Growing products in a greenhouse environment are ideal for providing healthy organic options for consumers. Organic means everything used with production is exempt from harmful pesticides and other contaminants. Professional like those with
The Prospiant greenhouses incorporate only natural elements to prevent disease and keep plants free of pests. Merely because the products are grown in a greenhouse does not automatically imply these have been produced using organic methods.
There are strict guidelines that need to be followed in order to receive 100% organic certification.
The Benefits of Growing Organically in A Greenhouse
Typically, commercial growers use a number of pesticides and fungicides to control disease and pests on plants; however, more are turning to organic production methods with the public’s growing demand for toxin-free, healthy choices.
The “Research Institute of Organic Agriculture” indicates, based on studies performed, more of the public are choosing organically-grown products since these contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Growing plants within a greenhouse environment using organic methods offer many advantages. Some benefits of an organic greenhouse you can anticipate include:
1. Eco-friendly
Opting for greenhouse production using organic methods proves environmentally friendly. Many growers tend to use solar power for lighting with rainwater as a watering resource, and waste is recycled for compost for plant use.
Hobby or home greenhouse enthusiasts have the option of home-grown compost combined with natural pesticide choices much more readily than a larger commercial facility. That does not make the leaders in the greenhouse industry who are 100% certified organic any less prepared. These greenhouse growers become informed on the safest soils, seeds, containers, overall products, and the ideal environment needed to produce the healthiest plants for consumers.
The commercial greenhouses are placed under stringent guidelines to receive certification as organic growers, so you know their processes are on point.
2. Organically grown plants offer a more extraordinary flavor and more nutrients
Products certified as organic contain as much as 40% greater antioxidants than those grown conventionally. In addition, these options will provide more minerals and nutrients while offering fewer nitrates.
There will be no GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms, or preservatives in any plants that are grown organically.
3. There is a much longer growing season with a greenhouse
When growing in a greenhouse, the season is prolonged. The temperatures are relatively consistent with the structure retaining the heat of the sun’s rays allowing growth even in those colder climates or in the cooler seasons.
The weather is also not an issue, as it would be if you were attempting to maintain a garden in the field. You can work the plants even if there is a rainstorm or other foul conditions. And because the climate is controlled, there are more options for the plant families, including exotic options instead of being restricted to local varieties.
4. Protection from predators and pests
When growing a garden in the field, growers are at the mercy of wildlife, particularly deer and small animals like moles, groundhogs, and squirrels. The greenhouse environment is more easily controlled with various barriers like screens or plastic. A commercial greenhouse will have more effective and elaborate means for preventing entry.
That being said, things happen. Nature usually doesn’t care what you want to do. If pests can find a way into your greenhouse, they will get in. How do you fix this problem? Modern pests control specialists use the best of technology: Everything from organic pesticides to pest control scheduling software to get the right tech to your greenhouse at the right time.
5. The suitable insects can be kept as a benefit for the plants
Some insects serve as a benefit to the plants, including ladybugs. These have the capacity to reduce the number of pesky insects. The beneficial insects do not stick around in the outside gardens. But in a contained greenhouse atmosphere, the insects keep problems with pests under control.
Many gardeners find methods for attracting these bugs to keep them happy and coming around. It is a natural pesticide technique for an organic garden.
Commercial greenhouses will, of course, use much more efficient natural pesticide methods, but hobbyists or at-home greenhouse gardeners can benefit from this advice.
Certifying A Greenhouse as Organic
A commercial greenhouse (or even a hobbyist or at-home greenhouse atmosphere) can be certified as organic if the stringent NOP rules are met. The difference between a traditional and an organic environment is not significant, but there are considerations when developing the operation.
“Grassroots principles” is the understanding of the guidelines for operating a 100% organic greenhouse and determining what organic growing entails. Certification is not granted as 100% organically grown without following the NOP regulations.
Not only does a grower need to ensure the seeds, containers, soil, and pesticides are all natural, organic materials – the soil should be 30% compost, 60% loam, 10% blend of vermiculite, perlite, peat most; containers should be biodegradable; seeds should be organic – but the lighting, ventilation, heat, and air circulation should be consistent, so the plants thrive.
Final Thought
Because plants are grown within a greenhouse environment does not automatically mean these are certified as 100% organic by the NOP. The regulations set forth by the NOP are stringent, but commercial growers choose to do what they need to follow the guidelines since organic products are in demand by the public. More people are concerned with toxins and contaminants in their products, preferring to buy organic options instead.
The commercial greenhouses have an advantage over the field growers since their growing seasons are prolonged, weather-resistant environments, and contained, meaning they can control the growing conditions. That includes the lighting, ventilation, air circulation, and heating, allowing the plants a better opportunity to thrive. This gives the public not only organic options but better, healthier plants.
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