New Videos Offer Production Tips for Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
May 19, 2020 
For several years, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has offered online certification courses in greenhouse management, with more than 650 growers taking these courses in 2019. Starting this month, the Greenhouse Training Online program is adding video content on a new YouTube channel.
The first new videos in English and Spanish walk viewers through the process of petiole sap testing with the guidance of Tatiana Sanchez, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Commercial Horticulture Agent. The videos also include links to bilingual fact sheets in BackPocketGrower.org in the Fertilizer and Nutrients section under Training.
Nitrate and potassium meters are effective tools for growers to do on-site testing of nutrient levels in the sap of greenhouse crops, Sanchez says. The meters can also be used as a quick check of nutrient level in the fertigation solution, along with pH and electrical conductivity, to make sure that nutrient level is on track.
“Frequent monitoring of nitrogen levels in the hydroponic solution and in the plant sap is one of the best management practices to avoid nutrient issues and achieve the maximum crop potential,” Sanchez says.
Interpretive guidelines are available for major crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries.
The resources are included in upcoming Greenhouse Training Online courses for growers on nutrient management and hydroponic vegetable production. More videos are set to be released in the coming weeks.
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