COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production - Alberta

1 COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the PrairiesCommercial Vegetable Productionon the Prairies Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at Published by: Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Information Management Division 7000 113 Street Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6H 5T6 Editor: Chris Kaulbars Graphic Designer: Lee Harper Page Production : SerafinchonCopyright 2014. Her Majesty the Queen in right of Alberta ( Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development). All rights part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission from the Information Management Division, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Endorsement Given: This publication should not be taken as an endorsement by Her Majesty the Queen in right of Alberta of the products or services mentioned : Responsibility for interpretation or application of the content contained in this publication rests with the user.

2 Information in this publication is provided solely for the user s information and while thought to be accurate, is provided strictly as is and without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Her Majesty, the publishers and contributors to this publication, and their agents, employees or contractors will not be liable to you for any damages, direct or indirect, or lost profits arising out of your use of this 978-0-7732-6112-9 Printed in CanadaCopies of this publication may be purchased from: Publications Office Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development Telephone: 1-800-292-5697 (toll free in Canada) OR call 780-427-0391 See the website: for information about other publications, CD-ROMs and the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at iiiACKNOWLEDGEMENTSP roject Team Lead/EditorRobert Spencer Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD)Project Team (Project Planning)Connie Achtymichuk Saskatchewan Brian Hunt Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Ministry of Agriculture (SK Ag) Rural Development (MAFRD)Belinda Choban AARD Dr.

3 Ron Howard (formerly with AARD)Brent Elliott (formerly with Manitoba Dr. Philip Northover (formerly with Manitoba Agriculture, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives MAFRI) Food and Rural Initiatives MAFRI and SK Ag)Dr. Ken Fry Olds College Dr. Doug Waterer University of Saskatchewan (U of S)Betty Birch (formerly with AARD)Writing/ReviewConnie Achtymichuk SK Ag Brian Hunt MAFRDB rent Elliott Dustin Morton AARDDr. Ken Fry Olds College Dr. Philip NorthoverTom Gonsalves MAFRD Robert Spencer AARDDr. Michael Harding AARD Dr. Doug Waterer U of SManuscript EditingCarolyn KingOther ContributionsJackie Bantle U of S John Gillmore AARDK athy Bosse AARD Justin Schaeffer U of SDr. Jim Broatch AARD Gillian SpencerFunding for portions of the development of this publication was provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial, territorial gratefully acknowledge the contributions and assistance of the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20.

4 Buy it on-line at Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at vAcknowledgements Introduction Purpose of this manual ..3 Manual origins and foundations ..3 Getting Started Business planning ..7 Market costs ..7 Business plan ..7 Production planning ..7 Site selection ..8 Field Production Introduction ..17 General crop Production ..17 Crop planning ..17 Fertility ..19 Soil testing ..20 Plant tissue analysis ..26 Managing soil fertility ..27 Seedbed preparation and seed germination ..34 Seedbed preparation ..34 Establishing a desired plant stand ..37 Success in factors ..44 Achieving accurate plant density ..44 Vegetative propagation material ..46 Transplanting ..48 Fall seeding ..50 Water ..52 Quantity ..52 Quality ..52 Water licensing ..53 Irrigation systems ..54 Irrigation system use requirements ..59 Soil moisture determination ..66 Growing season extension.

5 67 Transplants ..68 Raised mulches ..68 Microclimate modification ..72 Equipment ..75 CONTENTSP urchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at viHarvest and post-harvest management ..76 Post-harvest handling ..78 Storage and storage influencing storage lifespan ..81 Storage conditions for vegetables ..81 Storage planning and design ..84 Transplant ProductionIntroduction ..93 Containers and trays ..93 Growing media ..93 Growing media characteristics ..94 Sterilization ..94 Transplant Production ..94 Seeding ..94 Fertilizer ..95 Moisture ..95 Temperature ..95 Light ..96 Disease pest management ..97 Field transplanting ..97 Pest ManagementManaging pests in vegetables ..101 Integrated pest management ..108 Insect pest management ..112 Disease equipment ..120 Pesticide storage and shelf life ..122 Pesticide handling and safety ..122 Pesticide regulations.

6 122 Business Management Introduction ..125 Labour ..125 Risk safety ..125 Basic principles of food safety ..126 Organic Production ..127 Marketing ..127 Marketing channels ..128 Improving market share ..128 Associations .. Production RecommendationsIntroduction ..133 Root ..133 Carrots .. (table) .. (Swede turnips), turnips ..180 Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at viiBulb vegetables ..183 Garlic ..183 Onions ..185 Leafy and stem ..197 Celery ..203 Cole crops (cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts) ..208 Lettuce ..226 Rhubarb .. vegetables ..235 Beans (succulent) ..235 Corn (sweet) ..243 Cucurbits (cucumbers, summer squash, winter squash, pumpkins, melons) ..253 Peas (succulent) ..262 Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants ..267 Appendix Glossary ..281 Resources .. Industry resources .. Water and soil resources .. Seed suppliers.

7 Equipment .. Bees .. Organics .. Food processing .. Food safety .. Marketing information .. Building resources .. Publications .. Feel method for estimating soil wateravailable for crop use ..299 Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at INTRODUCTIONP urchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at 3 INTRODUCTIONC ommercial Vegetable Production on the Canadian Prairies is a diverse industry. Operations range in size from small market gardens growing an assortment of vegetables to large COMMERCIAL farms producing specific vegetables. The types and varieties of Vegetable crops grown and the practices used vary from operation to operation and region to region.

8 To be successful, Vegetable growers need to follow effective Production practices and sound business management practices. Purpose of this manualThis manual provides a comprehensive resource and reference tool for both new and experienced producers at all scales of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies. The book begins by looking at planning considerations when developing a Vegetable Production business. Then, it describes Vegetable crop Production practices from seeding and transplanting to harvesting and storage, including such topics as fertility and chapters on transplant Production and pest management provide focused discussion on these important aspects of Vegetable further chapter considers business issues including labour, risk management and marketing. Growing the vegetables successfully is only one aspect of a business; the next steps also need to be planned and handled well. The greatest detail on the individual vegetables themselves appears in the Vegetable Production recommendations chapter.

9 Vegetables are grouped in categories allowing a logical discussion of characteristics, growth habits, fertilization, pest management and , because a knowledge of Vegetable Production can involve the use of some specialized terms, the book provides a glossary of key technical terms used in the text. An appendix also lists sources of further information for growers seeking other references. Vegetable growers will need to adapt the information in this book to the needs of their own operation. Attending field days, workshops and conferences, networking with other producers, researching information online and doing on-farm trials to test new varieties and practices can all help in learning and sharing origins and foundationsCreating this manual was made easier because of the strong foundation provided by the previous edition called Alberta Vegetable Production Guide For COMMERCIAL Growers 1989-1990. This current book is based on and still has some relevant content from that previous publication.

10 All information has been extensively revised, expanded and updated throughout, but acknowledgement must be made to the work and effort of the authors and contributors of that original the new COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies manual has been a long and rewarding process. The hope is that producers find the resource helpful and the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at GETTING STARTEDP urchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at Purchase the printed edition of COMMERCIAL Vegetable Production on the Prairies for only $20. Buy it on-line at 7 Getting StartedBusiness planningFor anyone starting any business, it is critical to thoroughly develop a comprehensive business plan, including Production , marketing and financial aspects.