1. Greenhouse Management
Unit 1

2. Why a Greenhouse? To grow crops out of season
To grow crops not adapted to the locality
To speed up the growth of crops

3. What are commercial greenhouses used for?
1. Fresh flowers-flowers which are cut from the plant prior to sale
(roses, mums, carnations, etc.)

4. 2. Flowering Plants- flower bearing plants which are sold in a pot
(chrysanthemum, etc.)

5. (Ivy, Rubber Trees, Ferns, etc.)
3. Green Plants- (foliage plants) - plants sold in a pot and valued more for their foliage than their flowers
(Ivy, Rubber Trees, Ferns, etc.)

6. (Vegetables, Impatiens, Marigold, etc.)
4. Bedding Plants - young plants sold for planting around the home
(Vegetables, Impatiens, Marigold, etc.)

7. 5. Vegetable Production-grown to maturity in a greenhouse
(Tomatoes, Lettuce)

8. 6. Woody Ornamental Propagation
Reproducing more plants such as: azalea, forsythia, gardenia, etc.

9. Terms
Greenhouse – a structure that is covered with a transparent material that allows sufficient sunlight to enter for the purpose of growing and maintaining plants.

10. Future of the Greenhouse Industry
Growing demand for greenhouse crops
Expect increased production of green plants, flowering plants, bedding plants
Increased awareness of interior & exterior landscapes
Potted plants are competitive on a more local basis due to difficulties and expense of long distance transportation

11. What role do greenhouses have in the U.S. and in agriculture?
Variety of products with many uses
Employment Opportunities
Economy- Sell almost $20 BILLION in floriculture products/ year
Fulfill an emotional need in people

12. Main Careers in Greenhouse Management
Basics
Grower
Wholesaler
Retailer
How do these jobs differ?

13. Careers…. 1. Grower Produces crops for sale to wholesalers
Has expertise in producing one or more crops (like poinsettias or chrysanthemums)
Generally do not market or advertise

14. 2. Wholesaler
Sells a wide range of crops and products to retail businesses
Serves as a supermarket for the retailers to buy supplies

15. 3. Retailer Sells products to the general public
Location is important for marketing
Includes many types of businesses
Florist Shops
Retail Greenhouses
General Retail Stores

16. More Careers Flower Grader Horticulturist Plant Taxonomist
Floral Shop Operator
Plant Geneticist
Plant Nutritionist
Plant Pathologist
Plant Scientist
Greenhouse Manager
Plant Breeder
Pest Control Technician
Certified Seed Grower
Agricultural Journalist
Magazine Writer
Beekeeper
Marketing/Advertising Manager
Purchasing Manager

17. Basic Greenhouse Styles

18. BASIC GREENHOUSE STYLES
BASIC STYLES
EXAMPLES OF GREENHOUSE USES
BASIC GREENHOUSE COVERINGS
COMMON FRAMING MATERIALS

19. DREAM GREENHOUSE

20. A. BASIC STYLES EVEN SPAN GOTHIC ARCH QUONSET RIDGE AND FURROW LEAN-TO
COLD FRAME

21. TERMS
TRUSSES- composed of rafters, chords and struts that support the roof

22. 1. EVEN SPAN Greenhouse with two roof slopes of equal pitch and width
Benefits:
Excellent light, ventilation, and temp control
Disadvantages:
Wasted heat air in the gables

23. 1. EVEN SPAN

24. EVEN SPAN

25. EVEN SPAN

26. EVEN SPAN

27. EVEN SPAN

28. 2. GOTHIC ARCH Side walls are a short base wall of a solid material
POINTED ARCH ROOF
TRUSSES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED
Not as popular today
Can have sidewalls
Side walls are a short base wall of a solid material
often cinderblocks

29. 2. GOTHIC ARCH

30. GOTHIC ARCH

31. 3. QUONSET
A greenhouse with a semicircular arch that starts at ground level or on top of a sidewall
(Half moon shape)
Benefits:
Less Expensive to construct
Few shadows
Disadvantage:
Cannot handle as much wind and snow

