Strawberry Growth And Development

The time required to go from flowers to mature fruit depends on the air and soil temperatures; the higher the temperature the faster it grows. Growth slows down as the temperature decreases. Temperatures lower than 40° Fahrenheit will cause the plant and the fruit to go stop growing. Water is very important to the strawberry during fruit formation and throughout fruit development and maturity. If there is not enough water it will show in the poor fruit quality. Water needed to “plump up” the berry will go out of the berry and into the leaves and crown to keep the plant alive under hot and dry conditions. The fruits shrivel and probably will never regain their full potential size. It is very important to have plenty of water during the period of final fruit swell just before the berries get ripe. Pick off the blossoms during the first year so the plant puts all of its energy into its own growth instead of fruit production. Removing the flowers encourages more runners to form.

Winter Care

A winter mulch should be applied to your strawberries after the first hard frost. A light frost will not harm the plants, but they should be protected from hard freezes. If the mulch is applied too early, the plants will not become as winter hardy as they should. They could suffer during the coldest parts of the winter if they do not have a mulch cover. If applied too late, the plants will have already experienced damage to their crowns and nest year’s fruit buds; resulting in a poorer crop. When new leaves start to develop in the spring, fork off the winter mulch and place it between the rows in the pathways. Winter mulch will cover over the plants themselves. Clear off the mulch each spring or it will delay the growth. The purpose of a winter mulch is to protect plants from cold and against soil heaving due to changing temperatures. The mulch should be at least 4 inches thick. Snow acts as a natural winter mulch that will insulate plants from the cold. Because snowfall is unreliable, it is better to use straw.

Berry Development

The second spring after planting strawberry plants will flower again. Bees visit the flowers and spread pollen from flower to flower. Strawberry flowers have many female flower parts. Pollen must be placed on each one for a seed to develop. The eveloping seeds release plant hormones that cause the berry to swell and become sweet and tasty. If the seeds are removed from one side of an immature strawberry that side of the berry will stop growing. Under normal conditions it will take from 30 to 45 days from flowering to harvest.

Harvest and Storage

Strawberries will turn bright red when they are ripe and ready to be harvested. Carefully pick the berry by pinching the stem between your thumb and forefinger and pull with a twisting motion. Leave the stem on the fruit. Don’t wash the fruit until you are ready to eat it. Strawberries can be stored for a few days to a week in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat them, wash the strawberries in cold running water. Strawberries freeze well for eating later, too! Prepare them like you would for eating, but place them in bags in the freezer. If you want to be able to remove only a few berries from the freezer at a time, freeze the berries on waxed paper on a tray or cookie sheet and them put the frozen berries in bags.

Aluminet is a special knitted screen made from metallized HDPE (High Density Polypropylene). The fibers are produced from mono-oriented HDPE giving the fiber durability and longevity. After an aluminum metallization process, the films are covered with a special anti-oxidation coating. The net is knitted into a precise uniform texture that meets the ASTM-D 3887 standard.

Due to the superior reflect ability and lightweight of Aluminet, it is the perfect cloth to cover the outside of a greenhouse. It does not absorb heat . Its dual functionality both shades and cools the greenhouse.

Much lighter in weight than standard shade cloth, it is easy and quick to install. Aluminet is also used as a direct covering over vegetable crops . The aluminized screens not only provide shade, but also protect against frost . Under actual field trials, crops covered with Aluminet during frost conditions had no damage.

ALUMINET (an aluminized shade cloth) is more expensive than black shade cloth. What are the benefits of this shade cloth, and do the benefits justify the increase in price?

	ALUMINET reduces heat load in the greenhouse. Because of the highly reflective nature of Aluminet, radiation is reflected away from the net.
	With black shade cloth, the radiation is absorbed by the net resulting in hotter nets. The black net thus provides a heat source to the greenhouse at a time when the greenhouse should be cooled. If ventilation is adequate, temperatures in houses with black net can be maintained very near houses with ALUMINET, but the fans will be working more to achieve the result.

In situations where the heat load is pushing the ventilation to its limits, actual temperature differences will occur, with the ALUMINET being cooler.

ALUMINET works as a thermal blanket. All warm objects become cooler by giving off longwave, infrared (heat) radiation. At night, the warm earth surface cools as it gives off infrared radiation. On clear nights, this radiation is lost into space. On cloudy nights, some of this radiation is reflected back to the earth by the clouds, maintaining a warmer temperature than would occur on a clear night (under otherwise similar conditions). Within the greenhouse, this same process is going on. The plants and floor give off invisible heat radiation at night.

