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Introduction - Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 11
G. J. Hochmuth2Contributors
George Hochmuth, Horticultural Sciences, North Florida Research and Education Center - Quincy, (850) 875-7116Robert Hochmuth,Multi County Extension Agent, North Florida Research and Education Center - Suwannee Valley, (386) 362-1725
Robert Dunn, Nematology, Retired
Freddie Johnson, Nematolgoy, Office of District Directors, (352) 392-1781
Pierce Jones, Agriculture and Biological Engineering Department, (352) 392-8074
Tim Momol, Plant Pathology, North Florida Research and Education Center - Quincy, (850) 875-7154
Jimmy Rich, Nematology, North Florida Research and Education Center - Quincy, (850) 872-7130
Steven Sargent, Horticultural Sciences Department, (352) 392-2134
Gary Simone, Former Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology Department, (352) 392-1980
Suzanne Stapleton, Multi County Extension Agent, North Florida Research and Education Center, (386) 362-1725
Mike Sweat, County Extension Director, Baker County Extension Office, (904) 259-3520
Bill Thomas, County Extension Agent, Columbia County Extension Office, (386) 752-5384
Susan E. Webb, Entomology and Nematology, (362) 392-1901
David Zimet, Food and Resource Economics, North Florida Research and Education Center, (850) 875-7125
Introduction
The production of greenhouse vegetables has increased in Florida during the 1980s and 1990s. Area in Florida counties under greenhouse vegetable production in 2001 is shown in Figure 1 . A greater number of small operations exist in North Florida and fewer, but much larger operations exist in South Florida.
Figure 1. Greenhouse Vegetable Production in 2001. Greenhouse operations have been viewed by many as a means to diversify and improve farm income. These new growers are trying to take advantage of vegetable crop production which, in general, has higher return per unit area than agronomic crops. In addition, greenhouse vegetable growers have recently been able to benefit from the increased demand for specialty horticultural crops, a category which encompasses greenhouse vegetables ( Figure 2 ).
Figure 2. Newly transplanted tomatoes Greenhouse vegetable production is not easy nor should it be viewed as an easy solution to a particular individual's economic problems. The difficulties inherent in greenhouse vegetable production are reflected in the relatively few acres of greenhouse vegetables grown in the United States compared to field vegetables. In general, greenhouse vegetable production in the United States is located near urban areas to benefit from the larger market potential, near industrial power plants to take advantage of reduced power and heating costs, or they are located in areas of the country with year-round abundant sunshine, such as Colorado or Arizona.
Greenhouse vegetables cannot usually compete directly on a price basis in the same markets with field-grown vegetables. Greenhouse vegetable production is much more expensive and more intensive and the crops must be marketed as specialty produce. Since greenhouse production is very costly and intensive, and the market for the specialty items is volatile, the prospective grower must be keenly aware of the special and exacting requirements of greenhouse vegetable production. This publication presents the special considerations that must be understood by all new or perspective greenhouse vegetable growers. Each point should be considered in light of one's own particular personality, capability, and financial status. Careful consideration of these factors will help prevent the perspective grower from making a regretful decision.
More Information
For more information on greenhouse crop production, please visit our Web site at http://nfrec-sv.ifas.ufl.edu.For the other chapters in the Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, see the documents listed below:
Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 1
Introduction, HS 766
Financial Considerations, HS767
Pre-Construction Considerations, HS768
Crop Production, HS769
Considerations for Managing Greenhouse Pests, HS770
Harvest and Handling Considerations, HS771
Marketing Considerations, HS772
Summary, HS773
Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 2
General Considerations, HS774
Site Selection, HS775
Physical Greenhouse Design Considerations, HS776
Production Systems, HS777
Greenhouse Environmental Design Considerations, HS778
Environmental Controls, HS779
Materials Handling, HS780
Other Design Information Resources, HS781
Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 3
Preface, HS783
General Aspects of Plant Growth, HS784
Production Systems, HS785
Irrigation of Greenhouse Vegetables, HS786
Fertilizer Management for Greenhouse Vegetables, HS787
Production of Greenhouse Tomatoes, HS788
Generalized Sequence of Operations for Tomato Culture, HS789
Greenhouse Cucumber Production, HS790
Alternative Greenhouse Crops, HS791
Operational Considerations for Harvest, HS792
Enterprise Budget and Cash Flow for Greenhouse Tomato Production, HS793
Vegetable Disease Recognition and Control, HS797
Vegetable Insect Identification and Control, HS798
Footnotes
1. This document is HS766, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date December 1990. Revised January 2001. Reviewed February 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. G. J. Hochmuth, professor of Horticultural Sciences and Center Director, North Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. The Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook is edited by George Hochmuth, professor of Horticultural Sciences and Center Director, North Florida Research and Education Center and Bob Hochmuth, Extension Agent IV, North Florida Research and Education Center - Suwannee Valley, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.