Chapter 3

Greenhouse Curtain Systems

(book excerpts)

Greenhouse curtains, or screens, as they are sometimes called, are fabrics that are placed between the crop and the greenhouse roof and used for temperature control, energy savings, shading, and photoperiod control. Certain trends in greenhouse technology are also increasing the popularity of double-curtain installations. This is the case with greenhouse supplemental lighting, which has caused a rapid expansion in the use of blackout curtains for light abatement, aided in part by new, restrictive laws in some areas aimed at curbing light pollution from greenhouses. Curtain systems are mobile panels of fabric, plastic, or metallic film that cover and uncover the greenhouse. Small systems are often moved by hand, while large systems are commonly motor-driven. Internal curtain systems mount to the structure of the greenhouse, forming a ceiling above the crops. Exterior systems are used to either replace the greenhouse covering, create a retractable-roof greenhouse, or installed above the greenhouse structure. The retractable systems are typically used to provide a hardening-off area or to add seasonal production space where zoning restrictions make it difficult to build a traditional structure. The curtain systems installed above the greenhouse are used to provide shade, blocking solar radiation before it enters the greenhouse and offering a cooling effect. These external shade systems are usually located in warm climates, such as Florida.

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