The harvest, as you know, largely depends on climatic conditions, therefore, a greenhouse is installed on almost every site. In recent years, cellular polycarbonate has become increasingly popular in the construction of greenhouses, since it is more durable and reliable than traditional film. The yield that can be obtained in a polycarbonate greenhouse is four to five times higher than that in the open field, which is primarily due to the creation of the most comfortable conditions for plants, both in terms of temperature and humidity.
Growing vegetables in a polycarbonate greenhouse
Growing vegetables in a polycarbonate greenhouse is easy and should be based on a few important conditions, among which:
- high-quality and well-planned greenhouse design;
- permanent soil care;
- high-quality material used for the overlap (in our case, it is cellular polycarbonate);
- the presence of an automated control system (optional, especially at first, but still, electronics should be introduced if possible).
Polycarbonate greenhouse interior arrangement
In addition to these basic conditions, you must ensure:
- optimal microclimate;
- regular feeding throughout the entire growth;
- watering that matches a particular vegetable;
- shading (due to unpredictable changes in solar activity - in recent years, even in the northern regions, the temperature rises quite high);
- heating (if we are talking about the regions of the middle zone, then it should be year-round, because there, even in summer, the temperature at night often drops sharply).
Choosing polycarbonate for a greenhouse
Why greenhouse cultivation?
Cucumbers can be grown outdoors and in greenhouses. In the first case, entrepreneurial activity will completely depend on weather conditions - if the season does not please with sunny days, you can not expect a big harvest.
Growing cucumbers in a film greenhouse does not have this drawback, since the necessary microclimatic conditions for the rapid growth of the crop are provided in the greenhouse. The result is a high yield of quality vegetables. In addition, the farmer has the opportunity to supply finished products to the market all year round, because even in winter, agricultural work can not be stopped.
The industrial cultivation of cucumbers in the greenhouse as a business has only one significant drawback compared to the soil method - the higher costs of starting a business. High-quality greenhouses are to be prepared.
Evaluate the advantages of the direction:
- The cost of production is significantly lower than the selling price, which guarantees high profits.
- The high demand for fresh vegetables will quickly recoup all costs.
- There is a possibility of cooperation both with large hypermarket chains and with private buyers.
- Growing and caring for plantings is not difficult - even a novice summer resident will master the matter.
Friendship table
Based on the above factors of growth and development, a table was compiled that is recommended and contraindicated for joint cultivation of crops. The following options for planting in greenhouse conditions are possible:
- Tomatoes, bell peppers, beans, melons, greens and peas.
- Cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplants, beans and peppers.
- Early cabbage, spicy plants, herbs and tomatoes.
Official business registration
According to the law, it is possible not to formally formalize a business, if the cultivation is carried out on a site with an area not exceeding 2 hectares. But these are huge areas that will allow you to collect tens of tons of cucumbers annually! You do not need to prepare a package of documents and certify products, which will significantly reduce the start-up investment.
Without a registered individual entrepreneur or LLC, you will not have the opportunity to cooperate with large clients - wholesalers and shops. In this case, the only way to sell vegetables will be retail or small wholesale sales to private clients.
Are you planning to grow cucumbers in a greenhouse in winter for sale to wholesale customers? Then be sure to formalize your activity! You will get the opportunity to cooperate with legal entities - and this is the best sales market for an entrepreneur. And if all the rules for organizing a business are followed, there is a chance to get a government subsidy for your farm.
The OKVED code used when registering an enterprise is 01.12.1. In the future, you will work at a flat tax rate of 6%, which exempts the entrepreneur from paying property taxes and VAT.
If you are going to sell vegetables in your own region, then you do not need to certify and declare the products. Take care of preparing the relevant documents only in the case of sending cucumbers to another region or country.
World Trends
The reasons for the development of greenhouse vegetable growing are, on the one hand, an increase in the demand of the world's population for fresh vegetables, and on the other, the development of innovative technologies for the greenhouse industry.
