RAISE GREENHOUSE VEGETABLES AS CASH CROPS

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Although a few new vegetable greenhouses have opened recently in the North, the "growing under glass" industry there is pretty much either holding static or declining. So find yourself a map and draw a rough line from Columbia, South Carolina to Dallas, Texas. Potential net profits from greenhouse vegetables tend to increase south of that line. To the west of Dallas, however, the altitude of the land will determine the effectiveness of the operation. The best opportunities there will be at low elevations in warm valleys or at higher levels where the more frequently clear winter days increase the efficiency of solar heating systems.

My point is that growing healthy, nutritious vegetables during short, gloomy winter days can be both profoundly difficult and expensive. Of course, moneysaving solar-heated greenhouses are practical in southern locations, but even there they require backup furnaces and water heaters . . . and such equipment can easily double the up-front cost of the basic structure. (In the South, most new greenhouse operations are opening up in places where growers can harvest or buy wood at reasonable prices. Wood- or coal-fired furnaces and water heaters have replaced many electric, propane, and natural gas units.)

NEXT QUESTIONS

OK, let's suppose you're already residing in a southern location, or are willing to move to one. Now, I'd like you to consider the extra heat and humidity you'll have to endure when working in that greenhouse during the South's semitropical summers . . . and to ask yourself whether you're willing to contend with twice the number of plant diseases and insects that you'd have to deal with up north (where, as I've said, your costs would be much higher).

Once you have a particular locality in mind, be sure to ask for information on area utility rates . . . especially electricity, water, and sewerage. Even if you go solar — with wood or coal as backup — you'll need lots of electricity to run motors. For example, during hot weather the half-horse motors hooked to the two fans cooling a 30' X 96' greenhouse will run as much as 18 hours during the day . . . and often at intervals during the night as well. "Juice" will also be required to run pumps for circulating water and nutrients . . . and to power timers, solenoids, vent actuators, and packaging equipment.

You should also realize that the amount of water consumed by plants in greenhouses can be staggering. Keep in mind that some cities with newly installed or renovated water systems have high rates . . . and many have ordinances prohibiting the digging of new wells.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print