Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
By Lane Greer Since the few large commercial suppliers of plugs do not produce organic plugs, growers must produce
Updated by their own or buy them locally. This publication presents information on raising vegetable and ornamen-
Katherine L. Adam tal plugs and transplants, but it is not intended as an introduction to the subject. Rather, it is a comple-
NCAT Agriculture mentary piece of information, focusing on organic rather than conventional production methods and
Specialist on conformity to the Final Rule of the National Organic Program. Although much of the research cited
© NCAT 2005 covers ornamentals, the information applies to vegetables as well.
T
Contents he traditional way to raise a lot of
seedlings is to sprout seeds in trays,
Containers ........................ 2
then transplant these fragile plants
Media .................................. 4
into larger packs or pots. This method is
Equipment:
Seeders .............................. 5 very labor-intensive and results in consider-
Nutrition: Organic able mortality from transplant shock or root
Fertilizers for Container loss.
Systems .............................. 5
Recent Research Since the 1980s, most seed germination has
on Fertilization ................ 6 been done in plug trays; by 1998, 81% of
Irrigation ........................... 7 annual seedlings were grown from plugs.(1)
Recent Research A plug is a containerized transplant with a
on Irrigation ..................... 7
self-enclosed root system.(2) The advantages
Lighting and Growth
Regulation ........................ 8
to growing seedlings from plugs are many:
Scheduling:
less time and labor to transplant, reduced
Holding Plugs .................. 9 root loss, more uniform growth, faster crop
Pest Management.......... 9 establishment, and increased production.
References ...................... 11 There are disadvantages, too. Much more
SARE Farmer/Rancher attention has to be paid to scheduling and to
Research .......................... 12 cultural practices. While labor is decreased,
Further Reading ............ 12 mechanization and the need for specialized,
Web Sites ......................... 13 well-trained workers increases. Photo by Peggy Greb, USDA ARS.
Suppliers
of Plug Trays ................... 13 There are a number of pros and cons to con- the cost per plug, and the specialized equip-
Suppliers sider when deciding whether to grow plugs ment and facilities required. This investment
of Seeders ....................... 14 from seed or to purchase plugs and grow them is often not economically practical unless pro-
to transplant size. The advantages of produc- duction is large or plugs are marketed to other
ing one’s own plugs include rapid production, growers. For most small to medium sized grow-
ers, especially [beginners], it is often more
efficient use of greenhouse space, choice of economical to purchase…plugs from special-
species and cultivars, and self-reliance. The ized growers and concentrate on producing fin-
ATTRA - National Sustainable
Agriculture Information Service disadvantages can include extra labor to han- ished containers. The issue of grow versus pur-
is managed by the National Cen- dle an exacting crop and increased heating chase should be reviewed periodically as the
ter for Appropriate Technology needs and facilities of the grower change.
(NCAT) and is funded under a costs in winter (since plugs are quite sensi-
grant from the United States tive to temperature fluctuations). According The basic considerations in plug production
Department of Agriculture’s
Rural Business-Cooperative to Kessler and Behe (3): include:
Service. Visit the NCAT Web site
(www.ncat.org/agri. The decision should be based partially on • Container size
html) for more informa- market considerations, labor availability and
tion on our sustainable
agriculture projects. ����
expertise, the number of plants to be produced, • Media
• Seeding and germination and cut-flower plugs. These tables provide
• Nutrition extremely detailed information on specific
crops. This publication should be on the shelf
• Temperature of every serious plug and transplant grower.
• Watering and moisture management See Reference 2 for information on how to
(especially during germination) order this book.
• Light and supplemental lighting In 1990, and again in 1996, the editors of
• Growth regulation GrowerTalks magazine (4) compiled some per-
• Scheduling tinent articles on plug production into books
entitled GrowerTalks on Plugs (5) and Grower-
• Pest management, especially of fun- Talks: PlugsII.(6) The 1990 edition is no lon-
gus gnats, shore flies, and root rots. ger in print, but it may be available through
The book Plug and Transplant Production, interlibrary loan. The 1996 edition is avail-
by Drs. Roger Styer and David Koranski (2), able from Ball Publishing (see Reference 4).
contains the most extensive information on This edition focuses on the basics mentioned
all the basics listed above. Because it focuses above, as well as automation (transplanters,
on specifics, it is good for troubleshooting. shipping, boom irrigators), plug holding,
The book comes with three pullout tables— stress, container size, growing your own vs.
one each for vegetables, bedding plants, buying, seeds and germination, pest control,
and culture by crop for 11 species of bed-
Commercial Suppliers of Organic Plugs ding plants.
