Now, Ecke Ranch is putting growers in a position to speed up the propagation process, developing the Ecke Snap (ES) system that starts with growers receiving pre-stuck callused cuttings in ES media and trays (ES78) directly from Ecke Ranch’s offshore farms.
“This is a whole new way in which to process cuttings,” says Steve Rinehart, chief operating officer at Ecke Ranch. “Now what we’re doing in Ecke Snap 78 is pre-filling a tray out of Guatemala. We put the media and pre-stick the callused cutting prior to leaving Guatemala.”
The ES system eliminates three key phases of the propagation process, putting growers in a position to simply apply two weeks of bench heat and mist before moving directly into the transplanting stage.
“Typically in propagation, the first two weeks are when you’re going to get leaf yellowing,” Rinehart says. “This can be eliminated by bringing in a callused cutting. We’re not propagating in this media offshore. We’re packing it prior to bringing it to the U.S.”
Because cuttings arrive pre-stuck in ES media, growers will require fewer people on hand when their cuttings arrived. Usually, growers rush unrooted cuttings into coolers and stick them within 24 hours. The ES system eliminates that step.
Learn more about Ecke Ranch online at www.ecke.com.