Robert Hochmuth

0000-0002-6571-3226

Preface—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

G. J. Hochmuth

Alternative Greenhouse Crops—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

R. Hochmuth and D. Cantliffe

Keys to Successful Tomato and Cucumber Production in Perlite Media

George J. Hochmuth and Robert C. Hochmuth

This document provides a comprehensive guide for successful greenhouse production of tomatoes and cucumbers in perlite media. It covers essential aspects such as media preparation, irrigation, transplanting, and pest control. The guide is aimed at small to medium-sized growers but is also applicable to larger operations. Key topics include the benefits of perlite, irrigation techniques, nutrient management, and environmental control. The document emphasizes the importance of record-keeping and observation for optimal crop management and highlights the potential for reusing perlite media under certain conditions. First publication date: January 1996.

Keys to Successfully Choosing Enterprises That Suit Your Small Farm

Robert Hochmuth, Larry Halsey, George Hochmuth, and Linda Landrum

Using Composted Poultry Manure (Litter) in Mulched Vegetable Production

George Hochmuth, Robert Hochmuth, and Rao Mylavarapu

This fact sheet answers vegetable producers’ questions about what poultry manure and litter are, what plant nutrients they contain, considerations for using them, results of research in Florida, how to use it in a mulched-bed system, and how to collect and submit for testing poultry manure samples.

Veggies and Herbs Made in the Shade: A Growing Season Calendar for North Florida

Daniel K. Fenneman, Robert C. Hochmuth, Wanda L. Laughlin, and Sean R. McCoy

Monitoreo de la savia del peciolo de vegetales

George Hochmuth. Traducción por Maria Paz Kinslow

Protected Culture for Vegetable and Small Fruit Crops: The Soilless Trench System

Shinsuke Agehara, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Bielinski M. Santos

Crop Production—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 1

G. J. Hochmuth, R. C. Hochmuth, W. D. Thomas, M. S. Sweat

Financial Considerations—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 1

G. J. Hochmuth, W. D. Thomas, M. S. Sweat, and R. C. Hochmuth

Irrigation of Greenhouse Vegetables—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

G. J. Hochmuth

Other Design Information Resources—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 2

G. J. Hochmuth

Characterization of the Florida Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry Using Hydroponic Systems or Protected Agriculture Structures

Robert C. Hochmuth and Dilcia E. Toro

Impacto de las variedades de tomate y su estado de madurez en la susceptibilidad a Salmonella

Massimiliano Marvasi, Max Teplitski, y George Hochmuth

Leafy Greens in Hydroponics and Protected Culture for Florida

Natalie B. Parkell, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Wanda L. Laughlin

Drip Irrigation: The BMP Era—An Integrated Approach to Water and Fertilizer Management for Vegetables Grown with Plasticulture

Eric Simonne, David Studstill, Bob Hochmuth, Teresa Olczyk, Michael Dukes, Rafael Munoz-Carpena, and Yuncong Li

Vegetable Insect Identification and Management—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

S. E. Webb and R. C. Hochmuth

An Overview of Lettuce Production Systems and Cultivars Used in Hydroponics and Protected Culture in Florida

Natalie B. Parkell, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Wanda L. Laughlin

Growing Bell Peppers in Soilless Culture under Open Shade Structures

Robert C. Hochmuth, Linda B. Landrum, Wanda L. Laughlin, Lei Lani Davis, Danielle D. Treadwell, and Eric Simonne

Production of Greenhouse Tomatoes—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

G. J. Hochmuth

Production and Marketing of Chestnuts in the Southeastern United States

Robert C. Hochmuth, Robert D. Wallace, Peter J. Van Blokland, and Jeffrey G. Williamson

Greenhouse Cucumber Production—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

R. C. Hochmuth

Plant Part Selection and Preliminary Sufficiency Ranges for Sap Testing Interpretation of Greenhouse Herbs

Robert C. Hochmuth, Eric H. Simonne, Lei Lani L. Davis, and Wanda L. Laughlin

Summary—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 1

G. J. Hochmuth

Introduction—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 1

G. J. Hochmuth

Fertigation for Vegetables: A Practical Guide for Small Fields

Jim DeValerio, David Nistler, Robert Hochmuth, and Eric Simonne

Row Covers for Commercial Vegetable Culture in Florida

George J. Hochmuth, Robert C. Hochmuth, Steve Kostewicz, and William Stall

Water and Nutrient Management Guidelines for Greenhouse Hydroponic Vegetable Production in Florida