ALUMINET, when installed as a thermal blanket/shade cloth, reflects this radiation back to the plants maintaining warmer leaf temperatures. This decreases condensation on the leaves as well as helps to maintain warmer air temperature within the canopy. Because the net is open weave, air does pass through the net. While this tempers the thermal benefits to some degree (compared to a solid screen), this has distinct advantages, particularly with naturally ventilated houses. First, the open weave of ALUMINET allows better movement of hot air to roof vents when used as shade during the day, and second, it allows moisture to pass through to the peak of the house, maintaining lower humidity near the plants.

In this shade house, Aluminet provides frost protection while less reflective nets in the background fail. Aluminet is effective in reflecting longwave (heat) radiation back to the plants at night.

ALUMINET provides for more diffused light in the plant canopy. With black shade cloth, the net will absorb rays of light coming from low angles. Because ALUMINET is reflective, it will allow much of this low angle, (diffused) light to pass through the net into the canopy. In permanent installations, this can allow for more light into the canopy during the low light periods in early morning or late afternoon. While the benefits of diffused light have been minimally documented, personal testimonies suggestion many benefits including:

1. Higher yield, especially in tall canopy crops. With direct light, the upper leaves get excess light and the lower leaves are in shade. With diffused light, the light is spread more evenly throughout the canopy. In a greenhouse tomato study in Israel, a 6-7% increase in tomato yield (11,574 kg vs. 10,866 kg for one manufacturer and 9972 kg vs. 9094 kg for a second manufacturer) was seen for films with diffusive agents (comparisons include the same films with and without the diffusive additives).
2. More diffused light will minimize shadows within the greenhouse, giving more constant light throughout the greenhouse.
3. Diffuse light gives more light into the lower canopy, which may stimulate branching.

Shade%	30%	40%	50%	60%	70%
Weight (oz/sq ft)	1.97	1.86	2.01	2.53	2.57
Light Reflection%	34	40	43	45	55
Energy Savings%	N/A	15	20	40	50
Surface Cover%	40	50	60	70	80
Ball burst strength (kg/cm2)	3.9	3.6	3.7	4.3	4.7

Notice the blue and bronze coloring in the strands of Aluminet. The blue is reflected from the sky above while the bronze is reflected from the fabric beneath it. Because the strands are twisted, ALUMINET will reflect diffused light from many directions.

• Use poles of 10.49 ft, planted to a minimum depth of 23.62 inches.
• Plant two rows of poles 164.04 ft apart.
• Each row consists of 18 poles at center-to-center intervals of 9.84 ft.
• Prepare 19.68 x 19.68 ft poles by fitting 0.47 inches drawbolts through drilled holes at what will be 16.40 ft and 8.20 ft respectively above ground level.
• Plant these poles – three on each side of the square area – to a minimum depth of 3.28 ft and at center-to-center intervals of 41.01 ft.
• Brace and anchor these 19.68 ft poles very securely with two stays each, tied around the pole just above each of the drawbolts.
• Now strain 0.19 inches wire rope between the drawbolts at the 8.20 ft level and, preferably, more substantial 0.23 inches wire rope between the drawbolts at the top 16.40 ft level.

• Brace and anchor the two rows of shorter poles by straining a wire along the length of each row, across the tops of the poles. Alternatively, you can nail split poles across the tops.

Fitting the shadecloth:

• Lace up the shadecloth with edge wire as described previously and lift each roll into position on the cross wire above the short poles.
• Secure the edge wires and sew the cloth at one end and then roll the cloth out over the lower cross wires between the tall poles.
• Fasten and tension the edge wires, stretch the shadecloth and sew the opposite end as described for other structures.
• Tie binding wire to the upper cross cables, allowing it to hang down on either side of the lower cross cables through the gaps between the shadecloth sheets.
• Clip or tie the edge wires together at approximately 19.68 inches intervals.

Lifting and stabilizing the roof:

• To achieve the desired”domed” effect, start at the midpoint of the structure by lifting the center of the roof with the vertical tensioning wires and tying the roof in position, as shown in the illustration.
• Then lift the centers of the roof on either side with the other two pairs of cross cables.
• Now revert to the middle cross cables and tighten the tensioning wires to the left and to the right of the center wire.
• Next, tighten the corresponding tensioning wires on the two outer cable pairs, and repeat the entire procedure until you reach the sides of the shadehouse and all the tensioning wires are taut.

