Introduction to Greenhouses

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Introduction to Greenhouses

• 2141
• Lora Sommers

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I. History of Greenhouses

• A. Began in Holland in the 1600s
• B. Why? Because the Netherlands were the center
  of merchant shipping.
• C. Royal courts in Europe found fruit and flowers
  out of season exciting and affordable.
• D. Netherlands still leaders in greenhouse
  production.

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II. Greenhouse industry in America

• A. First was James Beckmans in New York City in
  1764.
• B. Transportation limited so greenhouses were
  located in major Eastern urban areas - close to
  the markets.
• C. Eastern cities (Boston, New York,
  Philadelphia) and Chicago produced cut flowers.
  Pot plant production moved across America to
  major urban areas.

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• D. In the 1950s transportation by air freight
  caused changes in growing areas. Florida, Texas,
  and California can grow products without heat, in
  temporary structures and with lower labor costs.
  Adding in the air freight cost their prices are
  still lower than those in established urban
  production areas.
• E. Northern growers survived by crop selection
  and quality.

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• F. California becomes a major cut flower
  production area.
• Why??
• 1. Low air freight on eastward flights
• 2. Large market close by
• 3. Cultural conditions

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III. Imports of cut flowers

• A. Large market share because of good quality and
  lower prices.
• B. 1988 figures for cut flowers shows that on
  imports Columbia supplies 61.9 and the
  Netherlands 22.4

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IV. Production-area determinants

• A. Three factors
• 1. Production cost
• 2. Quality
• 3. Transportation cost
• B. If all are ideal, then the area is safe for
  competition.
• C. If conditions are less than ideal, then one
  must offset another by strengthening its area.

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Ideally all 3 sides are equal, but if one is
shorter then one must be longer to make up the
difference and make it safe for competition.
Competition
Quality
Production cost
Transportation cost
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V. Movement in carnation (cut flowers) growing
areas.

• A. Where? (1950s to late 1980s)
• New England New York to
• Denver, Colorado to
• San Francisco Bay, California to
• Bogota, Columbia

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• B. Why?
• 1. Cheaper labor
• 2. Temperatures
• 3. Low cost air freight
• 4. Other production costs
• 5. Light intensity (and cost of artificial
• lighting)

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VI. Areas of American Production

• A. Fresh (cut) flowers
• cut from the plant prior to sales
• Examples carnations, roses, mums
• B. Flowering plants
• have flowers and sold in pots
• Examples poinsettias, mums, Easter lilies,
  spring bulbs

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• C. Green plants (foliage plants)
• plants sold for foliage
• Examples weeping figs, Boston ferns, spider
  plants
• D. Bedding plants
• young plants and vegetables sold for landscaping
• Examples tomatoes, marigolds, impatients,
  petunias, green peppers, geraniums

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• E. Vegetables
• plants raised to maturity for consumption
• Examples tomatoes, rhubarb, lettuce

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VII. Michigans role in greenhouse production

• A. Total bedding/garden plants Michigan ranks 3
• B. Total wholesale value of report crops Michigan
  is 6. Sales total 127,810,000.
• C. Total cut flowers Michigan is 6
• D. Total potted flowering plants Michigan is 7
• Data from 1992 Floriculture crops summary by
  the US Dept of Agriculture

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VIII. Floral Markets

• A. Conventional florist
• fresh (cut) flowers for weddings funerals
• roses for Valentines Day
• flowers plants for Christmas and Easter
• 25 of population regularly buys (Europe is much
  higher)

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• B. Mass marketing
• aimed at other 75 of population
• located at streets corners, malls, grocery
  stores, discount stores
• cater to impulse buying and create a larger
  market
• lower overhead costs than florist
• C. Interior plantscaping
• the business that rents and maintains plant
  material in commercial buildings

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IX. The future of greenhouse production in America

• A. Great potential for growth
• B. Areas of expansion and improvements
• advertising
• production efficiency
• post-production crop handling
• water quality and availability
• prevention of groundwater contamination
• pesticide regulations
• pest control problems
• technology