• Introduction

The UBC Farm has expressed an interest in extending the season of marketable vegetable crops through the use of hoop houses. For our research project we will be determining whether it is possible to extend the growing season for brassica greens at the UBC Farm by starting seeds in early March in one of the hoop houses. If season extension proves to be effective for brassica greens, we will be able to establish which of the 5 cultivars currently grown at the farm is best suited to seeding in early March. Early production of brassica greens at the UBC Farm will result in greater profits and therefore increase the economic sustainability of the farm.

• Methodology

We will be growing five different cultivars of brassica greens: Astro, Surrey, Ruby Streaks, Mizuna, and Sue Li Hueng #2. Each cultivar will be planted in trays both inside and outside of a hoop house. The plants will be grown from seed, and the growth of the plants will be measured at the end of the experiment. This measurement will be done by comparing the average above ground biomass of each brassica green cultivar grown inside and outside of the hoop house. The cultivars will be compared to determine which is best suited for early season production. In addition to brassica plant growth, we will be installing data loggers to collect the air and potting mix temperatures inside and outside of the hoop house. Furthermore, we will be analyzing weather data from March of previous years and comparing it to this March in order to ensure that potential growth or lack of growth in the early season plants is not an anomaly due to unusual weather.

• Materials and Resources

Use of one hoop house at UBC Farm
Climate data from Totem Field Climatology Station for March of this year and March over the past 5 years
Brassica green seeds of the following 5 cultivars: Astro, Surrey, Ruby Streaks, Mizuna and Sue Li Hueng #2
Plant starting trays
Two HOBO data loggers, soil temperature sensors, and air temperature sensors
Potting mix
Scissors
Scale

• Expected Research Outcome

We expect to conclude the success or failure of extending the growing season for arugula at the UBC Farm. Of the five different brassica green cultivars grown at the UBC Farm, we expect to observe different growth patterns when started as an early season crop. By growing an equal number of plants in trays with the same potting mix outside of the hoop house, we will be able to compare the growth of brassica greens inside and outside of the hoop house. Analysis of weather data from previous years will allow us to state whether the climatic conditions for March 2013 are considered representative of an average year and result in the expected plant growth that would be seen in March of years to come.

• Timeline