• The upwards deflection of the roof stabilizes it against upward wind forces whilst the tension in the top lifting cable stabilizes it against downward wind forces.
• As a general rule when erecting suspension-type structures larger or smaller than the one illustrated, you can work to the distance between the top and bottom lifting cables being 5% of the width of the span – in the illustration, the span is 167.32 ft, and the distance between the upper and lower cables 8.20 ft (=5% approx.).
• Ideally, all four sides should be enclosed as described earlier.

• Onion family: onions, garlic, leeks and shallots


• Carrot family: carrots, celery, parsley and parsnips


• Sunflower family: lettuce, sunflowers and a few other leafy greens


• Cabbage family: cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and many other leafy greens, as well as rutabagas and kohlrabi


• Spinach family: beets and chard


• Cucumber family: cucumbers, melons, squash and gourds


• Pea family: peas and beans


• Grass family: corn, wheat, oats and rye


• Tomato family: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes

When it reaches temperatures of 850–900 °C, perlite softens (since it is a glass). Water trapped in the structure of the material vapourises and escapes and this causes the expansion of the material to 7–16 times its original volume. The expanded material is a brilliant white, due to the reflectivity of the trapped bubbles.

Unexpanded ("raw") perlite bulk density: around 1100 kg/m³ (1.1 g/cm³).

Typical expanded perlite bulk density: 30–150 kg/m³

Due to its low density and relatively low price, many commercial applications for perlite have developed.

In horticultural applications, perlite is used throughout the world as a component of soilless growing mixes where it provides aeration and optimum moisture retention for superior plant growth. For rooting cuttings, 100% perlite is used. Studies have shown that outstanding yields are achieved with perlite hydroponic systems. Other benefits of horticultural perlite are its neutral pH and the fact that it is sterile and weed-free. In addition, its light weight makes it ideal for use in container growing. Other horticultural applications for perlite are as a carrier for fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides and for pelletizing seed. Horticultural perlite is as useful to the home gardener as it is to the commercial grower. It is used with equal success in greenhouse growing, landscaping applications and in the home in house plants.

Perlite is also used in foundries, cryogenic insulation, as a lightweight aggregate in mortar (firestop) and in ceramics as a clay additive.

Perlite is an excellent filter aid. It is used extensively in Australia and New Zealand as an alternative to diatomaceous earth. The popularity of Perlite usage in this application is growing considerably worldwide.

Typical analysis of perlite

• 70-75% silicon dioxide: SiO2
• 12-15% aluminium oxide: Al2O3
• 3-4% sodium oxide: Na2O
• 3-5% potassium oxide: K2O
• 0.5-2% iron oxide: Fe2O3
• 0.2-0.7% magnesium oxide: MgO
• 0.5-1.5% calcium oxide: CaO
• 3-5% loss on ignition (chemical / combined water)

Vermiculite: A mineral similar to mica which, like haydite and pearlite, expands and becomes porous when heated. It also retains moisture well, but it is not as durable as pearlite and it is also light in weight. On the plus side, its color is not as noticeable as pearlite.

It seems that there properties make them level. They both have good moisture retention with the downside to Pearlite as the lightness being that it is hard to water without the particles floating out of the pot.
So coming down to it, it seems like it is the durability of one against the visual attractiveness of the other. Whereas Perlite DOESN’T have visual attractiveness and DOES have durability, Vermiculite DOES have visual attractiveness and NOT durability. Vermiculite also has a tendency of compacting and becoming mush, which in turn impedes drainage, as it has no form perse when wet.

Because fresh food in general tastes better and is often cheaper than processed food, here is how to roast your own pumpkin:
Choose a firm, small pie pumpkin, not more than 3-4 pounds; smaller pumpkins tend to be a bit sweeter

Rinse the pumpkin under warm water, removing any dirt or debris

Cut the pumpkin in half on a large cutting board, with a sharp knife

Lay the pumpkin face side down in a large baking dish.  Coat the outside and the inside of the pumpkin with olive oil

Bake at 350° for 45-60 minutes (depending on size) or until tender, using a fork to checkRemove from oven and scoop out insides, discarding skin

Store in refrigerator in a glass mason jar, keeps for 5 days in refrigerator (at the ready for your pumpkin pie)
Keeps even longer in the freezer, I put 2 to 3 cups in a freezer ziplock, (the amount for a pumpkin pie)

You can also cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces, cubes about 1 inch, and it will cook faster. The pumpkin is cooked for ½ hour to 1 ½ hours depending on the size of the pumpkin.

