String Tomatoes With Me in the Field + What’s the Deal with Blackstrap Molasses

Episode Overview

• This episode of "Growers Daily" provides practical ecological farming advice, addressing high tunnel purchasing, the effectiveness of blackstrap molasses, and the "Florida weave" trellis technique.
• Host Farmer Jesse breaks down a patron’s question on what features to prioritize when purchasing a high tunnel, balancing cost, durability, and maintenance.
• The episode demystifies the use of blackstrap molasses as a soil inoculant, explaining its role as a biostimulant versus its perceived benefits on plant brix levels.
• A hands-on field demonstration showcases how to execute the Florida weave for tomatoes efficiently using a simple pipe tool.

Key Concepts

• High Tunnel Design and Ventilation: Ventilation is crucial for high tunnel success, ranging from affordable manual roll-up sides to mid-range ridge vents and high-maintenance electric fans. While mechanical systems offer superior airflow, passive methods like ridge vents provide excellent disease prevention with minimal maintenance.
• Structural Integrity for Winter Climates: When investing in a high tunnel, prioritizing wind and snow bracing is essential for long-term peace of mind, especially in northern climates. Gothic-style tunnels are ideal for shedding snow but require robust bracing to withstand high winds.
• The Reality of Blackstrap Molasses: While blackstrap molasses is a well-known biostimulant that temporarily boosts microbial activity, scientific literature suggests it does not directly improve plant nutrition or raise brix (sugar) levels. The microbial spike is temporary, followed by a population decline once the simple carbohydrates are consumed.
• The Florida Weave Technique: The Florida weave is a highly efficient trellis method that supports plants by weaving twine in and out of a row of posts. Using a simple conduit pipe as a guide allows a single grower to apply the twine quickly without constant bending, saving time and physical strain.

Quotes

• At 2:44 - "Ventilation can be as cheap as having a smaller tunnel with some high hip boards... or it can be more middle-of-the-road passive ventilation like our ridge vent, which I love." - Explaining the spectrum of ventilation options and emphasizing low-maintenance passive solutions.
• At 7:54 - "Blackstrap is a concentrated molasses and it's fairly well known and well studied as a biostimulant... it will stimulate the biology temporarily but won't necessarily add a ton in terms of nutrients." - Clarifying the scientific function of molasses in soil health, separating reality from common gardening myths.
• At 14:15 - "You basically fish your line through a three-foot tube and that's just so you're not bending over... how much I'm bending over right now is insane." - Highlighting the ergonomic and efficiency benefits of using a simple pipe tool during the Florida weave demonstration.

Takeaways

• Prioritize structural bracing over heating in high tunnels: Unless you are a highly advanced commercial grower who can justify the high cost of propane, opt for robust wind and snow bracing rather than heating systems. Unheated tunnels can still extend your growing season significantly.
• Use fish hydrolysate instead of molasses for pest resistance: While molasses boosts microbes, research suggests fish hydrolysate is a more effective biostimulant for improving plant defense mechanisms, root architecture, and overall crop response.
• Implement the "every-other" Florida weave for speed: When trellising tomatoes, you can speed up the process by running a straight line down one side of the row on one pass, and returning on the other side on the next pass, rather than weaving in and out of every single plant every time.