Robert C. Hochmuth, Natalie B. Parkell, Wanda L. Laughlin, and Sean C. Rider

Production Systems—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

Daniel K. Fenneman, Michael Sweat, Wanda L. Laughlin, George Hochmuth, andRobert Hochmuth
other_contacts: Uttara Samarakoon

Drip-Irrigation Systems for Small Conventional Vegetable Farms and Organic Vegetable Farms

Eric Simonne, Robert Hochmuth, Jacque Breman, William Lamont, Danielle Treadwell, and Aparna Gazula

Contribución de las prácticas de producción de cultivos y las condiciones climáticas a la seguridad microbiológica de los tomates y pimientos

Massimiliano Marvasi, Max Teplitski, y George Hochmuth

Tomato Cultivar Selection Considerations for Open-Field and Protected Culture in North Florida

Blake R. Thaxton and Robert C. Hochmuth

Exclusion Methods for Managing Greenhouse Vegetable Pests

Robert C. Hochmuth and Richard K. Sprenkel

An Extensionist’s Guide to Farm and Site Visits

Marcelo Wallau, Bob Hochmuth, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Mark Warren, Carissa Wickens, Prissy Fletcher, and Cheryl Mackowiak

Farm and site visits are a major component of Extension work, whether as a county faculty or state specialist. They serve various purposes, such as informal check-ins, relationship building, problem solving, sharing technology, and information collection. While time-consuming, farm visits are often the most effective method for addressing problems and developing deeper connections with stakeholders (Petrzelka, Padgitt, and Windestenn, 1999). These visits provide firsthand knowledge of the issues clients face and are effective in establishing collaborations, assessing needs, understanding agricultural production systems, and validating research applications (Oakley and Garforth, 1985; Seevers and Graham, 2012). This publication explores different facets of farm and site visits, including preparation before the visit, the investigative (problem-solving) process during the visit, and post-visit procedures. Additional resources are included to support client visits and troubleshooting.

Management of Alternaria Leaf Blight of Carrot for Florida Conventional and Organic Producers

Chun-Hsiang (Sean) Wang, Mason J. Newark, Nicholas S. Dufault, Jeffrey A. Rollins, Fanny B. Iriarte, Robert Hochmuth, Danielle Treadwell, andMathews Paret

Alternaria leaf blight is a persistent and economically damaging foliar disease of cultivated carrot in Florida, capable of causing disease severity up to 95% and leading to significant yield loss through defoliation and mechanical harvest failure. This publication provides commercial carrot producers, county Extension faculty, crop consultants, and other agricultural professionals with current information on the disease. Integrated management strategies are detailed, including cultural controls, certified seed selection, and specific fungicide programs tailored for both conventional and USDA-certified organic production systems. Emphasis is placed on proper disease diagnosis and fungicide resistance management to assist producers in making effective management decisions.

How to Conduct an On-Farm Dye Test to Improve Drip Irrigation Management in Vegetable Production

Eric Simonne, David Studstill, Michael Dukes, John Duval, Robert Hochmuth, Gene McAvoy, Teresa Olczyk, Steve Olson, Elizabeth Lamb, and Guodong Liu

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s).

Design Suggestions and Greenhouse Management for Vegetable Production in Solid Media in Florida

George Hochmuth and Robert Hochmuth

The purpose of this publication is to present suggestions and options for designing and operating a greenhouse for vegetable production in solid media systems.

Managing Wireworms in Florida Sweet Potatoes

Robert Hochmuth, Dakshina Seal, Norman Leppla, Daniel Fenneman, Rhoda Broughton, and Anil Baniya

This publication describes current methods for managing wireworms in sweet potato. Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, are the most damaging insect pests of those that infest the foliage and roots. Soil tillage and crop rotation can suppress populations of these root pests but adequate management requires diligent surveillance and the use of insecticides. Describes new research on managing wireworms with alternative insecticide active ingredients and entomopathogenic nematodes.

