Irrigation runoff water from a containerized landscape plant production bed was blended with rainwater from green house roofs in a constructed collection basin. Water from both the collection basin and an on-site potable well were characterized and used to grow foliage and bedding plants with overhead and ebb-and-flow irrigation systems. Over a 2-year period, a total of 18 foliage and 8 bedding plant cultivars were produced with plant growth and quality quantified. Alkalinity, electrical conductivity, hardness, and concentrations of nutrients of water from both sources were well within desired levels for greenhouse crop production. Turbidity and pH were relatively high from algal growth in the collection basin. However, substrate pH, irrigated by either water source, remained between 6 and 7 throughout the production periods. All plants at the time of finishing were of marketable sizes and salable quality independent of water source. No disease incidences or growth disorders related to water sources were observed. Results suggest that captured irrigation runoff blended with rainwater can be an alternative water source for green house crop production.

No abstract

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) is one of top ten fresh-cut flowers in the United States; however, its short vase life limits its marketability. The purposes of this study were to test the effects of LED light, exogenous melatonin and one ethylene production inhibitor, AVG, on the quality of pre-harvest snapdragon and the prolongation of vase life after post-harvesting. Our results showed that snapdragon treated with 10 h white light followed by 6 h blue light (WB) inhibited stem elongation and lengths of the inflorescences, reduced the number of florets and vase life. On the contrary, snapdragon treated with 10 h white light, 3 h red light, 3 h blue light (WRB) significantly promoted stem elongation, lengths of the inflorescences, and increased the size and number of florets. The lengths of stems and inflorescences increased significantly in all melatonin treatments while quantity and size of florets only increased with 200 µmol·L-1 melatonin application. Noticeably, vase life was significantly extended with 200 µmol·L-1 melatonin application and shortened with WB treatment. In contrast to melatonin, all AVG treatments resulted in decreases of the floret size; and changes in stem elongation and inflorescence length were only observed in the treatment with 100 µmol·L-1AVG. These results showed that pre-harvest treatment with WBR and melatonin can effectively improve the post-harvest quality of snapdragon flowers and 200 µmol·L-1 of melatonin extended their vase life.

Many county Extension office buildings have small kitchens or areas for food preparation to accommodate employees, group educational events, and other mission-related activities. In recent years, many people have become interested in developing small food businesses. Using county kitchens to make food products for sale may seem very attractive. However, because of different local, state, and federal regulation requirements, there may be some confusion and unresolved conflicts among different parties as to the legalities and practicalities involved. The objective of this document is to provide guidelines and advice for Florida Extension personnel to use when determining the appropriate usage for their kitchen facilities, based on a situation in one Florida county. The document will cover utilization, roles and responsibilities, and potential liability issues relevant to the use of county kitchens, providing some potential solutions to conflicts for all parties.

No abstract