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As we start to prepare for the warmer months that may seem far away with the late snow flurries and colder temperatures we've experienced this spring (hurry up summer!), it's easy to forget the uncomfortable heat that those warmer months bring. When temperatures can rise to an unbearable 111°F we're lucky to have air conditioning in our offices. But using air conditioning in a large space like a commercial greenhouse is simply not practical.

Growers can artificially increase the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) available to plants to improve growth and yield. Scientists call it “atmospheric fertilization” and growers have known for a long time that increasing CO2 can improve plant productivity. Adding additional CO2 around plants is similar to adding additional nitrogen to the soil – it gives plants a boost to grow more rapidly and increase the size and number of fruits.

Commercial crop production can be an ongoing balance between growing leaf or stem, and flower or fruit. For most crop producers, the revenue comes from flower or fruit production, and growers try to grow the minimum amount of leaf or stem in order to sustain their flower and fruit production. This allows growers to allocate a greater percentage of input energy towards the revenue generating side of crop production.

When you're planning to install a new commercial greenhouse the one thing you probably wish you had more of is time. If you're getting ready to install or planning to build a gutter connected poly greenhouse check out these tips to help save on installation time.