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| Tomato Production |
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Greenhouse Tomato Production
Nursery: The tomato seedlings are grown at a specialised seedling nursery. The seed is carefully sown into Rockwool blocks and then nurtured for approximately 4 weeks until ready for planting
Planting: The small plants are carefully transported to the glasshouses and planted onto Rockwool slabs to begin their growing cycle. Rockwool is a 100%
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natural organic medium made out of volcanic rock
Feeding: Each plant has its own computer controlled feeding system, which takes effect immediately the plant is placed onto the slab. Feeding continues throughout the plant's life cycle.
Growing Process: As the plants grow, they are lateraled (side shoots taken out),
de-leafed as appropriate and twisted up a string to the overhead wires. From here they are managed in a variety of different ways
Flowering: Bumblebees pollinate the tomato flowers. Hives are placed into the glasshouses just prior to the first flowers
coming out. The hives stay in the glasshouse throughout the flowering life cycle of the plant. The hives are replaced every six to
eight weeks
Biological Pest Control: Status uses the method of 'good bugs' fighting 'bad bugs'. This is called 'Integrated Pest
Management'. Some of the good bugs used are 'Encarcia Formosa' (tiny wasp) which controls the white fly - a common 'bad' bug for
tomato plants. The Encarcia eggs are attached to a card which is strategically placed throughout the crops. The eggs hatch out over
a period of a few weeks. New Encarcia egg cards are introduced consistently throughout the plant's lifecycle
Environmental Management: Advanced state-of-the-art technology allows Status to manage the environment under which the crops
are grown. This can be as simple as opening and shutting the vents as the system monitors the weather conditions (wind, rain, heat,
humidity, cold) to the more complex issues of feeding and raising the crops to produce an abundance of healthy, superior quality
produce
Picking: Approximately six to eight weeks from the time the plant is planted out into the glasshouses, the first of the
fruit is ready to be picked, packed and sent to market
Skilled Team: The fully integrated process, from seed through to fruiting and picking could not happen without the deeply committed and skilled grower managers and their dedicated team of experienced assistants |
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