Cherry in a greenhouse?
Though mostly tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables are produced in greenhouses, cherry is a real exception - not just in the grower’s country (Hungary), but also on a worldwide level. It’s a hydroculture production, meaning that the fruit is produced without classic soil.
Crucial challenges to solve
When the owner of the 60 ha farm decided to start cherry production 3 years ago, it quickly became obvious that hydroponic cherry cultivation holds several challenges. To ensure a steady and efficient production, these crucial challenges must be addressed - just to mention a few:
- Cherry shows a much quicker growth than in regular soil, resulting in a higher need of water and nutrient solution
- Achieving the balance and controlling the vegetative / generative growing is very sensitive in case of cherry
- Cherry is sensitive to underirrigation and overirrigation. It must be avoided, but it is challenging to define the right amounts.
It has quickly become clear that cherries require a precise monitoring system that lets the operator constantly be aware how the trees react to irrigation, so the irrigation strategy can be adjusted to the current needs. |
