For new commercial growers

Your first greenhouse starts with a sellable crop plan.

It is tempting to start with a structure size and price. A stronger first step is to define who will buy the crop, when it must be delivered and what the local team can produce and operate reliably.

The first decision

What does a successful first season require?

The answer combines a buyer, a crop and production calendar, a suitable site, a capable team and enough funding to reach regular sales. These parts must agree. For example, a premium crop plan that requires year-round delivery may fail if the site’s power, water or cold-chain capacity is limited.

The older DutchAgriTech website introduced new growers to this decision before its historic product range. This guide carries forward the planning questions without suggesting that those old product models are current.

Step 1

Choose the buyer before the crop area

Ask what product form, grade, packaging, volume and delivery weeks buyers need. Estimate what can actually be sold after grading and losses, rather than planning around gross harvest.

Step 2

Choose a crop your team can run

Tomato, cucumber, leafy greens and strawberry have different cycles, labour profiles, pest pressures, irrigation needs and post-harvest demands. Grower skill and available support matter as much as market price.

Step 3

Check the real site

Confirm land use, permits, access, drainage, water quality and volume, electricity and local climate. A promising crop may need a different production window or system at this location.

Step 4

Build the whole operating budget

Include the greenhouse and crop systems, local works, utilities, planting material, labour, packaging, energy, maintenance and working capital until payments arrive. Compare a weaker sales or production season.

Step 5

Plan the first crop before construction

Decide who will manage climate, irrigation, hygiene, scouting, harvest and maintenance. Arrange commissioning, training and spare-part support before start-up.

Choosing a route

Compare production routes against the same business brief.

A simple protected structure, a multi-span greenhouse and a more controlled system can each be sensible in different contexts. Compare them on saleable output and harvest timing, crop quality, capital need, labour and utility demand, maintenance and the consequences of a difficult season. Do not compare structure prices alone.

Market: Buyer specification and a credible delivery window.
Site: Climate, water, land, permits and utilities.
People: Grower, operators, technical support and sales route.
Capital: Installed scope plus working capital and downside cover.

Next practical step

Turn the idea into a short project brief.

Use the six-step project checklist, explore crop guides, then review site climate and feasibility before requesting a detailed proposal.

Share your greenhouse idea