Greenhouse Construction in Kenya

What is a greenhouse?

A greenhouse is a structure used to regulate temperate inside it for purposes of crop growth. Materials used in  covering greenhouses in Kenya are rigid plastic made of polycarbonate, plastic film made of polyethylene. When the inside of a greenhouse is exposed to sunlight, the temperature increases, providing a sheltered environment for plants to grow even in cold weather.

Greenhouse construction in Kenya

Greenhouse construction in Kenya involves the construction of both wooden greenhouses and metallic greenhouses for the purpose of crop production. It is a very lucrative venture with very high income returns for farmers if embraced. Greenhouse construction in Kenya requires top notch skills . Grekkon Limited is a one of largest and most trusted greenhouse construction company in Kenya that carries out professional greenhouse construction. Greenhouse tomato farming is carried out in almost all parts of the country.

Advantages of Using Greenhouses

• Extended Growing Season: One of the primary advantages of a greenhouse is the extension of the growing season. By controlling the internal climate, plants can be grown for longer periods than would be possible outdoors. This means that you can start planting earlier in the spring and continue growing later into the fall, or even year-round in some cases.
• Protection from Adverse Weather: Greenhouses provide a shield against adverse weather conditions like strong winds, heavy rain, hail, and extreme temperatures. This protection is vital for delicate plants that can be easily damaged by harsh weather.
• Pest and Disease Control: A controlled environment helps in reducing the problems caused by pests and diseases. By isolating plants from the outside environment, the risk of pests and disease is significantly reduced, leading to healthier plants and better yields.
• Optimized Growing Conditions: Greenhouses allow for the regulation of temperature, humidity, light exposure, and watering. This level of control can create optimal growing conditions for a wide variety of plants, leading to more efficient growth and higher-quality produce.

Ideal crops for greenhouse farming.

Tomatoes.

Tomato is by far the main crop that can be grown in a greenhouse. It accounts for over 80% of all crops grown in greenhouses by small holder farmers. Once planted, first harvest is expected after 75 to 90 days and will continue for the next 6 months on good management.

Capsicums.

The main varieties are the coloured ones which fetch very good incomes. Yellow, red and orange capsicums are the most common and account for about 10% of small holder greenhouse farmers.

Cucumbers

These are grown for the specialty market.

Herbs

This includes Asian line of specialty crops such as basil, duthi and karella. 

Cut flowers.

Mainly grown for export market, they include roses, carnations etc. This is done by large scale farmers in Naivasha, Nakuru, Timau and Kajiado.

Greenhouse types

Steel Greenhouses

These are made of galvanized or non galvanized steel. The greenhouse maybe vented or tunnel type depending on the area. All Grekkon greenhouses are raised high to allow for proper crop ventilation.

Wooden greenhouses.

They are constructed using poles and other locally available materials.

Greenhouse construction materials

Greenhouse Type	Construction Materials
Steel Greenhouses	Steel, profiles, screws, greenhouse polythene sheet, nets, drip lines
Wooden Greenhouses	Poles, greenhouse polythene sheet, insect net, drip lines, hdpe pipe,

 

Ventilation

The greenhouse has to be well ventilated to prevent suffocation of the crops. Ventilation also ensures there is no buildup of pests and diseases. This is done by erecting side curtains or roll up which is opened during the day when it’s hot and closed in the evening. It is made in such a way that there is a net on the inside to allow air in while at the same time preventing insect pests from getting inside.

 

Crops that can be grown in a greenhouse

Greenhouse Construction Cost in Kenya

The price of greenhouses between Kes. 140,000 to Kes. 290,000 for wooden greenhouses and Kes. 150,000 to Kes. 320,000 for Metallic greenhouses.

SIZE	METALLIC	WOODEN
8m x 15m	KES 290,000	KES 140,000
8m x 20m	KES 300,000	KES 150,000
8m x 24m	KES 320,000	KES 170,000
8m x 30m	KES 460,000	KES 200,000
16m x 30m	KES 670,000	KES 390,000

Components of Greenhouse Kit

• Structure. Includes steel, profile and wires, tapping screws plus all fittings and accessories.
• Drip Irrigation kit with components such as drip lines,  water filter, hdpe pipes & fittings, double emitter Grekkon drip, all fittings and accessories.
• Entry pouch for disinfection. The entry pouch has a foot bath for disinfecting the foot and hand washing tap.
• Sand, cement and ballast: For holding the steel firmly onto the ground.
• Nails (incase of wooden greenhouse)
• Insect netting for insect pest control and ventilation
• 200 microns UV treated greenhouse polythene cover (1,000 gauge)
• A gutter system for greenhouses joined together (16m width greenhouses)
• An optional venturi fertigation system for automatic fertilizer application.

Client to:

• Provide Water storage tank. 
• Provide Tank stand,
• Do land preparation including bed making and levelling before or during construction.
• Provide material transportation to site
• Provide seedlings and other inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals.

Preparations before transplanting:

• Seed Sowing. Tomato seeds are first sown in a nursery before transplanting them in the greenhouse. The best way to sow seeds is on seedling trays using soilless media such as coco peat. Seedling trays and coco peat are the most preferred method because they guarantee 100% germination rate compared to sowing in the soil. Male sure the coco peat is well treated before use. The germination should preferably be covered under a shade net.
• Land preparation: Plough the land to a fine tilth then prepare the beds measuring 90cm with a path of 0.4m. Raise the beds 15cm high to allow for easier drainage incase of excess water. Raised beds also help with good root penetration. Prepare a maximum of 6 beds for a greenhouse with 8m width to avoid over crowding.
• Add well decomposed manure on the beds then mix with a rake, removing all the big stones and sharp objects that may injure the roots

Transplanting greenhouse tomato seedlings

• After 28 days, the seedlings are ready for transplanting. Open your drip lines 2 hours before transplanting to add moisture onto the soil.
• Add High phosphorous basal fertilizer at a rate of 10gms per plant.
• Transplant at a spacing of 40cm from 1 row to the other and 40-45cm from one plant to the other. 8m x 15m greenhouse can accommodate 500-600 plants while 8m x 30m greenhouse can accommodate 1,000-1,200 plants depending on the spacing selected. 
• Consult your agronomist for a detailed crop management programme.

 

Grekkon Limited’s greenhouses are made to maximize your yield and increase your returns.

Greenhouse Farming in Kenya