BALANCING GROWTH IN THE GARDEN
Many berry crops need exposure to a period of cold temperatures
to develop flower buds.
Growers use a technique called a pre-night drop
to help boost fruit size. This process involves
increasing the heat in the late afternoon, which
is absorbed by the fruit tissue, while sugars
accumulate in the photosynthesizing leaves.”
accumulate in the photosynthesizing leaves. In the evening,
the temperature is dropped back down quickly by several
degrees to 60-62 oF, which causes the thinner leaves at the
top of the plant to cool quickly, while the larger fruit mass
remains warmer for much longer. The cooler leaves then
unload their sugars on the warmer fruit, forcing more sugars
for growth out of the foliage and into the fruit. While this
technique is most widely used on tomatoes, it can be used on
many different types of crops.
Understanding the triggers and tools that can be used to
balance or steer plants into the growth pattern we want can
be extremely useful. The strategy is widely used by commercial gardeners. An indoor garden is the ideal environment to experiment with such techniques, as precise control
over photoperiod, temperature, moisture and EC can all
be achieved. Since different species can vary considerably
in their requirements and response to flowering triggers, it
pays to know a little about the physiology of your hydroponic
crop, and how to get the best from any new techniques.
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Maximum Yield USA | October 2015