Operating a greenhouse can be rewarding and lucrative, but it’s also challenging. There are many unique facets and a lot of fundamentals that must be understood to be successful. We’ll share more information on some of these fundamentals later in this article, but a few of the most important principles to master include:

● Air quality control and ventilation

● Temperature and climate control

● Lighting needs

● Water and nutrient exchange

● Pest management

Whether you are a new greenhouse grower or are planning to start, it’s important to begin your operation with an understanding of what is needed for success.

Here are five helpful tips to know as you begin planning and implementing a greenhouse operation.

1. Continue To Learn And Research

Even the most successful growers have room for improvement. After you’ve learned the fundamentals, don’t stop educating yourself. There are always new developments in greenhouse technology.

Research new growing technology, industry trends, pest control techniques, and other topics that will make you a more effective grower.

You should also thoroughly research your crops. Not only are there advancements in greenhouse and growing techniques, but progress is made in plant science, horticulture, and breeding every day. To be successful, you have to stay up-to-date on the current science.

2. Provide A Stable Temperature

The purpose of a greenhouse is to provide a safe, climate controlled environment for optimal plant growth. One of the most core fundamentals of operating a greenhouse is temperature control.

A lot can be said about maintaining the optimal greenhouse environment. Be sure you have the right equipment for the task. You’ll need to accurately monitor temperature, provide sufficient ventilation for plant growth, and understand how to control both active and passive means of ventilation to reach optimal temperatures at different times of the year.

Investing in a modern climate control system is a smart move for commercial growers. This essential tool helps to automatically manage irrigation, ventilation, light, and temperature.

3. Use Space Effectively

A key component of greenhouse growing is properly staging your space. Whether you have a small greenhouse or a large commercial one, you need to assess how much room you will need for your plants, how much room is available, and determine the optimal spacing so you can maximize efficiency.

If you fail to provide sufficient growing space, you might do more than simply limit your greenhouse’s efficiency. Overcrowding restricts plant growth. If there are too many plants within any amount of space, they must compete for resources like light.

In addition, when plants compete for space, it limits their growth potential and, depending on the species of crop, may even cause plant stress. This makes your crop much more susceptible to damage.

4. Keep Pests Away

Pests can cause significant damage for greenhouse growers. Effective pest management begins with prevention.

There are several ways to prevent pests from entering your greenhouse:

1. Install insect screens on all openings, including air intakes.
2. Keep outside plants away from your greenhouse and remove plant debris. Consider using gravel around the outside of your greenhouse.
3. Inspect new plants before bringing them into your greenhouse.
4. Protect the floor of the greenhouse with a barrier. Heavy duty plastic can be affixed to the floor. Pay special attention to the area where the ground meets the wall.

It’s always preferable to prevent pests, but if your greenhouse develops a pest issue, ensure you have the right pest control equipment to quickly eliminate them before they become a bigger issue.

5. Maintain Consistent Records

Keeping accurate and detailed records helps ensure the success of a greenhouse. Growing notes are an important way to document what has and hasn’t worked in the growing process. Crop notes help establish the specific needs of your crops under different processes.

If you are selectively breeding certain species of crops, notes are absolutely vital. Developing a new growing process is challenging. Finding the optimal lighting, temperature, nutrient and water distribution, and growing techniques takes time and patience. Your notes will help you learn and streamline your process, and refine it for the future success of later crop generations.

Farmer Boy Is Your Source For Greenhouse Equipment And Solutions

From greenhouse ventilation and cooling systems to lighting and sprinkler plumbing systems, Farmer Boy has the equipment and expertise to help growers maximize their crop.

New to greenhouse growing or looking to update and expand your current operation? Our sales team can help you find the right parts and equipment. Contact our agricultural experts to start your custom greenhouse equipment and supply order.