The above pumpkin preparation technique applies to any winter squash: butternut, buttercup, acorn, kabocha, hubbard, and more. I often substitute these squash in my recipes that call for pumpkin which works very well.

Neem is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Indian sub-continent. This tree has a history of growing up to 50 ft. high and has been used for many different purposes for more than 4500 years. The earliest documentation revealed usage of various parts of Neem tree like fruit, leaves, seed oil, roots and bark for their benefits to animals and human beings due to its medicinal properties. Its leaves and extract are well documented as medicine for skin diseases and as the best available tonic for the skin and external subcutaneous tissues. It is popularly known in India as village Dispensary (Medical Clinic). In the first millennium BC it was considered to be the remedy for all sorts of diseases in living beings. As scientists searched in dangerous rainforests and inaccessible areas of the world looking for useful plants, this tree was growing in front yards of houses and colleges, in every town, city and village of south Asia and Africa. It was just the familiarity that left this plants’ miracles/importance hidden until a few scientists took a closer look at this ancient tree. After some observation, they found it extremely important in day to day life for curing all types of illnesses in humans and animals. Since then, Neem tree came to the attention of researchers around the world in order to explore its properties and usage in different areas of interest.

Importance of Neem Tree

Out of all the plants that have proved useful for humanity, a few are distinguished by their astonishing versatility. Among these, Neem tree (commonly known as Azadirachta Indica) is one of the most important ones found in arid regions of world. From its roots to its spreading crown, the tree contains a plethora of important compounds useful for animals, people and plants. Neem tree’s virtues are, to a large extent, attributable to its chemical constituents.

Different parts of Neem tree and its oil extracted out of seed is being used in different parts of the world for different purposes. Two decades of research has revealed promising results in many disciplines like medicines, cosmetics and agriculture etc. This obscure species may be on the cusp of bringing enormous benefits to countries both poor and rich. Even some of the most cautious researchers are saying that Neem deserves to be called a wonder plant. These days many types of products are being consumed in daily life around the world made out of Neem and it’s by-products. I will discuss briefly the usage and importance of Neem tree in some of the disciplines in the following paragraphs.

Medicines

Herbal medicines are used for treatment of different types of diseases in all parts of world. Neem tree is an important part of these herbal medicines and is mentioned in many ancient texts dealing with medicines. Traditional Indian medical authorities place it at the pinnacle of their pharma copeia. Due to extraordinary properties of Neem, its bark, leaves, flowers, seed and fruit pulp were and are now used to treat a wide range of diseases and complaints ranging from leprosy, diabetes, ulcers to skin disorders and constipation etc. Scientists from the developed world are working extensively in exploring Neem tree and its properties to formulate new antibiotics.

Cosmetics

Different parts of Neem tree are being used extensively in manufacturing of soaps, skin creams/lotions, shampoos, toothpastes, beauty aids and toiletries. The Neem twigs are more commonly being used as antiseptic tooth brushes. In most cases Neem oil/extract is being used for making these cosmetics like soaps and tooth pastes etc.

Agricultural

It is in agriculture where most of the scientists focused their research for exploring the benefits of Neem for crop production. Because of those findings, Neem oil, Neem cake, leaves and other parts of Neem tree are being used quite extensively in the agriculture sector in different parts of world. Its main uses in the agriculture sector include being an insecticide in food storage, as soil amendment, fertilizer efficiency enhancer, and very effective foliar pesticide.

Food Storage

In all areas of tropics, much of the harvested food is lost during storage because of worms, beetles and other infestations. People do not prefer to use chemicals insecticides on stored grains in general and more specifically for food stored for their own consumption. For centuries, Neem oil has provided farmers with an effective remedy against such insects. A very light coating of Neem oil protects stored food crops for up to 20 months from all types of infestations with no deterioration or loss of palatability. Neem fresh leaves are also used on small scale for storage of food grain at home quite effectively, but this is being done on a small scale.

