After a brief peak in winter temperatures in early January, this season has been predominantly warm and grey. A lesser need for heating is much appreciated by growers, isn't it? Organic growers Alfons and Henriëtte from Dongen explain to BN DeStem that the reality is somewhat different.
"Tomato plants need light to grow well. We cultivate organically so without artificial lighting. Due to a lack of sunlight this winter, our plants are quite weak for the time of year. That's why, later this spring, we have to provide them with CO2 (carbon dioxide) – which is a sort of energy drink for plants. Generating CO2 requires gas, which offsets any savings earlier this winter.
For more traditional greenhouse growers, the relatively warm, grey winter of 2023-2024 hasn't resulted in energy savings either, says Mark Zwinkel (a consultant for, among others, the growers in Made) in the same article.