32. 3. QUONSET

33. QUONSET

34. QUONSET

35. QUONSET WITH TOP VENT

36. 4. RIDGE AND FURROW
Several greenhouses connected along the length of the eaves
Benefits:
Large interior areas
Reduced heat loss
Less expensive construction
Disadvantages:
More difficult to control pest and temperature
Difficult snow removal

37. RIDGE AND FURROW

38. RIDGE AND FURROW

39. RIDGE AND FURROW

40. RIDGE AND FURROW

41. RIDGE AND FURROW

42. RIDGE AND FURROW

43. RIDGE AND FURROW

44. RIDGE AND FURROW

45. 5. LEAN-TO ATTACHED TO EXISTING BUILDING Benefits: Disadvantage:
USUALLY ON THE EAST OR SOUTH SIDE
Benefits:
Less roof support needed
Heating is usually less expensive
Disadvantage:
Limited space

46. LEAN-TO

47. LEAN-TO

48. Inside Shed Lean-To

50. LEAN-TO

51. LEAN-TO
Brick is an
Example of
Side walls
(Lean-to is
BOTTOM ONLY)

52. COLD FRAME NO HEATING OR COOLING MECHANISMS
SHAPE IS OFTEN CONFUSED FOR QUONSET
WILL TALK ABOUT MORE IN A LATER UNIT

53. COLD FRAME

54. COLD FRAME

55. COLD FRAME

56. COLD FRAME

57. COLD FRAME

58. COLD FRAME

59. Greenhouse Uses Hobby or Home Use Botanical Gardens
small Lean-To or Dutch types
Botanical Gardens
make plants available to the public
Preserve rare plants
Like a “zoo for plants”

60. Greenhouse Uses (continued)
Retail Greenhouse
at home and garden centers
Have displays and examples of plant uses
Production House
Not as eye appealing
Large areas under roof
More crowded spaces
Entire houses and areas for a 1 type of plant

61. RETAIL AND PRODUCTION GREENHOUSES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE COMMERCIAL GREENHOUSES

62. Basic Types of Coverings
GLASS
FLEXIBLE PLASTIC FILMS
RIGID PLASTIC SHEETS

63. 1. GLASS ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES: Excellent Light Transmission
Available
DISADVANTAGES:
Breakable
High heat loss
Most Expensive

64. 2. FLEXIBLE PLASTIC FILMS
EXAMPLES:
PVC- POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
PVF- POLYVINYL FLOURIDE FILM
POLYETHYLENE- Most Common
ADVANTAGES:
Inexpensive
Easy to Install
DISADVANTAGES:
Not as durable

65. 3. RIGID PLASTIC SHEETS EXAMPLES: ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES:
FIBERGLASS
ACRYLIC- PLEXIGLASS
POLYCARBONATE- LEXAN
ADVANTAGES:
Light weight
Most Durable
DISADVANTAGES:
More expensive than flexible plastic

66. LEXAN USED ON OUR GREENHOUSE DOUBLE PANEL SMALL VERTICAL CELLS
GOOD INSULATION
DURABLE

67. Framing Materials
2 MAIN MATERIALS
METAL
WOOD
MORE TOMORROW

68. Heating Cooling Ventilation Watering
Greenhouse Systems
Heating
Cooling
Ventilation
Watering

69. Heating Systems Boilers Unit heaters Radiant or infrared heaters
Terms: BTU

70. Heating Systems Things to keep in mind:
Optimum temperature ranges from degrees, depending on the plant stages
Night temperature often from degrees

71. 1. Boilers A.K.A- Centralized
Usually used to heat larger greenhouses (15,000 sq ft or more)
Burns fossil fuels to create steam or heat water (coal, oil, natural gas)
Pipes are used to distribute heat
2 Types
Steam systems
Hot water systems
Provides more constant heat

