- English
The time of crop rotation has come again for vegetable growers. Due to the high energy costs, many vegetable growers in the Netherlands choose not to light the crops. This means a traditional crop rotation in November and a longer period of rotation. Wouter Steenks of Steenks Service has 3 tips to get through this period and to have a good start with the new crop.
During the crop rotation, the old plants are removed, the greenhouse is thoroughly cleaned and the new plants are planted. During these activities it is extremely busy and it is possible that the grower does not have sufficient equipment available. The first tip from Wouter is to rent pipe trolleys for example during this period. These pipe rail trolleys are used for hanging AC foil, lubricating gear racks or repairing decks. The second tip is to carry out maintenance on the machines. ‘Maintenance extends the life of the machine and prevents any problems at the start of the new crop. During maintenance all moving parts are also checked an lubricated, with worn parts being replaced to keep the machine running smoothly.’ The third tip is to have a good hygiene and a clean greenhouse to prevent the crop from pests and diseases. A solution for this is a disinfection street at the entrance of the greenhouse to keep the pests and diseases outside the company. Another solution is a sanitizer bin at the pipe rail trolley to prevent the spread of pests and diseases inside the greenhouse.
