STRUCTURES How are You MAXIMIZING production space? Growers optimize greenhouse space for increased business, forego costly new builds D uring the hustle of the spring season, many ornamental growers feel the pressure of tight spaces during crop production and staging. For some growers, the idea of building or leasing additional growing structures may not be a financially viable option. " Renovating existing greenhouses is one of the primary areas of focus for why we started our company, " said James Parris, sales manager at Alchemy Greenhouse Solutions. " I hate bulldozing a greenhouse or taking one down if it's not necessary. I'd rather see growers be able to maximize their existing houses and do it through renovations to save them 12 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 GPNMAG.COM money and headaches before making the decision to expand. " One solution that Parris said could provide additional production space is to retrofit existing stationary benches with a rolling bench system. " If the benches are fixed in the greenhouse, a good fit is always rolling benches such as side-to-side systems where one center walkway floats and moves with the benches, " he said. " A grower can gain 15%-30% of the floor space back where there are incremental aisles between fixed benches. A grower can gain that production space and should see a good payback when looking at dollars per square foot of crop area instead of being walking space. " BY DAVID KUACK ROLLING BENCHES OUTSIDE Some spring plant growers have added a second growing layer in their greenhouses consisting of plants on the floor and an overlap of rolling benches that can be moved outside when the weather permits. " This system consists of rolling benches that are much like the typical benches used in greenhouses, " said A.J. Both, controlled environment engineering professor at Rutgers University. " There are connecting rolling pipes inside and outside the greenhouse. A window in the sidewall of the greenhouse can be opened to allow the benches to be rolled to the outside on the pipes. Most growershttp://www.GPNMAG.COM