Vegetable transplanting is among the most delicate operations on a farm. While transplanting vegetables is time-consuming and labor-intensive, greenhouse-grown transplants have a few advantages. Transplants can produce an early and more uniform harvest compared to field-grown vegetables. Also, container-grown, greenhouse seedlings tend to be healthier and robust. Finally, the rootball of container-grown greenhouse vegetables is enclosed in a growing medium, which retains moisture and reduces transplant shock.
These advantages can increase profits enough to offset the additional costs of a greenhouse and transplanting. But, the biggest cost involves hand transplanting entire fields of vegetable seedlings. A large farm could require hundreds of hands to do the work. Fortunately, there are machines that can handle vegetable transplanting.
A smart cultivator is an all-in-one, tractor-pulled, farming machine. It can not only transplant seedlings, it can also plant the seed and pull weeds. This sturdy, high-tech piece of equipment uses high-definition cameras to differentiate between crop plants and weeds, while simultaneously tilling the soil and planting. One to two acres can be covered in around an hour.
Before you decide to go all-in with transplanted, greenhouse vegetables, consider all of the costs. While labor costs are significant, setting up a large greenhouse is also costly. Greenhouse growing requires expertise, as well as additional equipment. For example, the greenhouse needs a constant temperature, and the plastic pots need to be cleaned and sanitized between uses. Consider the move to vegetable transplants very carefully. Visit Stout Industrial Technology to see their innovative smart cultivator.