Mountain Valley Growers, Inc. Greenhouse Grower (7) and Greenhouse Man-
38325 Pepperweed Street agement and Production (8) are periodicals
Squaw Valley, CA 93675 that address plug production and related
559-338-2775
issues. Greenhouse Grower produces an
559-338-0073 FAX
e-mail through Web site
annual bonus issue that targets plugs and
www.mountainvalleygrowers.com propagation. GrowerTalks holds an annual
plug conference that lasts for three days, usu-
Can supply 128 types of ornamental and culinary herb plugs. Also
certified organic seeds for basil and other annual herbs, sunflow-
ally in October. Although the conference is
ers, and gourmet greens. Stocks 24 varieties of lavender. Web sales expensive (usually around $550 for all three
only; nursery is not open to the public. days), it would be worth the money to talk
Greystone Gardens
with growers from around the country to see
1187 Maple Street what they recommend and discuss solutions
Waterbury Center, VT 05677 to problems. For more information, contact
802-244-8103 Ball Publishing at the address listed in the
802-244-5075 FAX References section.
greystonegardens1@verizon.net
www.greystonegardensvt.com
Containers
After research evaluating organic plug production techniques and
economic feasibility (SARE grant FNE03-468), Brenda and Mike Plugs are produced in multi-cell plastic trays,
Hedges started offering organic vegetable and flower plugs grown also called flats. The trays are available in
in their 3000-sq.-ft. greenhouse in 2005. Large selection of certified a wide range of cell sizes and depths—any-
organic plugs for vegetables and ornamentals. Some vegetatively where from 50 to 800 cells in a single tray.
propagated varieties offered only as conventional stock grown The type of flat chosen will depend on the
under organic methods. species being grown and the length of time
Patchwork Farm and Greenhouse spent growing it. Pansies, for instance, are
470 Jackson Hill Road most often grown in 288, 392, or 406-plug
Aaronsburg, PA 16820 trays.(3) The time from sowing to ready-for-
814-422-8735
transplant stage is usually about 6 weeks
In business since 1976. Member of Slow Food of Central in 288 trays and 5 weeks in 392 or 406
Pennsylvania. trays. Larger cells provide more moisture
and nutrients to the plant, but make much blocking equipment is expensive, and many
less efficient use of greenhouse space than growers find the plants’ tendency to grow
the smaller cells. their roots into adjoining blocks annoying.
Small-scale blocking equipment has proved
Rigid foam cell trays (such as Speedling® flats)
popular with some market gardeners. For
are an alternative to plastic trays. Though
more information on soil-block methods, see
more expensive per unit, they have the advan-
the book The New Organic Grower, by Eliot
tage of greater durability and “stand-alone”
Coleman.(10)
ability—particularly important when using
automated equipment. They are quite bulky, Table 1 gives some idea of the sizes, cell
however, and will not nest for storage. Light- shapes, and major suppliers of plug trays.
weight plastic trays, in contrast, are easy See Suppliers of Plug Trays at the end of
to store in the off-season and cost less, but this publication for more information.
they are less durable and usually require
an undertray to maintain sufficient rigidity Related ATTRA Publications
for convenient handling. Manufacturers offer Seed Production and Variety Selection for Organic Systems (2005)
other innovative designs, as well. Winstrip®
NCAT’s Organic Crops Workbook
trays, for example, have small slits down two
sides of each plug to improve aeration, and Organic Farm Certification and the National Organic Program
holes between cells to allow air movement up Overview of Organic Crop Production
through the tray.(9) Plugs grown in Winstrips
Suppliers of Seed for Certified Organic Production (new database 2005)
usually have less root spiraling.
