Step
1: Identify your goals – profit, not the love of plants, should
be the primary objective.
Why
are you starting a business?
What
do you want to accomplish?
Talk
to others in the greenhouse industry.
Step
2: Determine the market potential of a crop before you grow it.
Who
is going to buy your products?
Analyze
the competition, what is your advantage over them?
What
crop should you grow? Only grow what you can sell.
Step
3: Write a business plan
Business
Planning: A Key to Success
Step
4: Select a site
Although
a greenhouse can be built almost anywhere, some sites offer advantages
over others.
Consider:
a.
Space (minimum area should be about two acres)
b.
Zoning (greenhouse operations can only be allowed in certain zones)
c.
Building codes
d.
Highway access
e.
Property values (the cost of land can add significant debt load
to a business)
f.
Environmental concerns
1.
Water (source, cost, quality, how many gallons will be consumed
in a year)
2.
Heat (source, cost)
3.
Waste materials (does run-off become part of the drinking
water supply?)
4.
Orientation (should have a slight southerly facing, SE is
good, for ideal light)
5.
Electricity (an adequate electric supply and distribution
system should be provided)
g.
Climate (what is the potential for high winds, heavy snow fall
and hail?)
h.
Slope (drainage is important-greenhouses should be placed on a
gravel base 6 – 12 inches above grade)
i.
Labor supply
j.
Potential for expansion
Step
5: Select the type of greenhouse
1.
Free Standing Greenhouse
- Usually
the best choice for a small grower planning on less than 10,000
sq. ft. of growing space.
- Easier
to provide separate environments as each house is controlled
by its own heating/cooling system.
- Best
suited for to heavy snow areas.
- Good
for non-level sites.
- Individual
greenhouses are easier to build and maintain.
- Usually
less expensive than a gutter-connected greenhouse.
- Expansion
of growing area is easier.
- Ventilation
can be more uniform because of smaller area.
2.
Gutter-connected Greenhouse
- Most
cost effective for growing areas of 20,000 Sq. ft. or more.
- A
major advantage is reduced heating costs as compared to the
same amount of area under a single span greenhouse.
- Less
land is needed. Up to 30% more growing space can be placed
on the same amount of land.
- Greater
labor efficiency.
- Utilities
are easier to install.
- Heat
can be centralized.
- Easier
to adapt to computer environment control.
Step
6: Decide what you will need inside the Greenhouse
a.
Climate control system.
Greenhouses
need to be heated, cooled, or ventilated depending on the time
of year. The system controlling these functions should be integrated.
b.
Floor (will depend on the type of production being planned).
Bare
ground is not recommended as it creates insect and disease problems.
- Heavy
plastic coverings
- Woven,
barrier cloths
- Gravel
- Concrete
c.
Benches
Plants
can be grown on the ground , but accurate and uniform temperature
control is difficult to achieve. Benching materials should allow
for air circulation and drainage.
-On
fixed bench arrangements, 60 – 70% bench efficiency can be expected.
-Movable
aisle benching can increase this efficiency to 90%.
-Make
sure to conform with Americans with Disabilities Act, for aisle
spacing and bench heights is applicable.
d.
Root Zone heating system (if plant propagation is planned).
e.
Storage and work space.
Don’t
overlook warehouse storage and work space for mixing potting media,
filling pots, potting and transplanting activities.
Step
7: Contact a Greenhouse Manufacturer
The
time to look into your local zoning, planning commission and fire
code requirements is before you get any estimates or drawings.
An estimate for building a greenhouse without this information
for your specific site is, at best, a shot in the dark, which
most likely will end up being costly and frustrating.
Step
8: Join Your State Trade Association
The
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association (CNGA) serves both
their memberships and non-member Greenhouse enterprises through
the development of educational opportunities, marketing and promotion,
energy, safety and insurance programs, and coordination of activities
with national and local organizations that track legislation.
 |
The Colorado
Nursery & Greenhouse Association
959 S. Kipling
Pkwy, Ste 200
Lakewood, CO
80226.
Phone: (303)
758-6672, (888) 758-6672
Fax: (303) 758-6805
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