Sunrise Hopper Gets Plants Off To Fast Start

Sunrise hopper gets plants off to fast start FARM HOME Miscellaneous 12-3-31 Minnesota "green thumber" George De Mars, of Bovey, has come up with a clever way to get tomatoes, flowers and other garden plants off to a faster, healthier start. Individual plants have their own private greenhouse called a "Sunrise Hopper." It's made of plastic and consists of three parts: A cylindrical 14 in. dia. neck about 20 in. long, a donut-shaped collar (31 in. dia.) and a 16 in. dia. lid. Early in the spring, 4 to 6 weeks before you would normally start setting out plants and flowers, you screw the collar 4 in. into the ground and set one or two started tomato plants inside. To protect against frost, you cover the collar at sunset with the lid (it has a small center opening for air). Early the next morning, you go out and remove the lid on each Sunrise Hopper. After 4 to 6 weeks when the plants begin to branch out, you insert the 31 in. dia. donut-shaped collar which, during the growing season, helps support the branches and keeps tomatoes off the ground. It also retains moisture and helps protect the plant against wind. DeMars is looking for a manufacturer. Meanwhile, interested "green thumbers" wanting to experiment can purchase hand-made prototype "Sunrise Hoppers" for $12.95 each. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, George DeMars, Rt. 2, Bovey, Minn. 55709 (ph 218 245-1059).

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