With the sunny months ahead, it's time to whitewash the roofs of our greenhouses again. Find out exactly how this is done and why we do it in this article!
Annual whitewashing of the greenhouses
Whitewashing the roofs of our greenhouses is an annual process. Every year, at the start of spring, the greenhouse roofs are coated with lime. A machine applies the lime evenly across the greenhouse roofs. This is done in two parts: the first layer provides 30-40% shading and six weeks later, a similar layer is applied. This whitewash layer reflects sunlight, protecting our plants from excessive sunlight during the hottest months of the year. It also helps keep the worst of the heat out and maintains a more consistent climate in the greenhouses.
Removal of the whitewash layer
In autumn and winter, we want to make the most of the natural sunlight shining into our greenhouses. Therefore, in mid-September, we remove the whitewash from the roof. A solvent is then sprayed on the greenhouse roof and as soon as it rains, the roofs are rinsed clean. This way, our plants receive maximum natural light during the darker months!