As autumn approaches supplemental lighting for greenhouse growers becomes more and more important to the health and yield of your crops. Now is the perfect time to look at a few options for lighting. Whether you decide to go all out with a new LED system, stick with tried and true HPS lights or make some efficiency upgrades to your current crop lighting, take a look at the benefits of your greenhouse lighting options.
There are many pitfalls to avoid when planning an expansion of your greenhouse. Your business relies on many factors such as crop deadlines and financing – make sure you are planning your new builds accordingly and make the proper considerations. Here are some common mistakes:
1. Not Giving Yourself Enough Time to Execute Your Greenhouse Expansion
When it comes to adding energy curtains (sometimes referred to as thermal blankets) to a greenhouse everyone focuses on energy savings. And certainly energy savings should be a major factor in any greenhouse grower’s decision to purchase energy curtains. In northern climates, winter growing adds expensive heating costs to the most diligent greenhouse operation. A well designed and properly installed energy curtain can reduce winter heating bills by up to 50% and in some cases more.
A Cold Frame by any other name is still a Coldframe. Or for that matter you could say a Hoop House is a hoop house is a Hoop House. And then what is with these High Tunnels and Low Tunnels and Polytunnels? For such a simple structure it is amazing the number of names that it has been given over the years. So, in an effort to clear up any confusion, we thought we would explain a little bit more about this simple and cost effective structure, and some of the many uses growers have found for it.
Maximizing lighting efficiency is a major concern for many growers who rely on supplemental lighting in their greenhouse. Here are some criteria to take into account when choosing and maintaining your lamps. The lighting you choose depends on many things like what developmental stage your plants will be grown to, whether the plants receive light from other radiation sources, and the photoperiod length per day for your plant.
Many growers are concerned about maximizing greenhouse ventilation. In some maximum ventilation designs, condensation control is sacrificed and dripping becomes an issue. This was the case for Hendriks Greenhouses, until they approached GGS Structures Inc. to help solve the problem. Hendriks Greenhouses, located in Beamsville Ontario, wanted a design that balanced both ventilation and condensation control, and GGS responded with the half open roof greenhouse design.
As with any business decision, planning is essential. Measure twice, cut once. After years in the greenhouse industry I have helped many growers design and build greenhouses for efficient and profitable growing. One thing you learn very early in the greenhouse business is that no two operations are the same. The greenhouse environment needs to be tailored to the plants ideal environmental conditions, and the growers preferred growing methods and operating processes.
As we start to prepare for the warmer months that may seem far away with the late snow flurries and colder temperatures we've experienced this spring (hurry up summer!), it's easy to forget the uncomfortable heat that those warmer months bring. When temperatures can rise to an unbearable 111°F we're lucky to have air conditioning in our offices. But using air conditioning in a large space like a commercial greenhouse is simply not practical.
Choosing the right bench for your crop if vital to plant quality and further reducing labor costs. GGS has been designing, improving, manufacturing, and building quality benches for growers for over 35 years. Here are a few options:
Growers can artificially increase the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) available to plants to improve growth and yield. Scientists call it “atmospheric fertilization” and growers have known for a long time that increasing CO2 can improve plant productivity. Adding additional CO2 around plants is similar to adding additional nitrogen to the soil – it gives plants a boost to grow more rapidly and increase the size and number of fruits.