The basic principles on which all global innovations are currently based is finding ways to produce more with the least cost of material resources, space, water, fertilizer and energy.
World experience shows that 70% of grown vegetables are sold fresh, 5-10% are processed, and 20-25% are used for livestock feed and for disposal. But the share of packaged vegetables and in bulk in different countries is very different. So in Germany about 85% of packaged vegetables are sold, in England - 55%, in Australia - 45%, in Russia - 25%. And, for example, in Brazil, Mexico, India and China - less than 2%.
Let's consider some of the most interesting solutions in the field of automation of packaging and logistics zones in greenhouses that are offered in the world.
- Robot technology includes systems for picking and placing, palletizing and depalletizing various products, picking orders, packing, loading and unloading carts and other carriers.
- Logistics management software (ERP system) implements functions such as visualization, tracking and inventory management of products.
- Automatic vehicles (automatic machines with laser or induction control).
- Optical sorting systems can sort different products by weight, shape, size, color and quality. Sorting can be carried out using an optical camera or using strain gauges.
- The coding and identification system allows the recognition of products equipped with a barcode or transponder.
- Industrial machines for washing plastic boxes for collecting vegetables, or otherwise recyclable containers.
- Stacking systems for crates, wooden pallets, boxes, plastic buckets, cardboard boxes, steel shelving, vacuum and polystyrene trays.
- Pallet strapping machines are used to ensure the stability of the goods during transport and storage. The machines can be used for various types of boxes, trays and almost any rectangular product.
- Weighing systems: table or floor scales, as well as weighing systems for products on the belt.
- Box forming machines.
- Belt conveyors, roller (driven and without drive) and chain conveyors, widths from 200 to 2000 mm.
A survey of the 100 largest European greenhouse owners in 2018 showed that such high-tech innovations as ERP systems are of interest to 47%, and 16% of respondents plan to buy robotic systems.
We select a place for growing greenhouse cucumbers
A year-round growing business plan should include choosing a suitable location for doing business. Cucumbers are cultivated in almost all regions of Russia. And since the process will be carried out in artificially created conditions, weather conditions and soil composition are not as important as if professional outdoor cultivation technology was used.
The best option for organizing a business is your own summer cottage. This way you will significantly reduce your start-up costs. Isn't there one? Then look for offers for renting land plots. Choose a location away from the city and large industrial enterprises - vegetables grown in an ecologically clean area will become your competitive advantage. In the future, when things go uphill, the site can be redeemed from the owner.
Enter into a lease agreement for a long term. This way it is much cheaper and you have a guarantee that the owner will not require you to leave the "familiar place" in the midst of the season.
Arrangement of a site for growing greenhouse cucumbers
New technologies, a variety of equipment and consumables allow an entrepreneur to organize a business taking into account available finances. The minimum "equipment" of the site will require only the presence of heated greenhouses. Large-scale farming is impossible without additional equipment - automatic irrigation systems, trucks, cultivators.
Consider supplier suggestions and select suitable industrial greenhouses that will allow you to grow vegetables all year round. Polycarbonate structures are more popular among businessmen due to the ideal price-quality ratio. Growing cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse in winter shows good yields and makes it much easier for workers to take care of the plantings.
Calculate the number of greenhouses based on the planned sales of vegetables. A great option for beginners is constructions with a usable area of 35 m2. Here, if all the features of the cultivation process are observed, up to 3 tons of cucumbers can be harvested from each meter annually.
At first, in order to carry out the cultivation of cucumbers in a winter greenhouse and receive sufficient profit, 3 structures are quite enough.
There is a huge selection of greenhouses on the market, of different sizes and functional features. The design must be:
- heated,
- well lit,
- high.
The cost of industrial structures varies in a wide range, starting from 100,000 rubles. You can save money if you personally organize the lighting of the greenhouse and its heating, additionally purchasing lamps and heating boilers.
If funding is tight, plan to build your own cucumber greenhouse all year round. In this case, you only have to purchase consumables.
