Tag Archives: greenhouse

Barfoots create specialised chilli greenhouse

Barfoots is one of a number of growers which is now helping Sainsbury’s stock 100 per cent British chillies.

This is thanks to the Chichester grower’s new investment in producing the crop in a dedicated greenhouse which utilises a range of sustainable technologies to extend the British chilli season from four to seven months.

Thomas Lapraik, who joined the Barfoots team in the autumn of last year to manage the cultivation explains, “Location, as ever, is key. We’re on the Chichester peninsular within a stone’s throw of the coast, so the greenhouse utilises the best natural light levels in the UK. To support this natural sunshine, we’ve introduced hi-tech environmentally-efficient heating controls and modern low-impact growing systems. We plan to achieve seven months of supply from this glasshouse which breaks all previous records for chilli production in the UK.”

Outside of the British season, Barfoots has been farming chillies under protective growing structures for Sainsbury’s at their award-winning farm in Senegal since 2010. “Senegal has really been a game-changer in terms of the quality of imported chillies into the UK market,” adds Harry Wilder, Barfoots international agronomist.

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UK nursery automates

Netherlands-based Kees Greeve Greenhouse Projects has recently completed a greenhouse automation project for Pinetops Nursery after the company was forced to move to the former HRI Efford site after its former Livermans nursery west of Littlehampton was developed for housing.

Pinetops, which is run by brothers Ian and Stuart Paton, grows lilies, poinsettias and hellebores. In October last year the brothers also regained their title as the growers of the largest pumpkin in the UK.

KG Greenhouses says it is just putting the finishing touches to a fully automated container system which is combined with a visualisation program. This allows them to monitor all movements and pre-program the full cultivation cycle from the pot robots up to harvesting.

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New partnership for EBtech

Dutch manufacturer of greenhouse systems and parts Alumat Zeeman BV and Hull-based EBtech Solutions Ltd have announced a formal partnership to supply screening and ventilation equipment to the UK greenhouse market.

EBtech described the move as a “great opportunity,” adding that it would allow the company to offer growers a complete and competitive alternate option when choosing a screening supplier and installer. The partnership means that Alumat Zeeman’s products and services can be provided to all UK growers together with the support and advice from a local agent.

“We look forward to a very fruitful cooperation with Ebtech providing value to the growers in the UK by combining the strengths of both our companies” said Robert Vink, Sales manager of Alumat Zeeman.

Tony Walker of EBtech Glasshouse Systems added, “Having this partnership with Alumat Zeeman strengthens our portfolio of providing the complete package to the UK Horticultural industry.”

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Double layer growbag brings benefits

Coco-peat substrate supplier Dutch Plantin says that it has demonstrated the advantages of its new double layer growbag during recent visits to several European clients.

According to the company the special growbag has two layers: a layer of coco chips at the bottom (5-15mm) and a layer of coco pith at the top (sieved> 1mm). The advantage of this double layer growbag is that it results in the same humidity on the bottom and at the top (e.g. 69-72%).

“When using other substrates, a lot of the water drops down while the top is much drier, compared with stonewool (100-30%), full pith (85-60%) and full crush (70-30%). The double layer growbag ensures optimal growth conditions,” said the company in a statement. “In addition, this growbag can be used in various crops of vegetables, soft fruit and flowers.”

Research at Plant Research International in Made in the Netherlands has also shown ‘remarkable advantages’ when using Dutch Plantin Optima growbags, which are made at a dedicated production site which operates solely to produce the growbag planks.

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