior to the growing season. *5 pts
- If pesticides are used, sprayer coverage of leaf surface is tested
using water/oil
sensitive cards during calibration. *5 pts
Category Total 15 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Insect Management
- Aphids are monitored by inspection of a minimum of 50 leaves each week. Records of active and parasitized aphids are maintained. 5 pts
- Spider mites are monitored by examining 50 leaves each week and recording
the
number of infested leaves. 5 pts - Whiteflies are identified to species. 5 pts
- Appropriate colored sticky cards are deployed (1 per 250 ft2)
and inspected each
week. The number of thrips and whiteflies captured are recorded. 5 pts - Horizontal sticky cards are deployed to monitor for fungus gnats.
Fungus gnat
numbers are recorded weekly. 5 pts - If aphids occur, lacewings or predacious midges are released when
aphids
appear. Additional releases are made as necessary. *5 pts - If spider mites appear, releases of Phytoseilus persimilus are made when 10 percent of the leaves are infested. *5 pts
- When thrips appear on plants or sticky cards, Neoseilus cucumeris
is released
(slow release cones are recommended). OR If thrips were problematic in the
previous year, N. cucumeris are released at first flower opening. N. cucumeris
are released until plants are topped (no more flowers). 5 pts - If thrips numbers show increase after N. cucumeris is released, Orius is released. *5 pts
- If appropriate, Encarsia or Encarsia/Eretmocerus (dependent
on whitefly species)
are released for whitefly. *5 pts
Category Total 50 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Disease Management
Many cultural practices previously listed address disease management
concerns. In a well managed greenhouse, fungicides are usually not needed
to produce a crop.
- Hot-water treated seeds are used. 5 pts
- Tomato cultivars are disease-resistant (fulvia leaf mold, fursarium
wilt, powdery
mildew, virus, verticillium wilt or root-knot nematode). 5 pts - Only Tomatoesare grown in the greenhouse. 5 pts
- Each plant is inspected weekly. Diseased and broken plants are removed. 5 pts
- Plants are dry when pruned or otherwise handled. 5 pts
- Lower leaves are removed to just below the developing cluster and
cluster stems
are removed after the cluster is harvested to improve air flow and minimize
disease development. 5 pts - Flower parts are removed from bottom of fruit to minimize disease spread. 5 pts
- Plants are not touched by anyone who handles or uses tobacco or tobacco products. 5 pts
- Anyone who touches plants washes their hands and disinfects tools before entering a greenhouse and moving from one greenhouse to another. 5 pts
Category Total 45 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Weed Management
- Greenhouse is kept weed-free (hand-pulling is generally sufficient). 5 pts
- A weed-free area around the greenhouse is maintained. Decorative
vegetation is
not grown near air intakes. 5 pts
Category Total 10 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Education
- Manager attends an appropriate greenhouse or vegetable workshops during
the
current year. 5 pts
Category Total 5 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts
Grand Total 200 pts
Adjusted Grand Total ______ pts
Percentage of adjusted total %
