Successful Beit Alpha Cucumber Production in the Greenhouse Using Pine Bark as an Alternative Soilless Media

Abstract

<jats:p>Beit Alpha cucumber (<jats:italic>Cucumis sativus</jats:italic>) is an exciting new greenhouse crop for production in the southeastern U.S. and Florida. Beit Alpha cucumbers are short, seedless fruit with dark-green skin and an excellent sweet flavor. Beit Alpha-types are the leading cucumber types in the Middle Eastern market and have gained recent popularity in Europe. Beit Alpha cucumbers grown hydroponically under a protected structure have prolific fruit set, yielding more than 60 high-quality fruit per plant during one season. U.S. hydroponic vegetable production is generally associated with structure and irrigation investments which are costly as well as other inputs, such as the media, which must be replaced annually or with each crop. Beit Alpha cucumber `Alexander' was grown in Spring 2001 and 2002 in a passive-ventilated high-roof greenhouse in Gainesville, Fla. Three media types, coarse-grade perlite, medium-grade perlite, and pine bark, were compared for efficiency of growing cucumbers (production and potential costs). During both seasons, fruit yield was the same among media treatments [average of 6 kg (13.2 lb) per plant]. Irrigation requirements were the same for each type of media; however, leachate volume was sometimes greater from pots with pine bark compared to either grade of perlite suggesting a reduced need for irrigation volume when using pine bark. Pine bark is five times less expensive than perlite and was a suitable replacement for perlite in a hydroponic Beit Alpha cucumber production system.</jats:p>

Increasing Sustainability of Growing Media Constituents and Stand-Alone Substrates in Soilless Culture Systems

“…White spruce and fir bark alone or mixed with low-grade peat showed high potential for greenhouse tomato production and represented an environmentally sound alternative to rockwool [136]. Moreover, pine bark can be successfully used as a stand-alone substrate for the cultivation of vegetables, such as bell pepper, cucumbers, and muskmelons [137][138][139]. An economic analysis determined that pine bark was nearly one-eighth the cost of perlite and could be reused for several consecutive crops, resulting in reduced production costs and greater profits.…”

Use of molecular markers aids in the development of diverse inbred backcross lines in Beit Alpha cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

“…Although its cultivation in other production areas is relatively recent, knowledge about its historical roots is sparse (Shaw et al 2004). It is thought to have originated in Israel (Shaw et al 2000;Villalta et al 2003) where it is well suited to extreme environmental conditions, especially high temperatures (35-40°C) (Shaw et al 2004).…”

“…It is thought to have originated in Israel (Shaw et al 2000;Villalta et al 2003) where it is well suited to extreme environmental conditions, especially high temperatures (35-40°C) (Shaw et al 2004). Despite its popularity, there have been no efforts by public breeding programs to improve this market type (Shaw et al 2000;Shaw et al 2004;Shaw et al 2007).…”

“…Traditionally, the Beit Alpha market type has been grown under protected ''hoop house'' conditions, which allows for environmental control such that continuous cropping can occur in some growing environments (Shaw et al 2000;Shaw et al 2004). Depending on the cropping season, fruits from single plants can be harvested up to 30 times and yield as many as 65 moderately small (15-18 cm in length), slightly curved, smooth-skinned, dark green fruit (Shaw et al 2000;Shaw et al 2004).…”

“…Depending on the cropping season, fruits from single plants can be harvested up to 30 times and yield as many as 65 moderately small (15-18 cm in length), slightly curved, smooth-skinned, dark green fruit (Shaw et al 2000;Shaw et al 2004). Such prolific fruit production is due to the presence of multiple pistillate flowers per node and a relatively high number of primary lateral branches.…”