PowerPoint Presentation

Observations from a New Grower Using Plasticulture in Strawberry and Vegetable ProductionMike and Dianna WilsonLily Lane Farms

Our storyLily Lane Farms started in 201221 acres located in Enfield, ILWe grow strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, greens, cucumbers, and squashSell mainly at farmers markets locally and in St. Louis, also in local restaurants and from the farm

First year with strawberrieson plasticulture

FIRST YEAR WITH STRAWBERRIES ON PLASTICULTURELAYING PLASTIC19 rows, 275 feet long28 inch wide, 3-4 inch tall ridges4 foot black plasticObservations:Make sure closing wheels are set correctly to get adequate dirt back over the plastic so that plastic does not come looseWork soil finely before starting, the beds will form a lot betterLay ridges first, then lay plasticBorrowed a mulch-layer, took a while to set up

FIRST Year with strawberries on plasticulturePLANTING STRAWBERRIESPlanted 8,000 Chandler plants Staggered 14 inch spacingsTook 8 hours to plant themObservations:Good to have a holding tank to quickly fill setter waterThe spike we used was too bigPressed in plants behind setter

First year with strawberries on plasticultureROW COVERS1.5 oz per yard36 foot wideUsed concrete blocks every 15 feet to hold downCovered low of 38 degreesObservations:Make sure you use the correct oz/yard, it does make a differentCan be re-used if stored properly

First year with strawberries on plasticulturePRODUCTION5762 total quarts pickedPicking season May 1st to June 26th Seven days picked more than 300 quarts per dayHighest production day May 17th 726 quarts pickedObservations:Picked from 6 am to 10-11 am each dayPlastic kept berries out of mud

LAYING PLASTIC AND PLANTING Bought our own mulch-layer and setter4 foot plasticTomatoesCherry tomatoesPeppersYellow squashCucumbersZucchini

First year with vegetables on plasticulture

First year with vegetables on plasticulture in high tunnelLAYING PLASTIC AND PLANTINGPlastic was laid by handTime consumingHard to keep tensionMid-June high tunnel came down

First year with vegetables on plasticulturePRODUCTION210 yellow squash649 cucumbers1727 peppers1685.5 pounds tomatoes102 pints cherry tomatoes218 zucchiniObservations:Not as much cracking in tomatoesEasier to pickContact information

Michael mobile: (618) 926-5302Email: lilylanefarms@gmail.comFacebook: Lily Lane Farms