Greenhouses
Hydroponic or aeroponic growing, combined with modern greenhouse technology, is referred to as “controlled environment agriculture.” Greenhouse structures that incorporate this technology create an environment in which premium crops can grow year round. Modern greenhouses can protect our plants from outdoor pollutants, as well as contamination from birds, rodents, harmful insects, and plant diseases.
Most importantly, controlled environment agriculture protects our environment by reducing or eliminating harmful pesticides, and saves our natural resources by recycling water and minerals required for plants to grow.
Future Growing’s protected growing systems can utilize both hydroponic and organic techniques to provide a healthy and nutritious alternative to conventional, pesticide-laden produce.
Pictured at top right is a series of progressive images showing the construction of an aeroponic tower farm greenhouse, from beginning through completion.
Choosing a greenhouse is an important and complex decision; each modern greenhouse design has its advantages as well as disadvantages, and varying costs. Future Growing has access to over 50 different reputable greenhouse builders in North America and around the world. We help you select the best greenhouse for your budget, climate, and crops.
Greenhouse styles range from the economical, single bay, plastic-covered Quonset style (pictured at upper right) to the tall, Dutch style glass greenhouses (pictured at left).
Modern greenhouses are much taller than traditional styles, allowing natural ventilation to work more effectively, thus reducing energy costs. The Dutch style glass house, for example, can have 20-foot sidewalls and be gutter connected over a several acre area. These greenhouses are environmentally friendly, because they use glass, a lifetime material. Glass also provides the most sunlight transmission into the greenhouse.
Some growers choose plastic because of the high initial cost of glass, its poor insulation qualities during cold months, and the fact that it can be prone to hail damage in areas that receive large hail.
Dutch style greenhouses have vents on either side of the peaked roof (as illustrated in photo, above right). This design gives the greenhouse the ability to work with the wind from either direction, providing maximum air movement in the greenhouse.
Several other modern greenhouse structures have tall sidewalls and natural roof ventilation. But, instead of glass, they have two layers of inflated plastic on the roof and sidewalls. Inflated plastic is very economical, resistant to hail, and insulates well, but must be replaced about every four years.
Gothic Roof Quonset / Bow Roof / Sawtooth Roof
Many plastic covered structures have roof designs that are hinged on the truss, and the entire roof opens at the gutter. As temperature increases, roof vents open all the way and some side walls partially open as well. These structures require very little energy to ventilate the greenhouses.
Other structures, such as the Israeli sawtooth (pictured above, left) and the Israeli top-vent greenhouse (pictured above, right), utilize a horizontal curtain on the roof for natural ventilation. These structures also require very little energy to ventilate the greenhouses.
Lower, gutter connected greenhouses require large exhaust fans (illustrated in photo at left) to pull air through the greenhouses to keep them cool. In hot growing areas, greenhouses also have evaporative cooling pads to assist the fans in cooling the greenhouses.
Fan and pad type greenhouses eliminate the openings for insects which are present in natural ventilation systems, but require higher energy costs and increased maintenance to operate.
Future Growing has experience with some of the latest and most innovative greenhouses on the market today.
Retractable roof greenhouses (pictured in photo at right) can provide the best of both worlds by growing outside and inside all in the same day. The greenhouse roof and sidewalls open automatically in just a few minutes, while insect screens below the trusses can be closed to protect the plants from large insects and birds (See photo at lower right).
Smaller growers in colder climates may choose to build economical, single bay Quonset style greenhouses, as pictured in photo at left. These well-insulated greenhouses have two layers of inflated plastic from the ground to roof peak and shed snow very easily.
Whatever greenhouse design you choose, we will help you every step of the way. We will ensure that you have a well-built structure that serves you for many years to come!
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