Fresh Market Vegetable Production

Green Bean Breeding and Evaluation (2009)

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Jim Myers and Brian Yorgy

Objectives: Breed improved Bush Blue Lake green bean varieties with: a. White and gray mold resistance b. Improved plant architecture c. High economic yield d. Improved pod quality (including straightness, color, smoothness, texture, flavor and quality retention, and delayed seed size development) e. Tolerance to abiotic stresses. Improve seed quality of materials in the breeding program to provide greater resistance to mechanical injury and low germination.

Soilless Media Effects on Bedding Plant Production (1984)

Satisfactory growth of annual transplants can occur in soilless media made up of a wide range of components. Peat-vermiculite mixes have been popular for many crops but the high cost of these components stimulated a search for substitutes. Each geographic area produces waste products which have potential as media components. Bark, woodchips, straw, cinders, nut shells, grains hulls, and many others have been incorporated successfully into growing media. However, the price and availability of these products vary with the economic health of the industry producing the waste.

Form and Timing of Applied Nitrogen on Sweet Corn Production (1984)

Recent experiments at the North Willamette Station indicated that, for a given level of N, yields are increased by delaying application of the bulk of the N fertilizer until the corn is 10 to 12 inches tall. These experiments used ammonium nitrate as N source and the late applied N was sidedressed on the soil surface. No additional benefit was obtained by delaying application of a portion of the N until tasseling or silking. The yield increase with split application of N could be from leaching of NO3-N below the root zone when all N is applied at planting.

Lime and Fertilizer Effects on Spring-Planted Onions (1984)

Fertilizer trials with overwinter onions at the North Willamette Station have shown a strong onion yield response to application of lime and gypsum and, in one experiment, a higher yield with ammonium sulfate rather than ammonium nitrate as N source. The yield response to gypsum and ammonium sulfate indicates that when soil pH, P, K, and N are optimal, S may be the element most limiting to onion bulb development. The following trial was designed to investigate the effects of lime, gypsum, and form of N on spring-seeded onions.

Methods

Lime and Fertilizer Effects on Overwintered Onions (1984)

Overwintered onions in the Willamette Valley are seeded in early September and harvested in the following spring or summer. Obtaining strong and early growth in the spring is essential to achieve large bulb size and profitable yields. However, soil and air temperatures are usually less than optimal during the spring growth period, possibly limiting response to fertilizers.

In-Field Forcing of Rhubarb with Gibberellic Acid (1984)

Prices paid for rhubarb are usually highest at the beginning of the production season. Growers would benefit from an inexpensive and reliable method for forcing crowns into early production. Hot house forcing has been used but this practice is expensive and the field must be replanted. Clear plastic mulch has been used to force rhubarb in the field but mulch costs may exceed $200/acre and plastic removal and disposal are an additional expense.

Size Grading of Transplants on Lettuce Head Size Variability (1984)

Transplanting lettuce seedlings can insure a nearly perfect stand. In addition, transplanting offers the possibility of bringing the crop to market earlier than a direct-seeded crop, taking advantage of higher early season market prices and allowing marketing over a longer time period. Perhaps more importantly, transplanting may allow for multiple cropping. In the Willamette Valley, for example, transplanting would allow three rather than two crops of lettuce. Transplanting may also take place when soil conditions would not allow direct seeding.