1. Diversification with Horticultural Crops Why Diversify? To protect and increase income. Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office July 2004

2. What are Horticultural Crops? Ornamental Trees and shrubs Sod Greenhouse Crops Fruit and Vegetables Peppers Squash Onions Carrots Blueberries Strawberries

3. In Ground Tree Production Tree Liners are produced from seed or vegetative cutting. Grown in bed for one year. Liners are transplanted to field and grown for one more year. Whips are transplanted to field for finishing.This requires three to five more years to produce a well branched canopy.

4. Tree farm in Toombs county

5. Growing the Tree Irrigation is low pressure/low volume drip. Fertilizer applied through irrigation. Tree is pruned to develop canopy. Pesticides applied to prevent disease and insects.

6. Harvesting Tree spade on skid-steer loader digs trees. Tree is set in wire basket lined with burlap. Left in field to acclimatize.

7. The tree is dug and lifted.

9. A wire basket and liner is placed in the hole

10. The tree is set down into the basket

13. The tree is left in the field to harden-off.

14. Marketing 50% of trees sold in Georgia grown out of state. Sold mostly to commercial landscapers. Market is developed through advertising in trade magazines and trade shows. Sold by grower or through broker.

15. Labor Requirement Low and steady.

16. Sod Production

17. Growing Established by seeding or sprigging. Will take 2 years after initial establishment before harvesting. Weed, disease, and insect control is essential. Can be irrigated and fertilized with pivot irrigation.

18. Grass seedlings.

19. Harvesting Sod is cut and loaded on pallet. Requires 40 hp or more tractor. 67 pallets(600sq.ft/pallet) produced on one acre. Local price is $100/pallet. Small strip left to re-establish.

20. Mechanical harvesting.

21. Putting the sod on a pallet.

23. A pallet of sod ready to be loaded.

24. Marketing Small grower can sell locally directly to homeowner or landscaper. Larger grower markets to lawn and garden retailers and landscapers. Some growers also install sod. Growers usually required to deliver. Markets established by advertising in local media, and regional trade magazines and shows.

25. Greenhouse Crops Ornamental Bedding plants Hanging baskets Florist crops Perennials Vegetable transplants

26. Ornamental Crops grown on benches, floor, and outside. Production time is 3 to 9 months. Grown from liners produced in house or by specialist. Marketed directly to consumers or to retail outlets. Labor requirement is high and seasonal.

27. Automated transplanting

29. Plug trays.

30. Young poinsettias.

31. Fall crops

32. Vegetable Transplants Direct seeded into trays. Short crop time. Usually grown on t-rail system. Marketed directly to farmers or to retail outlets. Labor requirements high and seasonal.

33. Collards grown on t-rail system.

35. T-tail system and automated irrigation.

38. Vegetable and Fruit Production

39. Growing Vegetables are grown from seed or by transplants. Strawberries, peppers, eggplant grown by plasticulture with drip tape irrigation and injected fertilization Squash, onions, sweet corn irrigated with pivot.

40. Peppers near Americus in October.

41. Cabbage in Tattnall County

42. Squash growing in Toombs County during October.

43. Marketing DON’T PLANT UNLESS YOU HAVE A MARKETING PLAN! Local or roadside sales. Supermarket chains. Shipment to other states requires packing house, cooler, and sometimes a broker.

44. Shipping and packing near Americus.

45. Trade Groups Georgia Green Industry 706-632-0100 P.O. Box 369 Epworth, Ga.30541 Georgia Flower Growers Association P.O. Box 2945 LaGrange. Ga. 30241 Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association P.O. Box 2945 LaGrange, Ga. 30201