Search
Tomato production is in full swing at the Red River Research Station in Caddo Parish.
On Wednesday, May 7th 2017, a group of interested and excited Master Gardeners discovered what it was all about!
By touring the greenhouse production operation with Carrie Lott, LSU AgCenter Greenhouse manager, along with Brent Jeansonne, Associate Extension Area Agent - Northwest Region assisting, the principles and practices of the production operations were illustrated and discussed.
TOPICS:
Topics such as planting dates and number of crops and other topics including: Varietal selection, plant spacing; media type, media maintenance and preparation; watering/fertigation, temperature control including methods of heating and cooling, CO2 control, pollination, plant maintenance including tying and pruning, insect control and harvesting were just a few topics discussed.
PRODUCTION SUMMARY (per greenhouse):
Evaluation of tomato cultivars are based on: Yield, Quality, Shelf life and Popularity
• Two (2) crops per year
• 600 plants
• Spacing: Grow Bag/Grow Bag (12”) – Rows (5 ft)
• SPRING PRODUCTION – 25 lbs./plant – 15,000 lbs.
• WINTER PRODUCTION – 9 lbs./plant – 5,400 lbs.
• Total per Year – 20,400 lbs
The LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station - Greenhouse Tomato Growing operation is a demonstration greenhouse and is open to the general public. Touring the greenhouse is available by appointment only. If you are interested in touring as an individual or a group, please call the research station at (318) 741-7430 or call Brent Jeansonne at (318) 698-0010.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture
