A Practical Guide to Using Mechanical Stimulation to Prevent Stretching in Tomato and Cucmber Transplants

This short video shows what brushing should look like. Brushing takes just the right touch. Since it is hard to describe in words seeing the motion here can help you get it close the first time.

Brush across the top of the canopy in long gentle strokes. Run the tool 1/2 to 1 inch below the top of the canopy to lean the plants over gently. 10 times back and forth, once a day, is about right.

This demonstration is done on a small group of flats with a short tool made of a conduit core and a plastic pipe roller. The tool can be made the width of your bench, and swing 5 or 6 feet at a time, depending on the length of your workers' arms.

 

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