Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022 - 23

Transplant Production
Year 3
March-June: Leave winter-killed sorghum-sudangrass
June-November: Pumpkin or winter squash production
November-April of Year 4: Cereal rye as cover crop
Year 4
March: Terminate cereal rye cover crop
April-August: Potato production
August-October: Cowpea as cover crop
Year 5
Return to Year 1
Example 5
Year 0
Fall before Year 1: Yellow mustard as cover crop
Year 1
March-May: Leave winter-killed mustard
May-September: Cantaloupe production
September-June of Year 2: Cereal rye and hairy vetch as
cover crops
Year 2
March-June: Terminate cereal rye and hairy vetch cover
crops
June-October: Sweet potato production
October-April of Year 3: Triticale as cover crop
Year 3
March: Terminate triticale cover crop
April-July: Cauliflower production
July-August: Buckwheat as cover crop
August-November: Lettuce or spinach production
November-May of Year 4: Cereal rye as cover crop
Year 4
March-May: Terminate cereal rye cover crop
May-September: Pepper production
September-November: Mustard as cover crop
Year 5
Return to Year 1
Transplant Production
Reviewed by Liz Maynard - Aug 2021
Transplant production has replaced direct seeding for many
vegetable crops. One of transplanting's primary advantages is
earlier fruit production, allowing growers to capture better
market conditions. In addition, the high cost of hybrid seed
makes it desirable to use each seed as efficiently as possible.
Transplanting also gives the crops a competitive advantage
against weeds. This section addresses the special skills and
knowledge required for successful transplant production.
Most growers use polyethylene-covered greenhouse
structures to provide warmth and protection from the
environment. Although cole crops do not need the more
moderating conditions a greenhouse provides, they can be
grown in coldframes, lean-tos, or covered wagon beds.
The heater is one of the most critical features of a transplant
ghouse. Vegetable transplants must be kept at the appropriate
temperatures. However, if heaters are improperly exhausted,
the transplants can be stunted or deformed. To prevent heater
fumes from returning into the greenhouse, chimneys should
extend two feet above the ridge of the greenhouse.
There should be some provision for bringing fresh air into the
greenhouse. Some heaters vent fresh air into the greenhouse
every time the furnace operates. For others, a hole or holes
should be cut in the greenhouse wall and fitted with tubes to
feed outside air to the heater. Avoid space heaters that may
" spit " diesel or gasoline onto nearby plants. Heated air should
be circulated using a perforated " sock " or tube that runs the
length of the greenhouse, or fans placed on opposite sides of
the greenhouse and blowing in opposite directions. Place
thermometers in several locations to measure the temperature
at plant level. At least one high-low thermometer is a good
investment.
For detailed information about greenhouse structures, see
Greenhouse Engineering (NRAES-33), available from
Cornell University Library, ecommons.cornell.edu .
Transplant Containers
A wide variety of transplant containers are available, each
with advantages and disadvantages. The most common ones
are:
* Styrofoam trays (e.g., Speedling)
* Polystyrene or PVC flats or trays.
* Peat strips, pots or pellets (e.g., Jiffy).
Peat pot containers have the advantage that the root system
need not be disturbed upon planting. Peat pots also are more
forgiving of overwatering than other containers. If peat pots
are planted partially above ground, moisture is " wicked "
away from the plant, often resulting in plant death - peat
pellets do not have this disadvantage.
Polystyrene and Todd planter flats are both designed so that
transplants must be " popped " out of the trays, thus disturbing
the root system. This is particularly true if the roots are
allowed to grow into the ground beneath the tray. Avoid this
problem by raising the flats off the ground. Both the
polystyrene and Todd planter flats must be watered with care.
Todd planter flats have a pyramidal design that forces roots
downward to an open bottom where the roots are air pruned.
Some polystyrene containers have open bottoms - tube
types have open bottoms, groove types have small drainage
holes.
Midwest Veg Guide 2022
23
http://ecommons.cornell.edu
Midwest Vegetable Guide - 2022

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