Crops you can grow in a greenhouse profitably
Let’s face it.
For any farmer, investing in a greenhouse is an expensive affair.
To build one you’ll have to:
- Seek for relevant permits from your county or local government
- Hire an engineer to design one for you, or buy the cheaper pre-fabricated greenhouses.
- Pay taxes and other legal fees (owning a greenhouse elevates your tax bracket, so you pay more taxes).
- Purchase the actual greenhouse
All these costs added together make greenhouse farming expensive.
Horticultural experts estimate that 1 hectare of greenhouse can cost $ 200,000 to build.
And that’s not cheap.
If a greenhouse is going to cost that much—it therefore makes perfect sense to grow that will help you get good returns on investment.
“You could be saying a 1- hectare greenhouse is too big.”
I don’t need it.
Of course there are much smaller greenhouses that cost less.
Nevertheless, whatever the cost you spend on a greenhouse, it would make perfect sense to get good returns out of it.
That said the question still remains…
“Which crops do I Grow in a Greenhouse so that I can make a profit?”
Since building a greenhouse is a significant expense, you should only grow high value crops.
This is a no brainer—yet I see some articles saying you can grow crops like:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Carrots
Of course you could grow these crops.
However, the question is, “are the returns from crops justified?”
From my analysis, I don’t think so.
Why?
The crops have…
- a low productivity potential,
- and a low market value.
Only crops that have a high productivity potential and market value can justify the expenditure of owning greenhouse.
And here is one undisputable fact…
Not many crops can meet the above established criteria.
However, after much research, I have identified eight crops that are worth growing in a greenhouse.
“Which crops do I Grow in a Greenhouse so that I can make a profit?”
Since building a greenhouse is a significant expense, you should only grow high value crops.
This is a no brainer—yet I see some articles saying you can grow crops like:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Carrots
Of course you could grow these crops.
However, the question is “are the returns from crops justified?”
From my analysis, I don’t think so.
Why?
The crops have…
- a low productivity potential,
- and a low market value.
Only crops that have a high productivity potential and market value can justify the expenditure of owning greenhouse.
And here is one undisputable fact…
Not many crops can meet the above established criteria.
However, after much research, I have identified ten crops that are worth growing in a greenhouse.
“Which crops do I Grow in a Greenhouse so that I can make a profit?”
Since building a greenhouse is a significant expense, you should only grow high value crops.
This is a no brainer—yet I see some articles saying you can grow crops like:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Carrots
Of course you could grow these crops.
However, the question is “are the returns from crops justified?”
From my analysis, I don’t think so.
Why?
The crops have…
- a low productivity potential,
- and a low market value.
Only crops that have a high productivity potential and market value can justify the expenditure of owning greenhouse.
And here is one undisputable fact…
Not many crops can meet the above established criteria.
However, after much research, I have identified ten crops that are worth growing in a greenhouse.
#1. Cut flowers.
There are many cut flowers that you can grow in a greenhouse for crazy profits.
They include:
- Roses
- Gerbera
- Alstromeria,
- Iris
- Chrysanthemums
- And many others.
Cut flowers are usually sold in Europe, America, and China a premium price.
They are the go-for crops for greenhouse farming.
Unfortunately, growing them costs an arm and a leg.
You must have a huge capital outlay to grow these flowers.
That’s not all.
Growing them requires a lot of technical experience.
You also have to pay royalties to produce certain specialty cut flowers.
Marketing them is also a hassle.
From the time of harvest to the time they reach the consumer, you have to maintain a cold chain.
Therefore, if you are a small farmer, this is not the crop for you.
#2. Tomatoes
Compared to cut flowers, tomatoes are far much easier to handle.
They are a tropical crop, they don’t require much of a cold chain.
You can store tomatoes in a room environment and can stay fresh for 20 days or more.
Tomato’s ease of handling and management does not mean they are less profitable than cut flowers.
They could be as profitable as cut flowers or perhaps more profitable.
Here’s is why?
- Tomatoes have a short production life cycle.
- In only 4 months you can harvest your tomatoes if you start from seed.
- This short life cycle allows multiple tomato crops in a year.
- Multiple production cycles also mean more profits. The same cannot be said about producing cut flowers like roses. A rose flower greenhouse farm takes years to start and put into production.
- Tomatoes are highly productive plants. 1 hectare can produce over 100 tons of tomato fruit. This feature makes the plant ideal for greenhouse production.
# 3. Strawberry
Strawberry is a high value crop that is great demand in Kenya and across the world.
In Kenya, one kilo goes for about $10.
It can also produce huge fruit yields throughout the year.
Strawberry farmers report yields of up to 90 tons per hectare.
The crops high value coupled with its huge demand and productivity makes it one of the best crops for greenhouse production.
#4. Vegetable Seedlings
Growing of various vegetable seedlings for resale to other farmers is a real money spinner.
Why?
You can grow millions of seedlings in a one-hectare a greenhouse.
With the right costing and demand, this can pay you well.
This may sound too good to be true.
However, some companies in Kenya are doing it successfully.
A good example is Plantech Kenya
#5. Capsicum
Capsicums are moderate value crop especially the yellow, red colored varieties.
They are also very productive thus qualify as an ideal greenhouse crop.
#6. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are prolific yielders—especially the greenhouse varieties. Though thy are of moderate value compared to the above mentioned crops, nevertheless they are good candidates for greenhouse production.
#7. Watermelon
This is another high yielding-high value crop that can grow very well in a greenhouse.
Farmers have reported getting over 250 tons of watermelon per hectare of greenhouse.
Its high yield potential, coupled by high demand and value makes it one of the best crops to grow in a greenhouse.
#8. Rosemary
This crop is a little unique than the others because it is an herb.
Why?
It also grows best in a slightly different greenhouse than the above mentioned crops.
The greenhouse that rosemary crows best is different since it is covered by a shade net instead of greenhouse polythene.
Growing this in shade house, makes it produce very tender and aromatic leaves that are highly valued.
One hectare can produce over 100 tons of rosemary herb.
Conclusion:
Growing crops in a greenhouse has significant advantages over growing them in an open field.
Through a greenhouse, you can control the plants environment thus able to get more yield and profit.
Nevertheless, not all plants are suitable for greenhouse production.
What are your thoughts on this? Share them below!
