In this episode of Tech On Demand brought to you by GrowerTalks, host Bill Calkins is joined by Troy Buechel, a Horticulture Specialist with Premier Tech, for the second in a three-part series discussing the technical side of growing media. Sampling is perhaps the most critical part of diagnostics and getting to the root of problems in your greenhouse. “Junk in, junk out,” as they say. An effective sample allows you or an independent lab to figure out the cause of a problem, while a poor sample isn’t worth much. It’s really all about consistency.
Troy and Bill start by going over what makes a consistent sample—cultivar, size, planting date, greenhouse block, etc. Sampling random plants from different locations and conditions creates a very muddy picture and stands in the way of an accurate analysis. But following some simple protocols can make the picture much clearer and the solution similarly straightforward. Next, they run through a detailed sampling process.
Troy then covers some dos and don’ts when it comes to sampling, as well as sharing some stories from the field. Sending a whole plant can lead to problems, as can sending wet samples. The last thing you want a lab to receive is a bag of mush. Troy talks you through all the steps to take. They wrap up with a conversation about protocols to follow to ensure a quick, useful analysis.
You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode, because the information builds throughout! Stay tuned for episode three, coming soon, where Troy and Bill tackle successful analysis and interpretation, because testing and sampling are done with a goal in mind. The goal is data to use in decision making. If you missed the first part in our series, The Importance of Testing, jump back in the archives and check it out.
Premier Tech Resources:
To listen:
To read:
To connect:
BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TECH ON DEMAND PODCAST ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP SO YOU NEVER MISS AN EPISODE!
Audio Files: Not Customer Service—Hospitality
Audio Files: Guide to High Tunnel Production
Audio Files: Building a Vertical Farm Team
MYSTERY SOLVED! Slime, Moss & Algae with Dr. Will Healy
Audio Files: Biofungicides—What to Consider
Tissue Culture: The Next Frontier (Part 2) with Dr. Nathan Jahnke & Deanna Felton
Tissue Culture: The Next Frontier (Part 1) with Dr. Nathan Jahnke & Deanna Felton
Ball Customer Day 2023 FRIDAY Panel Discussion: Planning for 2024—Your Business, Plants and People
Ball Customer Day 2023 THURSDAY Panel Discussion: Planning for 2024—Your Business, Plants and People
Achieving Uniformity: Pansy & Viola Germination
Audio Files: Employees—Blessing or Curse?
Audio Files: 5 Herbicide Myths Holding Your Program Back
Developing a Pesticide Rotation Program (and more) with JC Chong
Audio Files: Acres & Acres—Pandemic Not Required
Audio Files: Simple Things Growers Miss That Affect Plant Quality
Audio Files: The Echinacea Renaissance
Audio Files: Planning For 2024
Audio Files: Putting Your Media to the Test
Audio Files: Frequent Hardy Mum Concerns
Audio Files: Minimizing Risk—Overwintering Perennials
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Aligned Money Show
Gorse Culture PODcast : The H.R. Detective Agency!
HCI Leadership Revolution
The Ramsey Show
Planet Money