Growing Greenhouse Peppers in British Columbia
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Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries $75.00 + GST Horticultural Training in British Columbia There are several universities and colleges in B.C. providing introductory horticulture courses, including greenhouse technician programs. Contact one in your area as a source of trained staff for temporary or permanent assistance and to obtain formalized training for your existing staff. Following is contact information for the schools currently offering general horticulture or pest management with Comprehensive Automation some greenhouse production classes. Systems Camosun University College Victoria 250-370-3822 Climate Control www.camosun.bc.ca/schools/tradesntech/horticulture Irrigation Kwantlen University College Langley 604-599-3254, 604-599-2245 Nutrient Injection www.kwantlen.bc.ca/horticulture Electrical Panels Malaspina University College Nanaimo 250-754-8756 Featuring: www.mala.ca/horticulture AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT CONTROL Okanagan University College Kelowna 250-862-5457 DATA RECORDING www.ouc.bc.ca/trades/horticulture GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS MONITORING North Island College Courtenay 250-334-5000 ext.4602 ALARMS www.nic.bc.ca REMOTE ACCESS &CONTROL Simon Fraser University Burnaby 604-291-4475 www.sfu.ca/biology University College of the Cariboo Kamloops 250-828-5181 www.cariboo.bc.ca University College of the Fraser Valley Chilliwack 604-795-2813 www.ucfv.ca/agriculture Take Control With Argus University of British Columbia Vancouver 604-822-1219 Call toll free: 1-800-667-2090 www.agsci.ubc.ca 1-604-538-3531 Or visit: www.arguscontrols.com Growing Greenhouse Peppers in British Columbia A production guide for commercial growers © Published 2005 by BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association 108–7565 132nd Street Surrey, BC V3W 1K5 and Province of British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries PO Box 9120 - STN PROV GOVT Victoria, BC V8W 9B4 Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries www.bcgreenhouse.ca Copies of this publication are available at phone: 604 591-5480 $75.00 Cdn (plus 7% GST in Canada) plus shipping. fax: 604 591-5485 Contact the BCGGA office for details. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Growing greenhouse peppers in British Columbia. — 2004- Irregular. “A production guide for commercial growers.” Co-published by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. ISSN 1712-4484 = Growing greenhouse peppers in British Columbia 1. Peppers - British Columbia. 2. Sweet peppers - British Columbia. 3. Peppers - Diseases and pests - Control - British Columbia. 4. Greenhouse management — British Columbia. I. British Columbia. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. II. BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association. SB351.P4G76 635'.643’09711 C2004-960148-2 ii Growing Greenhouse Peppers in British Columbia Acknowledgements This publication was prepared over a period of several years and with contributions from many individuals. It was originally conceived as an expansion of the pepper section in the 1996 Greenhouse Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers. Credit for much of the framework, therefore, lies with those who worked on earlier versions of the various production guides that were published for many years by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries. In the current edition, some contributed greatly and others less so. However, all contributions, including those of people whose names have inadvertently been left off the list, are greatly appreciated. Principal Writers Jim Portree, Anna Luczynski Technical Advisors Dave Ehret, Dave Gillespie, and Dave Raworth, Pacific Agri-Food Research Center, Agassiz B.C.; Andrea Buonassisi, formerly with B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries; Peter Isaacson, formerly with BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association. Grower Advisors Les Bohna, 635297 B.C. Ltd. Jos DeGroot, formerly with South Alder Greenhouses; Bram Moerman, Mt. Lehman Greenhouses; Harmeet Atwal, Atwal Farms. IPM Reviewers Maria Keating, Andrea Davenport, Don Elliott. Production Edited by: Dave Ormrod. Published by: Glenridge Graphics. Special Thanks Bob Costello, Jennifer Curtis, Elizabeth Hudgins, Linda Sawatzky, and Madeline Waring, BCMAFF; Brian Spencer, Applied Bionomics; Richard Ward and Chris Daye, BioBest; Richard GreatRex and Dan Cahn, Syngenta Bioline; Ronald Valentin, FOLIERA; Angela Hale, Bug Factory; Tineke Goebertus, Vortus; Jim Matteoni, Kwantlen University College; Chris French and Raj Utkhede, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Summerland and Agassiz; Irene Wilkin and Susan Garnett, Pest Management Regulatory Agency; Zamir Punja, Simon Fraser University; Aoxiang Shi; Carol Portree. Growing Greenhouse Peppers in British Columbia iii Using This Publication This publication is intended as an aid to greenhouse pepper production in British Columbia and else- where. The information presented replaces that given in the BC Greenhouse Vegetable Production Guide that was last published in 1996. All of the information included was believed to be accurate and up-to- date at the time of publication. However, errors are possible and changes in regulations and advances in research occur over time. Growers are advised to double check any recommendation that appears to be unusual or contrary to accepted practice. Many specific recommendations are given but these are in- tended only as examples. Results will vary with each greenhouse and cultivar. Always experiment on a small scale before making radical changes to currently successful practices. Consult seed companies and bio-control suppliers for specific recommendations for the products that they provide. All Rights Reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association. Disclaimer While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information, the BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association will accept no liability whatsoever for any inaccuracy or statement contained within this publication. iv Growing Greenhouse Peppers in British Columbia TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. How the Plant Works – Plant Processes ......................................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Photosynthesis – Assimilate Production ............................................................................................. 1 Respiration – Assimilate Break-down ................................................................................................. 2 Climate Control Factors Affecting Respiration .............................................................................. 2 Uptake of Water and Nutrients .......................................................................................................... 2 Factors Affecting Uptake of Water and Nutrients .......................................................................... 3 Transpiration ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Evaporation..................................................................................................................................... 4 Cooling the Tissue .......................................................................................................................... 4 Movement of Water and Minerals ................................................................................................. 5 Environmental Factors Affecting Transpiration .............................................................................. 5 Fruit Set and Development ................................................................................................................. 5 Flower – Its Parts and Functions .................................................................................................... 5 Fruit – Its Parts and Functions ....................................................................................................... 6 2. “Reading the Plant” ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Partitioning of Assimilates ................................................................................................................... 9 Plant Balance ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Control Strategies for Adjusting Plant Balance ................................................................................. 10 Control Strategies Related to Changes in Production of Assimilates .......................................... 10 Control Strategies Related to Changes in Sink Strength of Individual or Groups of Plant Parts 10 Summary of Cause and Control of Unbalanced Growth ............................................................. 11 3. Optimizing the Greenhouse Environment............................................................................................................................................................15 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................