| Estimated Cost |
$2740 per acre |
| Harvest Season |
spring – June to July, fall – October to November |
| Market Outlets |
Wholesale or retail stores, farmers markets, roadside |
| Yield Potential |
300- 600 25 lb crates/acre |
| Market Potential |
Good- especially for colorful fruit types (red, yellow, purple, etc.). |
| Profit Potential |
$0 to $3,000 per acre |
| Adapted Areas |
Statewide |
| Labor Requirements |
2 man-days per acre; weekly during harvest. Hand harvested |
| Equipment Requirements |
Tractor, shredder, fertilizer applicator, disk, bedder, cultivator, planter, insect/disease sprayer, herbicide sprayer, irrigation system |
| Soil Requirements |
Sandy or loam |
| Water Requirements |
High – 25- 30 inches/season (2 to 3 inches per acre weekly) of high quality water |
| Minimum Size |
1 acre |
| Risk Factor |
High, one of the most difficult vegetables to grow. |
| Other Limiting Factors |
Labor availability, price fluctuations, viruses, insects, sunburning, disease, rain and wind. |
| Comments |
Strict size, grade and quality standards. High nutrient demand. Colored types (Red, yellow, purple, etc.) have niche market potential and normally comand higher prices than the green. Fruit easily bruises. Transplants readily. |
