Diversification with Horticultural Crops

1
Diversification with Horticultural Crops

• Why Diversify?
• To protect and increase income.

Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education
Curriculum Office July 2004
2
What are Horticultural Crops?

• Ornamental
• Trees and shrubs
• Sod
• Greenhouse Crops

• Fruit and Vegetables
• Peppers
• Squash
• Onions
• Carrots
• Blueberries
• Strawberries

3
In Ground Tree Production

• Tree Liners are produced from seed or vegetative
  cutting. Grown in bed for one year.
• Liners are transplanted to field and grown for
  one more year.
• Whips are transplanted to field for
  finishing.This requires three to five more years
  to produce a well branched canopy.

4
Tree farm in Toombs county
5
Growing the Tree

• Irrigation is low pressure/low volume drip.
• Fertilizer applied through irrigation.
• Tree is pruned to develop canopy.
• Pesticides applied to prevent disease and insects.

6
Harvesting

• Tree spade on skid-steer loader digs trees.
• Tree is set in wire basket lined with burlap.
• Left in field to acclimatize.

7
The tree is dug and lifted.
8
(No Transcript)
9
A wire basket and liner is placed in the hole
10
The tree is set down into the basket
11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
The tree is left in the field to harden-off.
14
Marketing

• 50 of trees sold in Georgia grown out of state.
• Sold mostly to commercial landscapers.
• Market is developed through advertising in trade
  magazines and trade shows.
• Sold by grower or through broker.

15
Labor Requirement

• Low and steady.

16
Sod Production
17
Growing

• Established by seeding or sprigging.
• Will take 2 years after initial establishment
  before harvesting.
• Weed, disease, and insect control is essential.
• Can be irrigated and fertilized with pivot
  irrigation.

18
Grass seedlings.
19
Harvesting

• Sod is cut and loaded on pallet.
• Requires 40 hp or more tractor.
• 67 pallets(600sq.ft/pallet) produced on one acre.
• Local price is 100/pallet.
• Small strip left to re-establish.

20
Mechanical harvesting.
21
Putting the sod on a pallet.
22
(No Transcript)
23
A pallet of sod ready to be loaded.
24
Marketing

• Small grower can sell locally directly to
  homeowner or landscaper.
• Larger grower markets to lawn and garden
  retailers and landscapers.
• Some growers also install sod.
• Growers usually required to deliver.
• Markets established by advertising in local
  media, and regional trade magazines and shows.

25
Greenhouse Crops

• Ornamental
• Bedding plants
• Hanging baskets
• Florist crops
• Perennials

• Vegetable transplants

26
Ornamental

• Crops grown on benches, floor, and outside.
• Production time is 3 to 9 months.
• Grown from liners produced in house or by
  specialist.
• Marketed directly to consumers or to retail
  outlets.
• Labor requirement is high and seasonal.

27
Automated transplanting
28
(No Transcript)
29
Plug trays.
30
Young poinsettias.
31
Fall crops
32
Vegetable Transplants

• Direct seeded into trays.
• Short crop time.
• Usually grown on t-rail system.
• Marketed directly to farmers or to retail
  outlets.
• Labor requirements high and seasonal.

33
Collards grown on t-rail system.
34
(No Transcript)
35
T-tail system and automated irrigation.
36
(No Transcript)
37
(No Transcript)
38
Vegetable and Fruit Production
39
Growing

• Vegetables are grown from seed or by transplants.
• Strawberries, peppers, eggplant grown by
  plasticulture with drip tape irrigation and
  injected fertilization
• Squash, onions, sweet corn irrigated with pivot.

40
Peppers near Americus in October.
41
Cabbage in Tattnall County
42
Squash growing in Toombs County during October.
43
Marketing

• DONT PLANT UNLESS YOU HAVE A MARKETING PLAN!
• Local or roadside sales.
• Supermarket chains.
• Shipment to other states requires packing house,
  cooler, and sometimes a broker.

44
Shipping and packing near Americus.
45
Trade Groups