Plastic makes vegetables better

Details

Published on Thursday, 02 February 2012 17:25

Mary Loveland
Daily Elk Citian

Onions, potatoes and corn, oh my!

Despite the fact that western Oklahoma is least known for growing vegetable products, a local agency has made it its mission to diversify farming methods throughout the state.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) introduced the Plasticulture Program seven years ago to provide grants for small-scale farmers to try out the productive method of growing farm-fresh vegetables.

Micah Anderson, market coordinator of the ODAFF, has headed the program since it's introduction.

"They've been doing this in places like Florida and California for a long time," Anderson said. "And it's been in Oklahoma for probably 20 years but we're just now spreading the word to the public."

Plasticulture, which is better suited for smaller farms or gardens, uses special machinery that lays down a black, or occasionally white, plastic cover that heats or cools the soil and maximizes the use of water.

"They put a drip system underneath the plastic that allows you to turn on your faucet and the water will go directly to your plants." Greg Hartman, OSU Beckham County Extension Educator, said. "There's never too much water put out at anyone time so no water is wasted."

In addition, no weeds are able to grow because they have no contact with the sun.

Once the plastic is laid down, cuts are made into it where plant transplants are to be placed. 

"The ground underneath that plastic stays like it's freshly plowed," Anderson said. "The food is just higher quality."

Brian Pritchard, local Elk City farmer and County Executive Director for Beckham County Farm Service Agency, took advantage of the three-year Plasticulture Program offered by the state.

Pritchard is from a family with many generations of farmers, last year marked his first year using the Plasticulture system.

"I don't know if I want to go back to gardening without it," Pritchard said. "We'll probably buy our own machine once the program is over."

The Plasticulture Program provides accepted applicants with three years of plastic, drip tape and service of laying down the plastic in addition to $500 to purchase necessity items like plants, seeds, fertilizer or putting up a fence. The applicant is responsible for planting and harvesting the produce and removing and disposing the plastic once the season is over.

Pritchard planted a wide variety of vegetables and fruit on his half-acre garden.

"Last year was our first year and we had pretty good success considering the hot and dry summer we had," Pritchard said. "I had a few tomatoes when other people without the system didn't have any and the onions were the size of softballs. They were the biggest onions I have ever seen."

Pritchard's garden is located about three miles west of Elk City and proved that the ground could still be productive despite the amazing drought the area experienced.

"We planted a lot of our stuff like our tomatoes and corn and onions and potatoes in the first week of April," Pritchard said. "That's three weeks earlier then usual. We got it planted so much earlier then other people that we made corn before any body else's had fertilized. I'm curious to see what it will do on an average year."

Pritchard said the week he started planting the temperature outside was 60 degrees, but with the black plastic covering, the ground was warmed up to 80 degrees. 

Each year, The ODAFF sets up 70 gardens on the grant program.

Because it is a three-year program, they are usually only able to accept 20-30 new applicants a year.

Anderson said they only have to deny 10 or 15 applicants each year.

The ODAFF will host its sixth annual workshop for Plasticulture farmers in Oklahoma City on Feb. 11. 

2012 applicants have already been decided on but anyone may begin applying for the 2013 season. Applications are available on The ODAFF website.

As part of the Plasticulture Program contract, applicants are required to sell a certain percentage of their produce. 

Once a week each summer, Pritchard sets up a fruit and vegetable stand near Hutch's on Highway 6.

"There's been a national push for buy fresh, buy local or know your farmer,  know your food," Anderson said. "We're capable of doing that and the interest is just starting to come. I think the trend is moving that way."