FIELD RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS

Yields for the and observation herb trial were excellent considering the late planting dates, extreme heat and mild drought situation throughout the growing season. Planting was delayed on this trial due to the very wet months of April and May, with over 17 1/2 inches of rainfall in Hillsboro. Planting and harvest dates are listed for each individual crop. Yield and quality attributes were acceptable for most crops throughout the season. Growers considering to diversify their current farming operations to include any herb crop need to be very "CAUTIOUS", before beginning production. Markets and buyers need to be established "BEFORE" any seeds are purchased. Alternative methods of weed control will have to be considered including cultivation, hand hoeing and the use of mulching materials, since very few herbicides are labeled for these crops. all of these crops are labor intensive, therefore a strong and dependable labor force will be required for timely harvest and cultural practices.

HERB PRODUCTION

and

MARKETING for SOUTHERN OHIO

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to the Ohio State University Extension responsible for the Innovative Grant program available to Extension Personnel for their financial support of this project. this work would not be done without the support of this program

Our appreciation is extended to Burpee seed Co. for the seed for this project.

A special thanks and much appreciation to:

• Gary Gao, Ohio State University Extension, Clermont County for his assistance with production and marketing assistance with this trial.
  
• Thom Harker, Horticulture Assistant, OSU Extension Enterprise Center; summer staff member, Amanda Wilson who assisted with plot maintenance, harvesting and data collection. Without their help this trial would not be possible.
  
• Southern State Community College (Hillsboro)/Cooperator.
  
  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND OVERVIEW

A: After visiting with several specialty produce buyers from Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois the following crops were selected for these research and demonstration field trial studies in 1996. Selection was based on buyer demand, marketability and popularity in the marketplace.

In Ohio, agricultural production and acreage statistics are not reported for any of the herbs crops being researched. Amajority of the United States herb crops production acreage is located in California. Some production, postharvest handling and marketing information is available from the state of California but is targeted only for this region.

C: Marketing information for herb crops is most widely published. since herbs are a niche item in the produce marketplace, only specialized produce companies deal in these products. Most of these buyers deal with restaurants, some chainstores and specialty food stores. Very few herbs are sold through retail farm markets in Ohio. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Market reports are published daily by the Fruit and Vegetable Market News, on produce prices at the Cincinnati terminal markets, this market report was no longer given after May 1996. Due to the budget cuts. Reports are now published out of Pittsburgh. Of the herbs research in our trial, wholesale terminal market prices are only reported for basil, Sage, and a few other perennial herbs.

Table 1. Yields and harvest data from observation of annual herb trials: OSU Extension/Enterprise Center Hillsboro, Ohio 1996.

Crop Planting Date Height Ton/Acre Plants/Acre

Table 2. Marketing and packing information from observation of annual herb trials: OSU Extension/Enterprise Center Hillsboro, Ohio 1996.

Crop Market Price Packaging Information

Table 3. Yields and harvest data from observation perennial herb trial: OSU Extension/Enterprise Center Hillsboro Ohio 1996.

Crop Planting Date Height Ton/Acre Plants/Acre

Table 4. Marketing and packing information from perennial herb trials: OSU Extension/Enterprise Center Hillsboro Ohio 1996.

Crop Market price Packaging Information

For 1996 pumpkin variety trail results and high/low input pumpkin production trail results check out VegNet