Potting Mixes for Certified Organic Production
Occasionally, growers choose a soil-block sys-
Herbs: Organic Greenhouse Production
tem. Developed in Europe some years ago,
soil blockers press a soil mix together into Vegetables: Organic Greenhouse Production
cubes that are handled in much the same Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops
manner as peat pellets. Commercial-scale
Here is how the vacuum template works. The The Henrys’ Plant Farm in Kansas, near the Missouri border, has been
seed is scattered over a template that has operated by Marcia and Roy Henry, and now their oldest son, Brian,
for more than 20 years. The Henrys have 18 greenhouses with almost
small indentations on its surface. A vacuum
13,000 square feet of growing space and sell more than 400 variet-
holds the seeds in the indentations, while ies of perennials and 100 of annuals, including 60 different tomatoes
extra seed is knocked off. When the vacuum and 40 peppers. Marcia manages the operation of the greenhouses.
is turned off, the seeds drop into place in the Four theme gardens entertain visitors. The complete plant list may be
plug tray, so the entire tray is planted at once. downloaded in PDF from www.thehenrysplantfarm.com.
There are also manual wand seeders that use
Marcia uses a vacuum seeder with five plates to accommodate differ-
the vacuum needle system to sow one row of ent seed sizes.
seed at a time. They cost less than $1,000.(1)
For a list of suppliers of both kinds of seed- Holes that are the same size or slightly smaller than the seed are
drilled in the plastic. The method of operation is simple: The top and
ers, see Suppliers of Seeders.
bottom sheets are kept out of alignment. Seeds are poured onto the
It is possible to make a simple seeder out of top sheet and rolled around until all the cavities are filled. Excess seed
plastic. Dr. Charles Marr developed a plant- can be poured off. The bottom sheet is then moved into line with the
ing template in the early 1990s at Kansas top, and the seeds fall through both sheets and onto the seed mix in
the plug trays.
State University.(18) Here are his specifica-
tions: Marcia’s production schedule is the result of many years of good
The template consists of two sheets of 3-mm record keeping.(19) She begins December 1 with geraniums, begonias,
acrylic plastic cut to rectangular dimensions and perennials. At the beginning of January, she plants pansies, snap-
of the seed flat. The upper sheet has a 6-cm- dragons, and vinca. By the end of the month she is potting up gera-
tall “wall” glued to the outside with a small nium cuttings and transplanting seed geraniums. On February 1, she
opening in the wall at one end, so excess seeds plants petunias. With most of the best sellers and the tomatoes, she
can be poured out. The bottom sheet is held plants again on February 15. She starts most of the other annual flow-
in place by four glued tabs on each side, so ers and vegetables in March.
that the bottom sheet could slide laterally. The
She has found pre-printed tags available from her seed company to
bottom sheet is left slightly longer with a slot
be helpful. Although the tags are expensive ($1,000 in 1997), custom-
cut as a handle.
ers appreciate the extra information they provide. She saves money by
ordering her media by the truckload, which is 40% cheaper than buy-
Nutrition: Organic Fertilizers ing it bagged. She also saves money on heating costs by contracting
for Container Systems for propane gas each year.
There are four basic ways to fertilize con- For more information or to contact the farm, call 785-877-6544 (ph./
tainerized plants: incorporate, topdress, liq- FAX) or e-mail henrysplants@aol.com.
F
ertile Soil diluted solution, or on a 7- to 10-day basis
with a concentrated solution. Often, there are seasonal variations in
(20), by growth, and the fertilization system must
Robert Nitrogen is the main nutrient supplied take this into account. A recent study in
Parnes, is an in- through liquid feeding. Soluble organic nitro- Florida showed that spring-grown tomato
depth publication gen sources include fish powder, fish emul- seedlings respond linearly to increased nitro-
sion, guano, and worm castings. Phospho- gen fertilizer.(22) In other words, the more
on organic fertiliz-
rus is available for liquid feeding by using N applied, the more the plants grow. (The
ers. Parnes’s book high-phosphorus guano or micronized soft researchers used 15 to 75 mg/liter of N.)
provides detailed rock phosphate. In fall-grown plants, however, the opposite
tables on the nutri-
Foliar feeding can be used to supplement is true. Researchers believe that increased
ent content of soil and liquid fertilization, especially where light and higher temperatures in the fall were
various manures certain nutrients are deficient and must be responsible for some of the differences in
incorporated into the plant quickly. Filtered growth patterns. Other research has shown
and plant and
solutions of manure, seaweed, fish powder, that anywhere from 75 to 400 mg/liter of N
animal byproducts. produces the largest tomato seedlings and
and fish emulsion can be used (manures must
have been composted by an approved NOP often increases early yields.(22) Too much
nitrogen, however, attracts aphids.
