Vining and Fruiting Crops in Protected Culture | Andrew Mefferd

Though tomatoes might be the most popular, many of the same techniques can be used to grow the other vining/fruiting crops in protected culture- cucumbers, peppers and eggplant. Whether you grow in a hoophouse or a greenhouse, learn about best practices that can be used with some modifications on all four crops including temperature, spacing, whether or not to graft, trellising, pruning and fertility.

Andrew Mefferd spent seven years in the research department at Johnny’s Selected Seeds, traveling around the world to consult with researchers and farmers on the best practices in greenhouse growing. He put what he learned to use on his own farm in Maine. He is now the editor and publisher of Growing for Market magazine. Previously, he worked on farms in six states across the United States before starting his own farm. Andrew also works as a consultant on the topics covered in his new book, "The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower's Handbook: Organic Vegetable Production Using Protected Culture," published by Chelsea Green Publishing.

Every year, more growers are turning to protected culture to deal with unpredictable weather and to meet out-of-season demand for local food, but many end up spinning their wheels, wasting time and money on unprofitable crops grown in ways that don’t make the most of their precious greenhouse space. With comprehensive chapters on temperature control and crop steering, pruning and trellising, grafting, and more, Mefferd’s book is full of techniques and strategies that can help farms stay profitable, satisfy customers, and become an integral part of re-localizing our food system. From seed to sale, The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook is the indispensable resource for protected growing.

www.chelseagreen.com

For more about the magazine, please visit www.growingformarket.com.

For more information on consulting, see www.andrewmefferd.com.

Recorded Saturday February 18, 2017 at the 35th annual NOFA Vermont Winter Conference in Burlington, VT.