About 60% of the vitamin products from the Polotsk greenhouse complex are exported to Russia
Despite fluctuations in external temperature, it is always warm and humid in the energy-saving greenhouses – this is a mandatory condition for growing vegetables. But for this to be successful, a comfortable microclimate for plants is not enough: caring hands and professionalism are needed. The care of tomatoes, for which 3.8 hectares are allocated, is carried out by 38 greenhouse workers, each of whom is responsible for more than 2,000 plants. The work of vegetable growers is not easy, but the result is impressive: 290 tons were harvested last month. As always, among the best are Tatyana Knysh and Valentina Paradnya (pictured), who received a rich harvest – 28 kg of tomatoes per sq. m each. From their own experience, the women know that this is not the limit, as the season will continue until November. The plans are to achieve 50 kg from the same area, and there are reserves. Polotsk specialists annually test new hybrids, but they rely on proven varieties. This year, they preferred "torero".
— First of all, we focus on the consumer's taste, — said branch director Andrey Nikiforov. – Only under this condition can the sale of protected ground vegetables be a profitable business.
Tomatoes at the complex are grown using low-volume hydroponics, in containers with mineral wool, receiving nutrition through drip irrigation depending on the season and plant size. Weekly, an adult plant produces one ovary, for the full formation of which it is necessary to regularly remove suckers. As for chemical treatments, for several years in a row, the complex has preferred the biological method – growing environmentally friendly products. For this purpose, disease-resistant varieties are selected.
— Our tomatoes can be bought not only in Polotsk and Novopolotsk, — explains Andrey Nikiforov. — Mobile trade is organized in Ushachi, Glubokoye, they are almost always available on the shelves of "Vesta",
«Euroopt», «Vitebsk Products». About 60% is exported to Russia.A big advantage of tomatoes, explains the director, is their high storability, which facilitates sales. Open-ground vegetables grown at the branch also bring good profits: cabbage, beets, carrots. This year, the area was additionally increased by planting cucumbers, Chinese cabbage, green onions, dill, cauliflower, broccoli, pumpkin, and zucchini. And by September, greens will traditionally appear on store shelves – lettuce, basil, arugula, dill, parsley – in branded packaging with the recognizable company logo.
Tatyana SEREBRYAKOVA, photos by the author. "Vitebskiye Vesti".