Soil Amendment

Neem cake (after the oil is extracted from the seed kernels, the left over material is called cake) has been used for many centuries throughout Indian sub continent as an effective soil amendment. Farmers of this region have learned through experience that using Neem cake in soil produces larger and healthier plants that have few or no insect/disease problem. Several studies were also conducted by different scientists to find out why plants grew better in soil mixed with Neem cake. Their results revealed that Neem cake is richer in plant available nutrients than manures; it killed damaging nematodes, promoted large population of earth worms, helped keep nitrogen in the soil available for plants and provide significant protection from insects. Farmers of that region have a clear idea that by killing nematodes in soil, a major plant pest is eliminated from soil. Nematodes are very harmful for plants. Nematodes suck juice from roots of plants to the point where they are unable to supply sufficient nutrients to the plant. Then the plants look unhealthy, fail to grow and may eventually die despite sufficient food, water and care.

Use of Neem cake in soil also helps keep soil loose by promoting earthworm activities in soil, which helps in absorption of nutrients and water by plants more easily and efficiently. Neem cake allows plants to develop a strong defense system against these pest attacks by initially protecting plants from insect/pest. Secondly, Neem compounds absorbed through soil enhance these natural defense systems with proven nutritive, antifungal and insect repellent properties of Neem.

Pesticide (Insecticide and Fungicide)

Although Neem extract/oil has been under use for centuries for control of insects, the major work on Neem oil and its impact on insects started in 1959. A German Entomologist observed that during a plague of locust in Sudan, the only greenery left untouched despite the devastation by billions of winged locusts was the Indian Neem tree. He noticed that although the locust had landed on the tree and its leaves, they did not feed. The anti-feedant properties of Neem tree, which was well known in India, was the reason. This attracted the attention of the developed world which triggered research on such a powerful tree.

The natural properties of Neem oils pose no danger of toxic reactions in the environment. The seeds and leaves are now the source of a class of pesticide named soft pesticides (Non Toxic and Natural). The main mode of action of Neem oil is anti-feedant. Insects pests usually refuse to eat any plant covered with Neem oil. Its other derivatives include insect repellent and a reducer of an insect ability to reproduce. Its active ingredient, Azadirachtin, is similar to insect hormone (Ecdysones) which have naturally insect growth regulators which then interfere with the molting (shedding and regeneration of outer body layer) and metamorphosis (a process of insect birth). It is natural safe and biodegradable product which is extensively used in various parts of world as insecticide.

Millions of pounds of synthetic insecticides are being used on residential gardens and lawns and crops every year through out the world. Usually they are quick in action and kill any insect on contact, including the beneficial insects. Although these synthetic insecticides are being used specifically for insects, they can harm any living being who lives or pass through that area where spray is being used for insect killing. Almost all manufacturers of the insecticides have a caution of do not step on grass for at least three days after spray and keep pets, children away from that area. On the other hand, Neem oil is non-toxic to animals and people. Areas sprayed with Neem oil are not poisonous areas to be avoided for days. Only insects that are harmful for plant growth are affected by Neem oil, leaving honey bees and other beneficial insects unharmed. In fact, with the spray of Neem oil the average number and size of earth worms increase in sprayed area compared to unsprayed areas. There is growing awareness among people to use safe and natural products that can serve the purpose without effecting the environment.

Neem oil can also provide protection against fungal diseases. Spray of Neem oil (it has been observed with several experiments) on plants prevent the outbreak of Powdry Mildew disease quite effectively and in some cases better than any commercial product. Its use can also stop the production of Aflatoxin (a very toxic Carcinogenic substance in food grains) by inhibiting the activity of mold to produce this substance. It is considered most effective as a fungi preventive and as a cure after the disease is established on plants.

The plant kingdom is a vast storehouse of biologically active chemicals for pest control. Insects are less likely to develop resistance to this botanical control as their activity is multifaceted. Plant based insecticides are safer to non-target organisms. Neem oil is effective in controlling more than 200 species of insects pests reported by various researchers around the world and no other plant or synthetic substance has such a diverse action on insects. Scientists after studying more than 200 plants exhibiting insecticidal properties reach the consensus that Neem is the most effective and environmental friendly cure for the insects and diseases. At the same time no other tree has received as much attention as Neem in recent past. Its popularity is increasing day by day all over the world where people love to have alternatives to chemical/toxic pesticides. Many scientific institutions and agro industries are trying to make more effective pesticides formulation based on Neem. Use Neem Oil type soft pesticides that can not only serve the purpose but also does not pose any threat to the environment.