Factors determining plant temperature in a greenhouse. Radiation or heat energy can be reflected, transmitted, absorbed, conducted, re-radiated or used to evaporate water. Evaporation requires more than 500 calories per gram of water evaporated. It is evident that if radiant energy is absorbed, plant temperature must increase until an equilibrium is reached at higher values. [...]
The intricate relationship between the fruit's acidity and sugar content affects how it tastes. A modest role is also played by other substances such as tannins, water-soluble minerals, and volatile chemical molecules. Two of the key elements that affect how fruit tastes are its acidity and sugar level. Fruits with a high acidity level typically [...]
Changing the length of the dark and light periods is another way of growth control. It is an important aspect of greenhouse culture, especially flowers. Photoperiodic response is a plant's reaction to changes in daylight length or night periods. It influences flowering, bulbing, tuber formation, elongation, leaf abscission, dormancy, bud break, seed germination and sex expression. [...]
A frequent and legit question to ask from all parts of the world; how do I start a hydroponic farm or business. Deep down in me I don’t understand why people ask me this other than that they should not be in the farming business. Starting a hydroponic farm or business is the same as [...]
This is something that has been on my mind for a long time. So many growers ask me what is the best combination of crops to grow to get maximum income. It is impossible for me to answer that and I don’t think any economist can do so either. Unless you spend a lot of [...]
There is no doubt that hydroponic farming systems are feasible as a commercial operation. Proof is in the application of this technology worldwide. I do not consider any business commercially viable until it has been in operation for at least 6 years. Within that period most growers will have experienced some type of product cycle [...]
There is a hype about organically grown vegetables or any other foodstuff for that matter. Here is the irony in it all, the people that can afford organically grown food, usually don't need more nutrient, or better nutrients in their diet because they are already eating well. So why on earth are people so obsessed [...]
The nutritional value of vegetables is easily answered by the popular media, just slam a couple of very average numbers next to a couple of crops and the consumer/reader is satisfied. It is actually not so easy to answer in a single digit. Everyone wants a single value digit because it is easy to understand [...]
Quality is one of those elusive characteristics upon which so much depends but about which is so little known. The number of definitions for quality probably equals the number of writers on the subject and the various interpretations range from those of extreme simplicity to others which are complicated and detailed. It is important to [...]
