Author: Daniel Becker
Planning Unit: Horticulture
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Dr. David Hall, owner of Black Oak Vineyards and Medicine Man Winery was a cooperator for two years growing approximately 1/8 of an acre of mixed vegetables each year located at his farm in Princeton, Caldwell County. The vegetables grown on-site were used to supply a portion of the fresh produce for the Timberdoodle restaurant, attached to the winery. Prior to participation, bare soil management practices for vegetable production were conducted. Bare soil management resulted in significant labor expenditures in tilling and hand weeding to eliminate competition with the intended crop. Plastic mulch, both black and white-on-black for fall/spring and summer production, respectively were applied to the area using a Rainflo model 2600 series II plastic mulch layer. Aid was also provided in ascertaining appropriate practices in the care and management of the vegetable crops planted, including but not limited to spacing, training, watering, fertilizing, and help in choosing appropriate cultural and chemical controls when disease and insect pressure arose. Vegetables grown on plastic mulch were cleaner, having less disfiguring marks or blemishes due to contact with soil or disease. Weed growth within the rows and around the plants was drastically reduced allowing for labor savings and transfer to other culturally important operations such as pest control and harvesting. The high quality produce grown on-site, supplied the Timberdoodle restaurant with fresh, in-season vegetables for dishes served to patrons, giving them a gourmet experience and encouraging further traffic for the attached winery operation.
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