Disease prevention is as important for vegetable and herb crops as it is for your ornamental crops. "Sanitation is the first step in fighting disease and insect pests. Use of a broad-spectrum bactericide and fungicide like Phyton 35 is an excellent foundation for disease prevention. You can rotate Phyton 35 with other fungicides to minimize resistance risk", the team with Phyton says.
Keeping insect pests out of the greenhouse and using sanitizing products to keep the greenhouse clean will pay off in terms of reduced disease risk, healthy plants, and higher yields.
Growing vegetables and herbs can help you fill seasonal voids in your operational calendar. This can help you maintain a steady revenue stream all year long and improve asset utilization at your facility. When you experience a gap in your ornamental growing seasons, use vegetables and herbs to fill the void.
Profitable greenhouse plants
The demand for locally grown produce and the consumer expectation of having access to a variety of vegetables year-round contribute to the profitability of greenhouse-grown vegetables and herbs, especially in the northern states. Here are a few of the crops that are especially successful in greenhouses and nurseries.
Tomatoes
Tomato plants are the most popular greenhouse vegetable crop, as they grow well under controlled conditions and bring good prices.
Leafy greens
Leafy greens, such as Bibb and leaf lettuce and spinach, are short-cycle crops that thrive in greenhouse environments. Growing takes just 30 days from transplant to harvest, so they are ideal for filling in short windows within ornamental crop cycles. There is a strong market for high-quality, locally grown leafy greens, particularly in the colder months when competitive products require transportation over long distances.
Summer squash
Summer squash grows well in greenhouses and provides a high-quality product and good yield. Growing takes 40 to 60 days from transplant to harvest. The price of summer squash increases in the off-season, making it a profitable choice for many greenhouse growers.
Herbs
Fresh herbs are popular year-round and can be sold profitably. Greenhouse-grown herbs provide locally grown freshness and quality that consumers seek. Most herb crops can go from transplant to harvest in less than 60 days.
Peppers
Peppers are extremely popular with consumers year-round. However, they require precise control of temperature and humidity to produce an excellent product. This makes them among the most difficult vegetable crops to grow. But, the year-round demand for locally grown peppers makes them a profitable choice for growers who want to invest the resources in making it work.
Marketing locally grown greenhouse vegetables and plants
Developing a plan to sell your crop before you grow it is key to your success. Vegetables that are locally grown, high quality, and available out of season will be the most profitable, as their taste and freshness will enable you to command higher prices.
Selling directly to consumers brings the highest prices but is the most labor-intensive. Farmer's markets represent good opportunities to sell to many direct-buying consumers and local restaurants.
Selling to restaurants through a local food service distributor is another profitable approach. While paying a distributor will cut into your profits, working with one provides access to a large market that values high-quality, locally grown product like yours.
You may also pursue relationships with local food co-ops or independent grocers. Some larger regional grocers also partner with local growers to meet consumer demand for fresh, local produce.
For more information:
Phyton Corporation
https://phytoncorp.com/