What is the purpose of a greenhouse?
The purpose of a greenhouse is to create a controlled environment that enhances and extends the growing conditions of plants. This controlled environment allows gardeners and farmers to grow a variety of plants more efficiently. Specifically, greenhouses serve the following purposes:
Extended growing season: By maintaining warm temperatures, greenhouses allow year-round planting, enabling plants to grow outside their typical growing season, especially in areas with severe winters.
Protect plants from severe weather: Greenhouses protect plants from extreme weather such as frost, heavy rain, strong winds and overheating, providing a stable environment that promotes continued growth.
Pest control: The enclosed structure of the greenhouse helps reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases, provides a healthier growing environment, and reduces the need for chemical pesticides.
Optimize growing conditions: Greenhouses can control temperature, humidity, light and ventilation to create ideal conditions for plant growth. This level of control can lead to higher yields and better quality crops.
Water conservation: Greenhouses can use irrigation systems such as drip irrigation, which reduces water use compared to traditional field farming. In addition, the enclosed environment minimizes evaporation and runoff.
Growing exotic and sensitive plants: Greenhouses are capable of growing plants requiring specific conditions that are not naturally available under local climate conditions, including exotic and tropical species.
Research and education: Greenhouses are used for botanical research and educational institutions to study plant growth, genetics and breeding in a controlled environment and to promote the advancement of horticultural science.
Overall, greenhouses improve the ability to grow a wide variety of plants efficiently, regardless of external weather conditions, thereby increasing the productivity and sustainability of agriculture.
