Chapter 1

Question 1

Common greenhouse sizes?

Answer 1

• A lean-to greenhouse
• even-span greenhouse
• hoop house

Question 2

What considerations need to be addressed for the greenhouse frameworks?

Answer 2

• It needs to be able to support the covering material
• Should be strong but also allow the maximum amount of light to reach the plants
• Low maintenance

Question 3

What materials are used for greenhouse glazing?

Answer 3

• Polyethylene, polycarbonate, acrylic structure sheets

Question 4

What are the functions of the head-house?

Answer 4

• Is a structure attached to the greenhouse

- Might be used as/for a storage area, a potting area, an office, and/or a shipping area

Question 5

What are the advantages of retractable-roof greenhouse

Answer 5

• Can open and the roof depending on weather conditions, used to prepare crops for elements when they leave the greenhouse, reduced disease problems, reduced irrigation, and more effective temp control

Question 6

What are greenhouse bench options?

Answer 6

• Expanded galvanized steel, aluminum, plastic, and rot-resistant wood
• Layout: conventional arrangements, peninsular arrangements, and movable benches
• Rolling Benches: Maximize growing space by limiting space for aisles and benches are places on pipes

Question 7

What methods are used to heat greenhouse structures?

Answer 7

Hot water heat system, steam heat, unit heaters, polyethylene tubes, infrared heat systems

Question 8

What are the major greenhouse cooling and ventilation systems?

Answer 8

• The fan and pad cooling system, fog systems, and vants

Question 9

How are energy curtains used to maintain greenhouse temperatures?

Answer 9

They are an automated system that uses fabrics to insulate a greenhouse at night. The curtains are installed from gutter and opened and closed by computer systems

Question 10

What are the common greenhouse climate control systems?

Answer 10

• On-off thermostats, and proportioning thermostats

Question 11

What are some advantages of automated systems?

Answer 11

• they can reduce labor costs

- automated systems incorporate the production of the crops in the greenhouse

Question 12

What types of automated systems are used in planting processes?

Answer 12

• Automated pot fillers: full pots with lightly packed medium
• Automated seeders: permit the sowing of flats or plugs in a few moments
• Automated transplanted: removes small plants from plug trays and moves them to pots

Question 13

What are some advantages of automated systems?

Answer 13

They greatly reduce the labor cost and make it easier to water

Question 14

What automated systems are used in watering plants?

Answer 14

• Spaghetti tubing: small tubes connected to a main line

- Drip irrigation: similar to spaghetti tubing but steadily drips

Question 15

What are the types of greenhouse businesses?

Answer 15

• Specialty growers: produce crops sold to the wholesale or retail greenhouse growers
• Wholesale growers: produce a limited number of crops
• Retail growers: generally produce a variety of crops directly sold to the public

Question 16

What are the costs associated with production?

Answer 16

Plant materials, pots, chemicals, and growing material, wages, and benefits

Question 17

What career opportunities are associated with greenhouse management?

Answer 17

Greenhouse manager, production manager, propagator, grower, marketing manager, and shipping room manager

Question 18

What skills should a plant grower master?

Answer 18

Poper watering, prescribed fertilizer rates, photoperiodic control, pest management, mechanical skills, understand the market, understanding of laws pertaining to the greenhouse industry