In Finland it is only possible to grow tomatoes during the winter with supplementallighting. The challenge is to grow tomato plants in an efficient way so that they deliver a high yield of top-quality tomatoes.
The right lighting
The solution for Martin Sigg's business consisted of lighting advice, business calculations, LED interlighting modules, expert plant advice and follow-up, Philips Capital financing, and application engineering advice in support of Horti LED Partner Electroteam.
Martin first installed a double row of LED interlighting in one climate zone (approximately 1,500 m2) in the greenhouse. This installation featured a total of 648 modules. Since the LED lighting is mounted between the crop rows, the light can reach the plant and keep the leaves more photosynthetically active, and less light is lost to the ground or reflected up to the roof. Also, LED-based lighting does not emit any radiated heat, only convection heat. The partial decoupling of light and temperature gives growers an additional means to control the climate to suit the vegetative or generative crop phase.
LED interlighting photons give rise to more growth than the same amount of HPS photons applied from the top. A light recipe that combines the right spectrum, light intensity, position in the crop and heat management helps to increase the yield of tomatoes.
Philips GreenPower LED interlighting
The interlighting module is a bi-directional lighting module for interlighting in between high wire vegetables e.g. tomatoes
For more information, visit www.lighting.philips.com