Greenhab Report – January 6th – Mars Desert Research Station

GreenHab Report

Mark Gee

06Jan2018

Environmental control:

Heating

Shade cloth on

Working Hour: 05:40 PM
Inside temp at working hour: 20 C
Outside temp during working hours: -3 C
Inside temperature high: 22 C
Inside temperature low: 15 C
Inside humidity: 25 %RH

Inside humidity high: 32 %RH
Inside humidity low: 16 %RH

Hours of supplemental light:

For the crops 05:00 to 11:59 PM

Changes to crops: There have been two cloudy days in a row, so the crops did not require much water. Used all of the remaining tomato cages to support the larger tomato plants. Seeded several crops. Used the old seed to see what will grow. If there is no germination, newer seed packs will be used.

Below is an updated inventory of all of the crops, quantity, growth stage, actions taken, and notes.

Name	Quantity	Growth Stage	Action	Notes
Dill Weed	2ft row, ~40 plants	Seedling, 5 true leaves		Quick growing. Needs thinning.
Rosemary	2ft row, ~20 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf		Slow growing.
Parsley	2ft row, ~50 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf		Moderate growth. Needs thinning.
Cilantro	2ft row, ~40 plants	Seedling, 2 true leafs		Moderate growth
Oregano	2ft row, ~100 plants	Seedling, cotyledon	Spaced seedlings.	Slow growth.
Sage	2ft row, ~10 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf		Moderate growth.
Basil	2ft row, ~40 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf		Moderate growth. Needs thinning.
Thyme	2ft row, ~30 plants	Seedling, 2 true leafs		Slow growth.
Chives	2ft row, ~20 plants	Seedling, 1 leaf		Slow growth
Lavender	2ft row	Seeds, not emerged	Seeded plants.	Previous planting did not grow.
Spinach, Bloomsdale	3 pots, 16 plants.	Seedling, one true leaf.	Transplanted 06Jan2018
Spinach, Bloomsdale	4ft row	Seeds, not emerged	Planted 06Jan2018
Kale, Blue Curled Scotch	5 pots, ~50 plants	Seedling, one true leaf	Transplanted 06Jan2018
Cabbage, Golden Acre	1 seedling tray, ~20 plants	Seedlings, cotyledons		Need transplanting
Moringa Olifera	14 plots	Seeds, no emergence		These are trees. Should they be grown in the small Greenhab?
Paperwhites	3 pots, seven plants	Various, sprouted to flowering		Smell fragrant
Beans, Pole	27 plants	3ft vines, producing flowers and pods		Harvest at end of rotation.
Cucumber	23 plants, 7 pots	3ft vines, producing flowers and fruit
Melon	8 plants	2ft vines, no flowers		Slow growth.
Peppers	9 pots, 23 plants	8 inches, vegetative		Slow growth
Tomatoes	39 pots, 57 plants	6in-48in tall, some flowering	Transplanted 05Jan2018	Do we need this many tomato plants?
Radish	1 pot, three plants	Vegetative, 1ft tall
Radish sprouts	6 sq ft	Seedling, cotyledons	Planted 04Jan2018	Seedlings should be harvested around 17Jan2018.
Swiss Chard	1 starter container	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Scallions	5 starter containers	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Onion	8 starter containers	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Broccoli	1 starter container	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Carrot	6 starter containers, 4 pots	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Lettuce, Romaine	1 starter container, 1 ft row	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Lettuce, Red Leaf	1 starter container, 1 ft row	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson	2 starter containers, 1 ft row	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Lettuce, sprouts misc.	2 sq ft	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Lettuce, Bibb	1 sq ft	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Mustard	1 pot	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Quinoa, Red Sprouting	2 sq ft	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Zennia	1 pot	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 06Jan2018
Arugula	2 starter containers, 2 ft row	Seeds, no emergence	Planted 04Jan2018

Daily water usage for crops: 5 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 05:30PM

Research observations: Sprayed moringa experiment with moringa extract as directed. Microgreen sprouts are growing well.

Changes to research plants: None.

Aquaponics: Not in use.

Narrative: The larger tomato plants were starting to lean over, so I used all of the cages available to support as many plants as possible. The rest of the tomatoes will need cages soon, as will the vining cucumbers. The cucumber plants have already started climbing the shade cloth and lighting cables in their quest to take over.

To maximize the efficiency of the Green Hab, it is important to select crops that are suited to greenhouse production and to space out plantings of crops to ensure steady yields. For future Green Hab officers, I would recommend against planting things like melons that can require up to 75 sq ft per plant and have a 10 ft long tap root that is not easily accommodated in a pot. The 50+ tomato plants seem to have been planted at the same time, which means that they will start yielding at the same time. Hopefully the crew on rotation can freeze some tomato sauce for future crews to use.

To bring more crop variety to the Green Hab, I planted carrots, onions, broccoli, scallion, three varieties of lettuce, Swiss chard, arugula, quinoa, and mustard. These were the seeds available, but many are also fast growing crops that have high yields in a greenhouse environment. I used the oldest seed packets, and will replant with newer seed if nothing grows. If future officers continue plantings every two weeks, then there should be a bountiful and regular harvest for every crew.

Support/supplies needed: 50 more tomato cages will be needed to support all of the tomatoes and cucumbers currently growing in the greenhouse. All of the cages we have are in use.

Greenhab Report – January 6th

Like this:

Related

Share this:

Like this:

Related