Table 2. Fresh weight of cabbage plants In an English study, cabbage seedlings were
at transplanting (16). fertilized with conventional fertilizer, dried
Fresh Weight blood (applied in a liquid form), and hoof
Fertilizer Regime
(g) of 10 plants and horn meal (incorporated into the pot-
Control (no fertilizer) 13.0
ting media).(15) Dried blood applied at a
rate of 3 grams/liter, three times a week,
Conventional fertilizer 16.7 increased plant growth about as much as
conventional fertilizer. Table 2 presents the
Blood 1 (1.5 g/liter 3x/
wk.)
14.6 rest of the findings.
Blood 2 (3 g/liter 3x/wk.) 17.5 In 1993, Premier Peat Moss in Canada con-
ducted research on organic wastes from the
Blood 3 (15 g/liter 3x/ food industry, comparing their ability to fer-
30.2
wk.)
tilize greenhouse tomato transplants.(23)
Hoof and horn (3 g/liter The researchers found that meal from blood,
21.7
media) feathers, meat, crab shells, fish, cottonseed,
Plug cell size will also affect the watering Canola meal 6.0-1.1-1.3 10.8
schedule. According to Biernbaum and Ver- None (control) 0-0-0 10.3
sluys, “While in larger containers water must
be added to thoroughly moisten the entire because of immediate saturation. Sub-irriga-
medium profile, in shallow containers a less tion is better when growing larger plugs.
than saturating amount of water can be added
without detrimental effects to roots since the
water will distribute adequately.”(24) Recent Research
One of the most common problems in green- on Irrigation
houses is overwatering. Not only does this A 1999 study at the University of Georgia
contribute to poor plant growth and health, showed that moisture stress tends to increase
it also encourages the spread of pathogens aphid populations on New Guinea impatiens
that thrive in wet conditions. It is especially and marigolds, but it has little effect on spi-
easy to overwater young plugs; underwatering der mite or thrips populations.(25) In the
becomes a problem with older plugs. experiment, mite populations were lower on
There are five major ways to water plugs ageratum plants that were irrigated with an
(24): ebb-and-flow system, compared to overhead-
irrigated plants.
• hand watering
• stationary sprinklers Researchers at North Carolina State Uni-
• traveling boom sprinklers versity found that environmental conditions,
rather than plant growth, may dictate irriga-
• fogging tion practices.(9) Their other findings:
• sub-irrigation
• Plugs leach fertilizer, sometimes
Of these, hand watering and sub-irrigation heavily.
are most appropriate for small growers. The
biggest problem with hand watering is labor • Plug trays (288s) can take 500 to
cost. It is also less uniform than mechanized 1000 ml of water per tray at each
systems. Sub-irrigation eliminates both of irrigation, depending on environ-
these problems but can result in overwatering mental conditions.
$29/year for 15 issues. 17) Byczynski, Lynn. 1993. Growing great trans-
plants. Growing for Market. February. p. 1,
8) Greenhouse Management & Production (GMPro) 4.
Branch-Smith Publishing
P.O. Box 1868 18) Marr, Charles W. 1991. A planting template for
Fort Worth, TX 76101 plug flats. HortTechnology. October–Decem-
800-434-6776 ber. p. 120–121.
817-882-4120 19) Byczynski, Lynn. 1997. Customers flock to farm
817-882-4121 FAX for plants. Growing for Market. February. p.
www.greenbeam.com 8–10.
12 issues/year; free to qualified greenhouse
growers; $96/year for non-growers.
Page 16 ATTRA