"UK: "Better, uniform climate thanks to intermediate Apex seals"

Greenhouses have always been susceptible to having a 'cold side' despite advances in both overhead and side screens. Cold air above an overhead screen will invariably collect at one gable end and this can result in a lower temperature in the growing area below the screen at the affected end. Uneven temperatures can have a serious impact both on the crop itself and on energy consumption. A simple solution to this problem available from UK supplier CMW Horticulture Ltd. was recently installed at Uk tomato grower Springhill Nurseries.

By installing neatly designed vertical partitions known as intermediate apex seals between the horizontal overhead screen and the greenhouse roof using LS Solarwoven material, the cold air above the screen is prevented from collecting at one gable end and therefore the temperature differential in the growing area below is reduced or eliminated.

The effectiveness of this simple solution has been amply demonstrated already at Springhill Nurseries where significant temperature variations had been showing up between identical greenhouse zones despite the state of the art facilities there. There are 2 measuring boxes in each 12,000 sq metre compartment at Springhill. Each compartment has 125 metre rows and, prior to the installation of the intermediate apex seals, the measuring boxes consistently recorded around 2 degrees variation in temperature.

The transformation in temperature distribution after installation was immediate. "When we checked our temperature graphs soon after the apex seals had been installed, it was obvious right away that for all practical purposes the temperatures recorded by the measuring boxes are now the same throughout the day" said former Young Grower of the Year Roly Holt who heads up the Springhill management team for the Worcestershire based family business R & L Holt. The improvement is even noticeable along individual rows according to Roly: "We see better uniformity along the row. Last season parts of the row were one week behind."

Having reliable temperatures throughout the growing area should make management of the crop more straightforward in future and ensure even better uniformity of the final product.

"We’re delighted by how well this new system is working at Springhill" said CMW Director Ian Metcalfe. "Installation is straightforward in most cases and we see this as a very cost effective solution to a common problem."

For more information:
CMW Horticulture Ltd
Ian Metcalfe
Tel: +44 01430 422222
Email: [email protected]
www.cmwhorticulture.co.uk