72. Pipes

73. Cold Pockets

74. Hot Water or Steam Distribution

77. 2. Unit Heaters A.K.A. LOCALIZED Used for smaller greenhouses
Convection heat- to heat the air
Distribute heat by fans or convention tubes
Most burn natural gas
Modine Heater is a common brand
Can operate independently

78. Convection Tube

79. Holes

81. 3. Radiant Heaters AKA- Infrared Heater
Infrared Heat Lamp creates heat
Radiant Heat:
IR warms surfaces (plants, benches, sidewalks, soil)
The warm surfaces in turn warms the air
The air is not directly heated
Heaters are overhead 20 to 30 feet apart
Fueled on gas or electricity

82. 4. Terms BTU (British Thermal Unit)
Heat required to raise 1 lb. of water 1oF
Used to measure and compare ability of heating systems

83. Cooling and Ventilation Systems
No Cooling
NATURAL VENTILATION
FAN & SHUTTER COOLING
FAN & SHUTTER COOLING with SHADE CLOTH
Evaporative Cooling
Fan & Pad (Evaporative Cooling)

84. SHADE CLOTHES- often used to supplement cooling/vent systems
Available in a variety of colors and shading abilities

85. 1. NO COOLING
1. Inside temperature of greenhouse can exceed 140 degrees F.
2. Plants will die within a short period of time.
                                                                 

86. 2. NATURAL VENTILATION
1. Roof vent opens to allow hot air to escape to outside.
2.  Door or other opening must be left open to provide for incoming air from outside to replace exhausted air.
3. On hot summer days temperatures can rise 20 to 30 degrees above outside temperature.
4. Recommended for mild climate areas only.

87. NATURAL VENTILATION

88. NATURAL VENTILATION

89. 3. FAN & SHUTTER COOLING
1. Outdoor air is introduced through motorized inlet shutters.
2. Hot air is exhausted by exhaust fans.
3.Temperature inside house can be maintained within 10 degrees of outdoor temperature.
4. controlled by thermostat.

90. FAN & SHUTTER COOLING

91. SHUTTERS AND FANS

92. SHUTTERS AND FANS

93. FAN & SHUTTER COOLING

94. 4. FAN & SHUTTER COOLING with SHADE CLOTH
Similar to fan & shutter cooling
Differences:
1.  Shade cloth is placed over exterior of greenhouse or suspended from wires placed on inside.
2. Temperature inside house can be maintained within 3 to 4 degrees of outdoor temperature

95. FAN & SHUTTER COOLING with SHADE CLOTH

96. 5. Evaporative Cooling
1. Outdoor air is cooled by Evaporative Cooler (located outside) and discharged into greenhouse.
2. Hot air is exhausted through outlet shutters which operate automatically
3. Temperature inside house can be as much as 10 to 15 degrees cooler than outdoor temperature.
4. controlled by thermostat.

97. Evaporative Cooling

98. EVAPORATIVE COOLERS

99. 6. EVAPORATIVE COOLING (Fan & Pad)
1. Outdoor air is drawn through pad cooling system located on one end wall of the greenhouse.  This cool air enters into the greenhouse.
2. Hot air is exhausted by fans mounted on the opposite end wall of the greenhouse.
3. Temperature inside house can be as much as 10 to 15 degrees cooler than outdoor temperature.
4. controlled by thermostat.

100. EVAPORATIVE COOLING (Fan & Pad)

101. EVAPORATIVE COOLING (Fan & Pad)
Water Tank
With pump

102. EVAPORATIVE COOLING

104. SHUTTERS AND FANS

105. D. IRRIGATION Drip irrigation Mist nozzles Fertilizer injectors
Automatic Controls
Solenoid valves

106. DRIP IRRIGATION (tubes)

107. DRIP IRRIGATION

108. MIST NOZZLES

109. MISTER (FOGGER)

110. FERTILIZER INJECTORS
SLOWLY ADD FERTILIZERS TO IRRIGATION WATER, AT A SET RATE

111. IRRIGATION CONTROLS
Solenoid Valves
Help control
flow rate

112. Examples of Greenhouse plants