In the greenhouses of the Tartu-based company Grüne Fee in Estonia, cucumbers and a variety of greens are grown throughout the year. According to managing director Kristo Eisenberg, the company has been operational since the early 90s, and while the assortment previously included tomatoes and roses, the focus has now shifted to cucumber cultivation due to high demand.
Cucumbers in the greenhouses are grown using hydroponics on agrotextile, allowing for the first harvest to be achieved shortly after planting. To increase yield, an additional enrichment with carbon dioxide is used, which boosts productivity by more than 50%. Lighting also plays a crucial role: artificial lamps create conditions for an extended "day" for the plants.
Eisenberg emphasized that high electricity costs and other expenses, including the use of "beneficial" insects to combat pests, sometimes prevent significant profit. The cost of electricity during the colder months in Estonia can reach 300,000 euros, and insects for plant protection from the Netherlands and Belgium cost between 7,000 and 8,000 euros a week.
Each year, the greenhouses in Tartu produce about 3,000 tons of cucumbers, as well as nearly 20 types of greens, including arugula, spinach, basil, and cilantro, which are in special demand. Grüne Fee's products are supplied to the Estonian market and exported to Latvia and Lithuania, ensuring a year-round supply of fresh vegetables and greens.
The managing director does not rule out the possibility of expanding the range in the future, including a return to tomato cultivation, further diversifying the agricultural output of Estonia.
Source: rus.err.ee