At first, it is not necessary to purchase additional equipment. But the profitability of the business will be higher if you buy irrigation systems (from 50,000 rubles), cultivators (from 30,000 rubles), mini-tractors (from 300,000 rubles). The site will also require utility rooms for storing harvested vegetables, working equipment, seeds and fertilizers.
Laying hot water heating in a greenhouse
As an example, we will give a brief instruction on the installation of a "warm floor" system for a year-round greenhouse.
Step 1. Remove 5 to 15 cm of soil from inside the greenhouse. It can later be used to create beds.
Step 2. Place plastic wrap on the ground. It is needed to protect the insulation from water entering from below.
Step 3. Lay the Styrofoam sheets, align them.
Step 4. Lay a reflective film for the warm floor on top of the foam. Together with the foam, it will not allow the water circulating through the pipes to waste its heat on heating the lower layers of the soil, in this case useless for you.
Prices for "warm floor"
warm floor
Step 5. Using flexible polyethylene pipes and brackets, begin to equip the heating system circuits on the floor of the greenhouse. The intervals between them should be about 10-15 cm. In some cases, the contours are located exclusively under future beds.
Arrangement of heating system circuits
The spacing between the pipes should be about 10-15 cm
Installation of the "warm floor" system
Step 6. The heating system must now be closed from above. Here it is poured with a concrete screed. You can cover it with a layer of well-compacted sand, on top of which lay a metal mesh.
The system is filled with a screed
Step 7. Connect the hoses of the heating circuits to the manifold, and this together with the pump, in turn, to the heating boiler. A pump is needed to circulate warm water in the system.
Collector
Step 8. Perform a test run of the "warm floor" system.
If everything is in order, fill in a layer of fertile soil for the beds. On this, the installation of the water heating system can be considered complete. Combined with reliable thermal insulation, adequate lighting and irrigation, you have an extremely efficient greenhouse for year-round vegetable production.
What kind of cucumber to grow?
For growing early cucumbers in the greenhouse to be profitable, the choice of variety is important. Many types of vegetables have been bred by breeders, showing good yields in greenhouse conditions. Choose only reliable suppliers!
When choosing a variety of cucumbers, pay attention to the timing of its ripening. Early ripening vegetables (40-60 days) are perfect - this way you can harvest more often.
Hybrids Herman, Hercules, Annushka, Emelya, Dynamite, Courage show good germination. You can buy plant seeds or ready-made seedlings. The cost of seed is from 1,500 rubles per 1,000 seeds.
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Germination of cucumber seeds
I want to share with you my personal experience of germinating cucumber seeds. I cover each seat with a liter plastic bottle with a cut out bottom. The cover can be removed from it after the emergence of shoots - for airing. To maintain stable moisture in the soil, in the lid of another - liter - bottle without a bottom, I make small holes with an awl and bury it with the neck down next to the future plant. Then I pour water into it.
Now, when the soil dries out, moisture will evenly flow directly into the zone of the root system of the cucumber. After that, I build a "tunnel" from arcs over the garden bed and cover it with a double layer of white non-woven material. I disassemble this structure only in May, with the onset of stable warm weather.
Growing conditions for greenhouse cucumbers
A warm greenhouse provides the plantings with the necessary microclimatic conditions. But human participation is also required! If you plan to open a large peasant farm, then you cannot do without outside help - you will need to hire 2-3 employees to perform land work. This will entail additional costs, but also increase the quality and quantity of the crop.
Let's outline the important conditions for growing cucumbers in a greenhouse:
- regular watering,
- constant treatment of plants with remedies for diseases and pests,
- loosening and fertilizing the soil.
Harvesting is carried out as the vegetables ripen. Before sale, the products are stored in a dry, darkened room. Wooden boxes are used.
It's great if you have the opportunity to consult with an experienced farmer. You will learn what methods of growing cucumbers have been implemented in practice and delve into the secrets of planting care.
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