Greenhab Report – January 6th

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.

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