"It’s the most... expensive time of the year"

As the winter set in and the days get colder and scant , maintain a productive spring up environs can be a challenge . For those aim twelvemonth - round output , keep crops warm and well - perch , this can be an expensive time of year with mellow heating plant and electrical energy bill . However , originate out of season usually means that growers can overtop a higher price for their crop , as consumer need is not always seasonal .

The inevitable drop in outdoor temperature means a higher heat energy input is required inside the greenhouse in rescript to asseverate target growing temperatures . For deterrent example , heat loss from 1 ha of glass without much in the way of insulation and a difference of 20 ° C between inside and outside , can be in the realm of 1.6 MW ; in other words , that ’s the size of heat beginning need to keep the inside temperature constant quantity .

oestrus loss is inevitable , even in a well - insulated greenhouse , but some wide-eyed housekeeping can facilitate minimise this . For example , ensuring vents close full and replacing any break or slipped panes , at least means you have a closed body structure . Wrapping the sides in house of cards wrapper can also be a cost - effective result .

In improver to the structural losses , are those link with a pre - determined discharge strategy . melody exchange is often essential to keep humidness and temperature in check , but it can lead in a drop below the target levels . An alternative is to operate using a all shut system , with a climate computing equipment prevent everything under crocked command . Unlike a conventional greenhouse , a unsympathetic system may practice a web of pipework to add fresh air as want , connected to heat exchanger to minimize heat going .

A big advantage of a unsympathetic system is that it thin the unnecessary loss of resources , not only heat , but also irrigation water . A dry summer this year has meant UK clean water levels are low ; being ego - sufficient by harvest home rain can be good . Recycling water is also sensitive , particularly when it still contains relatively eminent amount of nutrient . While some may have concern over disease peril , there are now a myriad of piss treatment systems on the market place , ranging from constituent filter to ultraviolet light treatment . In the Netherlands , where agriculturist must recycle their drainage weewee , anecdotal evidence suggests it also makes proficient financial good sense , reducing the amount of fertilizer required .

But , the biggest component at this time of year is abstemious . With potentially only a few hour of daytime each mean solar day , growers may well deliberate auxiliary lighting to keep the flora photosynthesising . As electricity cost rise , the financial return on investment in lights can be difficult to quantify . The energy rescue volunteer by light-emitting diode compare to HPS could become attractive , but the high capital cost will put many off . For those with mix heating plant and power ( CHP ) , self - generation of electrical energy can make it a more executable alternative , as long as the heat can either be used or hive away .

Winter production is not cheap , but by concenter on save resource and accept a sustainable approach shot , costs can be go on to a minimum , while assure market need is met year around .