Author: Robert Kirby
Planning Unit: Knox County CES
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Plan of Work: Home and Commercial Horticulture
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
With the continuing increase of high tunnels production and with the profit potential of tomatoes, making them the produce of choice, along with the intensive practices such as two crops per year coupled with no rotation allowed because of high tunnel construction, uncontrollable soil borne diseases and insects made in ground production impossible. By following Specialists recommendations it was agreed that Soilless Culture was the only choice for a solution. Knox County became the first county to attempt to grow determinate tomatoes in Soilless culture practices. Through much calibrations with Specialists it became a success and had a production average of over 45 pounds of tomatoes per plant the first year. Because of research and trials conducted Knox County pertaining to varieties, fertilization and other production practices it has allowed producers across the state facing the same soil borne problems to duplicate the Soilless Culture practice. However, with several of the high tunnels being provided by NRCS producers could not do Soilless cultures because of the rules of having to grow in the ground for four years. Because of NRCS rules and stipulations after planning and discussion with Extension Specialist , grafting tomatoes with resistant rootstock could be a solution. This year, a research plot in Knox County is being conducted using three different root stocks grafted on producer variety of choice to collect data and compare options for in ground production and the resistance of nematodes.
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