We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Construction

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are Greenhouse Crops?

By Paul Reed
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,119
Share

Greenhouse crops are fruits and vegetables grown inside a building or enclosure to protect them from the elements and permit a longer growing period. Growing plants in greenhouses can be more expensive than planting in fields, but in some areas it may be a necessity due to scarce water supplies or environmental conditions. A greenhouse may be a permanent structure with glass or plastic windows for light, or temporary structures made from frames and plastic film.

Early greenhouses were wood or metal-framed buildings with glass windows, often attached to a home. The sun provided both the light and heat needed to grow vegetables or flowers in a more controlled environment, or when temperatures outside fell below freezing. Seeds could be germinated early in the spring and some vegetables could be grown late into the fall, particularly if an additional heat source was provided such as a wood stove or steam radiators.

The cost of glass and its ability to break led to a gradual development of breakage-resistant plastic greenhouses in the 20th century. Plastics were much lighter, could be made with the addition of pigments to block some of the sunlight, making them translucent, and could be molded in shapes to permit curved windows or domes. These structures were often permanent buildings used for specialty vegetables, herbs, or flowers, and were built to a smaller scale for residential or small commercial growers.

Commercial greenhouse crops were not considered cost-effective until the late-20th century. Demands for agricultural land for residential development and rising fuel costs for transporting fruits and vegetables made smaller greenhouse-based manufacturing more effective. A growing interest in organic products, or those products grown without artificial fertilizers and pesticides, provided a customer base willing to pay more for higher-priced greenhouse crops.

Large-scale commercial greenhouses began using large metal-framed structures and plastic film, which were sometimes built directly over the field crops. These structures were relatively easy to build and could be disassembled and moved to other locations as needed. Most of these structures were not heated with auxiliary heat, which would have been too expensive, but were used in areas where adequate sunshine could provide radiant warmth to extend the growing season.

Water conservation also became a growing concern, as potable drinking water supplies were more limited. Greenhouse crops can be grown using water conservation techniques such as drip or mist irrigation, which provides an optimum amount of water needed for plant growth. The controlled temperatures and humidity possible in a greenhouse permit the use of much less water per harvest than required in fields.

Environmental control in a greenhouse can be performed with controls linked to temperature and humidity. If temperatures rise above desired limits, windows or skylights could be opened manually or controlled by electric motors. Humidity controls could provide the same function to prevent dampness that might encourage mold. These improvements added to the cost of greenhouse crops, but provided a more consistent product quality.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-are-greenhouse-crops.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.