Tomtech, has installed technology at Ryton Gardens to help Coventry University and Garden Organic create an ideal environment to research and promote organic growing. A T100 control system has been added to the site’s greenhouse to control three growing zones, each with ventilation, hot water heating, and growing lights.
Coventry University purchased Ryton Gardens in 2019 from Garden Organic, a community-based charity that encourages organic gardening and horticulture through campaigning, advice, community work, and research. Despite the site’s sale to the local university, Ryton Gardens remains the location of Garden Organic’s headquarters, their Heritage Seed Library, and is used as a training garden and for organic demonstrations.
In addition, Coventry University’s research Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, is undertaking a number of large research projects including organic agricultural practices as part of the Organic-PLUS project funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 research fund.
“It’s a great showcase for organic and sustainable growing. By maintaining the right environment, our technology can help make it easier to conduct research and grow without the need for fertilizers and pesticides” says Krzysztof Hernik, Managing Director of Tomtech.
Since passing into the ownership of Coventry University, the 22-acre site located between Wolston and Ryton-on-Dunsmore in rural Warwickshire has remained open to visitors.
Tomtech’s T100 is a monitoring and control system for multi-zone greenhouses, making changes to the heating, ventilation, irrigation, fertigation, and other factors based on user-defined programming and changes in conditions.
The system monitors a range of measurements including temperature, humidity, and light and has been fitted with an optional GSM alarm notification module.
“It alerts designated individuals by text message if temperatures in the greenhouse deviate from the agreed thresholds. It’s a simple safeguard which means they can have peace-of-mind and take action if required” adds Krzysztof.
Tomtech was established in 1986 and has been at the forefront of developing greenhouse control technology. Their systems are used throughout the UK, Europe and further afield to optimise growing conditions for almost every type of crop grown under glass.
The recent instillation of the T100 control system at the Coventry University-run greenhouse follows similar installations by Sussex and Nottingham universities.
“We’re thrilled that our control systems and technology are being used to help grow horticultural knowledge in some of the UK’s top universities” concludes Krzysztof.
For more information:
Tomtech
www.tomtech.co.uk