Question

Name the machines used for transplanting operation.

Answer 1

Transplanting is a large labor user in greenhouses and nurseries.  Every effort should be made to make it as efficient as possible.      

Transplanting can be done either in the greenhouse where the plants are to be grown or in a separate area usually a headhouse.

Transplanting in the Greenhouse  

For the small grower with separate freestanding greenhouses, it is usually most convenient to work right in the greenhouse.  Seedlings and flats are supplied to each greenhouse as needed.  To save labor and time, prefilled flats or pots can be brought in stacked on pallets.

For greenhouses where the flats are grown on the floor, movable potting benches on wheels work best.  Seedlings are transplanted into the flats which are then placed directly onto the growing space on the floor. The potting bench is moved from one end of the greenhouse to the other as the space is filled.

One key to efficient transplanting is to have materials and seedlings handy. Time spent walking, reaching or looking for materials adds costs.

   Locate flats as close as possible to employees’ work stations.

   Reduce the amount of walking that the transplanters must do.  A 10 foot round trip to pick up a flat costs about 2 cents. Doing this many times a day adds to the cost of the plants and tires workers.

   Transplanting is easier if good dibble holes have been formed in the growing medium surface of the flat. This requires proper moisture content that varies with the type of growing mix used. Experimentation will indicate that level.