Please join us for another GrowON lunch and learn event in person (at Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers in Leamington, ON) or online on Friday May 12 from 12:00-1:00. Lunch will be provided compliments of OGVG. You will hear about dynamic LED lighting and it’s effect on the circadian rhythm of crops from University of Guelph researchers.
Keep reading to register for this upcoming webinar, as well as links to webinar recordings on Hop Latent Viroid in cannabis and greenhouse automation.
Join us for the first IN PERSON and LIVE STREAMED GrowON event! Read on for how to join us in Leamington on March 20th OR join us live on the web in real time.
Please register for the next GrowON webinar to learn more about greenhouse dehumidification with Dr. Jeanine West, environmental specialist with Flowers Canada (Ontario).
Please register for the next GrowON webinar to learn more about greenhouse dehumidification with Dr. Jeanine West, environmental specialist with Flowers Canada (Ontario).
This post was jointly written by Dr. Chevonne Dayboll and Dr. Sarah Jandricic
It’s hard to believe, but as the first snow hits the ground here in Niagara, that means its time to think about spring crops again!
This post gathers some of the most important things to plan and prep for in the greenhouse, including ordering inputs, preventative maintenance, and your pest management and PGR plans!
Think of this post as your “to-do” check list for the month of December, as the time to plan all this is NOW, before your spring production begins.
We’ve also linked to some helpful videos we’ve recorded from our GrowON webinar series that are relevant to spring crops. They’re worth a re-watch – or a first watch – if you haven’t seen them before!
This post was jointly written by Dr. Chevonne Dayboll and Dr. Sarah Jandricic
It’s time to think about spring again! This post gathers some of the most important things to plan and prep for in the greenhouse before your spring production begins in earnest.
1. Make sure your inputs are ordered
We can’t emphasize this one enough. COVID-19 and container boat issues are still causing shipping delays that are affecting many industries including greenhouses. Make sure you order potting mixes, plastic trays and pots, fertilizers, and production inputs well ahead of when you will need them. If you are planning on doing greenhouse upgrades in between seasons make sure you confirm delivery and installation timelines with your contractors. Many of them are facing delays too!
2. Now is the time for preventative maintenance
Heat loss from an older (left) and newer, more efficient boiler (right). (Photo credit: OMAFRA)
Now is a great time to schedule preventive maintenance for your boiler, irrigation and shading systems. Make sure that all motors and alarms are working before you need to rely on them. No one wants to find out that their temperature alarm failed on a cold February morning! Ensure you are getting the pressure you expect all along your irrigation system. If you rely on propane heaters for early spring production make sure they are venting properly. Damage from improper venting can present as stunted growth or leaf burn.
Take some time to inspect the greenhouse for wear-and-tear. Repair cracked poly and broken glass to keep heat from escaping. Make sure old torn energy curtains are replaced. A heat sensitive camera can help to identify areas of energy loss and help you plan for energy efficient upgrades in the future.
The OMAFRA Greenhouse Vegetable Specialist is continuing an exciting webinar series on technology in controlled environments!
This series is relevant to anyone producing in controlled environments – from vegetables, to herbs, cannabis and flowers. The second webinar tackles the use of black out curtains for light abatement in these systems, and how their use can impact plant production. Industry experts from AAFC, Hoogendoorn, Ludvig Svensson, Van der Ende Groupand360 Energy are all participating. so don’t miss the opportunity to hear from so many experts at once! This webinar covers each company’s approach to addressing challenges of production under curtain cover, and involves a panel-style discussion about integrating these systems.
Details on this installment of this webinar series can be found below.
Interested in learning the latest opportunities for energy savings in your floriculture greenhouse? Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), the County of Essex, and Essex Region Conservation are hosting a workshop on January 26th to discuss energy savings in the greenhouse sector, with speakers from CI Energy Conservation, IESO, The University of Windsor, as well as ERCA and OGVG.
Read on for registration info, tentative agenda and an invitation from the organizers:
Are you a small to medium sized greenhouse (<500 employees) looking to improve your energy efficiency and bring down energy costs? Then this funding program from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) might be for you.
Apply now, as funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis!