Fertilizer Management for Greenhouse Vegetables—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol. 3

George Hochmuth
other_contacts: Robert Hochmuth

Plants require 17 elements for normal growth and reproduction. The objective of a sound fertilizer management program is to supply these required nutrients in ample, but not excessive amounts for optimum crop production. This chapter will present general information on plant nutrition that will be useful irrespective of the particular cultural system e.g., perlite, rockwool, coconut coir, peatmix, or NFT hydroponics used by a grower. Fertilizer programs will be detailed later in this document.

Blossom-End Rot in Bell Pepper: Causes and Prevention

George Hochmuth andRobert Hochmuth
other_contacts: Eban Bean andClaire Lewis

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Plant Systems

Carrot (Daucus carota) Production in the Sandy Soils of North Florida: Nitrogen Fertilization Guidelines

Morgan Morrow, Vivek Sharma, Robert C. Hochmuth, Charles Barrett, and Marina Burani-Arouca

This publication discusses carrot growth characteristics and provides nitrogen fertilizer best management practices for carrot crops growing in north Florida. The nitrogen management guidelines presented in this publication are based on multiyear field-based research conducted by UF/IFAS. Written by Morgan Morrow, Vivek Sharma, Robert C. Hochmuth, Charles Barrett, and Marina Burani-Arouca, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2023.

Ginger, Galangal, and Turmeric Production in Florida

Paul Fisher, Rosanna Freyre, Celina Gómez, Brian Pearson, Tatiana Sanchez-Jones, Shawn Steed, Wanda Laughlin, Robert Hochmuth, Jeff Wasielewski, Deah Lieurance, Carrie Harmon, Mathews Paret, Lance Osborne, Kevin Athearn, Steven Sargent, Mengzi Zhang

Ginger, galangal, and turmeric (Figure 1) are emerging crops for Florida production. All of these plants are in the Zingiberaceae family and share most aspects of their production. This publication describes production in containers or the field under Florida conditions to help guide growers interested in ginger, turmeric, and galangal production or expanding their market. All species have been evaluated by the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (UF/IFAS Assessment) using the Predictive Tool (an invasion risk assessment) and all present a low risk of invasion in Florida (https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu).

Hydroponic Vegetable Production in Florida

Richard Tyson, Robert Hochmuth, andDaniel J. Cantliffe
other_contacts: Wanda L. Laughlin

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Plant Systems

Designs for Small-Scale Postharvest Washing of Ginger/Turmeric Rhizomes

Maria Paz Kinslow, Jacob Muller, Daniel Crawford, Raúl Cabezón, Harrison Meekins, Robert Hochmuth, Maria Paz Kinslow, Paul R. Fisher, andWanda L. Laughlin

Manually washing the rhizomes of ginger and turmeric is a labor-intensive process that adds significantly to the cost of final harvested products. Commercially available automatic cleaning equipment makes the postharvest process easier, but only at a price and scale that would benefit large-scale operations. Our objective was to design and test rhizome cleaning equipment aimed at small farmers and to compare this with manual cleaning. This publication describes tips for harvest and presents designs of cleaning equipment that are easy for a small farmer to build and maintain while reducing labor costs.

Construcción de un Sistema Hidropónico Flotante

Jonael Bosques, Donald E. Sweat, Richard Tyson, andRobert Hochmuth
other_contacts: Wanda L. Laughlin

Los aztecas maravillaron a los conquistadores españoles con sus huertos flotantes, y hoy, 500 años después, usted puede impresionar a sus amigos y vecinos con el suyo.

Building a Floating Hydroponic Garden

Michael Sweat, Richard Tyson, andRobert Hochmuth
other_contacts: Wanda L. Laughlin

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Homeowner audience(s). Published by Plant Systems

UF/IFAS Nutrient Management Recommendation Series: Carrot

Robert Hochmuth, Vivek Sharma, Thomas Obreza, and Rao Mylavarapu

Nutrient management recommendations for carrot are described according to the standard UF/IFAS recommendation format of 1) a calibrated soil test result; 2) target soil pH; 3) the "4Rs" of fertilizer management: rate, timing, placement, and source; and 4) water management factors.

General Aspects of Plant Growth—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3

George Hochmuth
other_contacts: Robert Hochmuth

This text discusses the critical factors for achieving profitable greenhouse vegetable production by optimizing plant growth processes, primarily focusing on photosynthesis. Photosynthesis, which converts light, carbon dioxide, and water into sugars and oxygen, is influenced by light intensity, CO2 levels, temperature, and water supply. The text explains that managing these factors—such as using shading to control temperature, enhancing CO2 levels, and ensuring adequate water—can maximize photosynthesis and plant growth. Additionally, it touches on the importance of minimizing nutrient deficiencies, diseases, and mechanical damage to maintain healthy photosynthetic activity. The ultimate goal for greenhouse managers is to balance photosynthesis and respiration to produce high yields of quality vegetables.

