Tomato research updates were provided by Hanna Y. Hanna, a professor at Louisiana State University’s AgCenter, at the Green- house Tomato Short Course last month.

Growers and exhibitors from 21 states, Trini- dad, Jamaica, and ON, Canada joined together at Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond, MS, for the Greenhouse Tomato Short Course.

The 19th annual Greenhouse Tomato Short Course is now behind us. There was so much great information presented to participants this year that this article can only touch on a few of the highlights.

Growers and exhibitors from 21 states, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Ontario, Canada joined together at Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond, MS, to make this another successful event. This year, there were more prospective growers than ever before, and way more exhibitors. While some companies have been with the event for more than 15 years, it seems others are just discovering the Short Course. We welcome all of them.

What Was Learned

What follows are a few tidbits gleaned from the three full days of seminars.

Water. When considering a location for your new greenhouse, be certain that there is adequate water supply and that the quality of water is appropriate for greenhouse crops. Get the water tested either at your university or a private testing laboratory.

Permits. There are many newer rules and regulations that require permits so this can often be confusing. With building codes, it is not always clear which ones will be used. Therefore, start the building process early so you know what you will need.

Energy. Fuel prices are down now, compared to the past year, but we all know that they will eventually go up again. It is time to think about alternative sources of heating fuel and to research the type of burner which will be needed.

The most convenient fuel is natural gas, since it does not need storage on site. However, it is not always available in rural areas.

New Growers. For new businesses, don’t grow more tomatoes than you know you can sell. It is better to build your greenhouse supply to meet the demand. Above all, keep the fruit quality high to establish yourself in the market. Remember, you are building a reputation for selling a high-quality product so that you will generate repeat business.

Environment. Look at the detailed climate of the area to help you design the greenhouse to accommodate the environment and to change it how it needs to be changed for your crop.

Master Plan. Have a master plan for your greenhouse business. Plan for all possible future expansion so that you have enough land to make growth possible in the future if needed. Make sure all systems are sized for future needs.

Dimensions. In the south, the greenhouse should not be longer than 100 feet. In northern climates, 150 to 200 feet long is acceptable. If the greenhouse is too long, the temperature gradient from the air intake end to the exhaust end will be too great and satisfactory cooling will not be possible.

Height. The general advice now is that higher is better. In some new construction, gutter height is 18 feet. However, it costs more to build and more to heat this taller structure.

Greenhouse Cover. Double poly or glass? About 25% of structures in the U.S. are glass. However, most small growers still prefer polyethylene due to the lower cost. Now, any glass greenhouses must use tempered glass as it is required by insurance companies.

Head House. Think about building a head house at one end of the greenhouse to house equipment, a grading and packing area, etc., rather than putting it into the greenhouse. A head house will take about 6% to 7% of the total greenhouse area.

Ventilation. Ventilation will never get temperature in the greenhouse below ambient temperature outside. Try to use natural ventilation whenever possible. If you can, open vents and get some passive air movement some of the time. It is free so it will save some money. With roof ventilation, nature helps get heat out of the greenhouse by venting through the roof. Active ventilation includes exhaust fans or pad and fan systems.

HAF. Horizontal air flow, or HAF, moves air within the greenhouse and does not cool the structure. It is very beneficial to mix the inside air and equalize the temperature within the greenhouse and also helps to keep leaf and fruit surfaces dry. There are also some newer vertical air flow fans that push air into the crop canopy from above.

Heirloom Tomatoes. There is some interest in growing heirloom tomatoes. Most people identify heirlooms as non-hybrid, non-commercial varieties, like what your grandparents grew. They usually taste better than newer varieties. Heirlooms make a nice display in the market and usually bring higher retail prices. However, they are not as productive as commercial varieties and do not ship well.

For more information on the Greenhouse Tomato Short Course, go to http://greenhousetomatosc.com.