Greenhouse Structures

Multi-bay, Ridge and furrow or Gutter Connected Greenhouse:

A series of two or more free-standing greenhouses joined together at their eave line. A gutter is provided at the common eave of adjacent greenhouses to allow collection and run-off of rain. Usually the common sides of two adjacent gutter-connected greenhouses are omitted to provide greater uninterrupted interior growing space. The Gutter connect is the most popular form of expansion, and least expensive, for the commercial greenhouse grower as well as expanding High Tunnels. An additional house or houses can be added, by gutter connect, to the existing greenhouse, without changing the existing structure.
Gutter connected greenhouses can cover large areas, putting all greenhouse operations under one roof. These structures facilitate plant handling and phytosanitary management because everything is concentrated at one place. These gutter connected structures are ideal for medium to highly automated operations.

Advantages:

• Absence of sidewalls reduces construction materials
• Less heat is required with fewer exposed wall surfaces
• Requires less land area for the same area of greenhouses
• More efficient use of labor with easy passage from section to section