News Release Distributed 02/01/08
Commercial tomato growers will learn the latest about the greenhouse tomato industry at the 12th annual Tomato Field Day at the Red River Research Station in Bossier City on Feb. 29.
Growers can expect hands-on experience during a seminar and workshop from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to H.Y. Hanna, LSU AgCenter researcher at the station in charge of the greenhouse tomato project. There is no registration fee.
“People from all over the state and even out-of-state attend this event,” Hanna said.
Topics to be addressed include grafting greenhouse tomatoes; heating and cooling greenhouse tomatoes; initial cost and yield of tomatoes raised in perlite, pine bark and rockwool; recycling perlite for cost-effective greenhouse tomato production; selecting a good tomato cultivar; cluster pruning; saving plant energy from unwanted fruit; raised gutter benefits and drawbacks; pollination and bumblebees; and irrigating tomatoes with rain water.
A new topic for home gardeners this year is pollinating the vegetable garden yourself for food and fun, Hanna said.
In addition, participants will learn ways to plant tomato seeds for better germination, produce transplants in different media, feed tomato transplants and mature plants, test water quality, correct magnesium deficiency, and prepare and install heating tubes.
For more information, contact Hanna at (318) 741-7430, ext. 1116, or e-mail him at hhanna@agcenter.lsu.edu.
The LSU AgCenter’s Red River Research Station is located three miles south of the Jimmie Davis Bridge on U.S. Highway 71.
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Contact: H.Y. Hanna at (318) 741-7430, ext. 1116, or hhanna@agcenter.lsu.edu
Writer: Mary Ann Van Osdell at (318) 741-7430, ext. 1104, or mvanosdell@agcenter.lsu.edu