Use of Controlled-Release Nitrogen in Snapbean Production in the Suwannee Valley

Taite Miller, Taite Miller, Robert Hochmuth, Rajkaranbir Singh, Lakesh Sharma, Henry T. Pittman, andMark Warren

Snapbean production in the Suwannee Valley occurs on sandy soils that are highly vulnerable to nitrogen leaching, making efficient fertilizer management essential for both crop performance and environmental protection. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) offer a potential strategy to improve nitrogen delivery by synchronizing nutrient releases with crop demand while reducing losses to groundwater.

Row Covers for Growth Enhancement

G. J. Hochmuth and R. C. Hochmuth

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Open-Field Soilless Culture of Vegetables

George Hochmuth andRobert Hochmuth

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Sustainability of production systems and alternatives

Disaster Assistance for Agriculture in Florida following Hurricane Idalia

Shivendra Kumar, Kevin Athearn, Christa Court, Angela Lindsey, Kelly Aue, Lisa Strange, Sudeep Sidhu, Joel Love, Robert Hochmuth, Erin Jones, Emily Beach, Keith Wynn, Dan Fenneman, Jay Capasso, and Eric Simonne

Multiple federal and state agencies provide assistance to qualified agricultural producers following a natural disaster, such as a hurricane. However, the programs change over time, and many producers are not aware of the programs available. The purpose of this publication is to list and briefly describe disaster assistance resources available to agricultural producers in Florida after Hurricane Idalia. To the extent that some information remains the same, this publication could provide guidance to Extension agents, nongovernmental organizations, and producers impacted by future hurricanes. The information was compiled from websites, government documents, and discussions with government agency representatives following Hurricane Idalia.

Characteristics of Small Farm Operators in Florida: Economics, Demographics, and Preferred Information Channels and Sources

Steven A. Gaul, Robert C. Hochmuth, Glenn D. Israel, and Danielle Treadwell

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Farm Economics, entrepreneurship, and management

Nutrient Solution Formulation for Hydroponic (Perlite, Rockwool, NFT) Tomatoes in Florida

George J. Hochmuth and Robert C. Hochmuth

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Agriculture Water

Plant Petiole Sap-Testing for Vegetable Crops

George Hochmuth andRobert Hochmuth

Various nitrate and potassium "quick-test" kits for vegetable plant sap-testing have been calibrated for use on Florida vegetables. The objective has been to find a system that growers can use in the field to help manage nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizer—especially for drip-irrigated vegetables. The following guidelines should help individuals who are currently using—or are interested in using—sap-testing. Revision by George and Robert Hochmuth published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department; 6 pages.

Polyethylene Mulching for Early Vegetable Production in North Florida

George J. Hochmuth, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Stephen M. Olson

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Sustainability of production systems and alternatives

UF/IFAS Nutrient Management Recommendation Series: Watermelon

Thomas Obreza, Robert Hochmuth, Mark Warren, Tatiana Sanchez, Craig Frey, Thomas A. Obreza, andRao Mylavarapu
other_contacts: Paul White

Nutrient management recommendations for watermelon are described according to the standard UF/IFAS recommendation format of 1) a calibrated soil test result; 2) target soil pH; 3) the "4Rs" of fertilizer management: rate, timing, placement, and source; and 4) water management factors.

Soil and Fertilizer Management for Vegetable Production in Florida

Eric Simonne, Guodong Liu, Kelly T. Morgan, andGeorge Hochmuth

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are specific cultural practices aimed at reducing the load of a specific compound, while maintaining or increasing economical yields. They are tools available to vegetable growers to achieve the TMDLs. BMPs are intended to be educational, economically sound, environmentally effective, and based on science. It is important to recognize that BMPs do not aim at becoming an obstacle to vegetable production. Instead, they should be viewed as a means to balance economical vegetable production with environmental responsibility.

Production Systems—Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 2

George Hochmuth
other_contacts: Uttara Samarakoon

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). Published by Sustainability of production systems and alternatives