The Field
The field should be level and drain well. The
field should be covered with a ground cover fabric that allows water to drain through and that prevents weed growth. This makes for a clean field. Ground fabric with printed lines makes it possible to have neat and properly spaced rows of plants. The field should be set up for drip irrigation either through “spaghetti tubes” or drip tape. This minimizes water on the foliage compared to overhead irrigation. Use a constant liquid fertilization program until a few weeks prior to marketing. For details, refer to the Fertilization section under Recommended Cultural Practices.