Which greenhouse type fits my climate and crop — tunnel, multi-span, Venlo or screen-house?
Structure class follows climate severity and crop value, not preference. Screen-houses suit hot, low-wind regions and crops that need shade and insect exclusion rather than sealed climate. Tunnels suit mild climates, shorter cycles and lower capital intensity. Multi-span plastic structures suit most mid-value protected vegetable production. Venlo glass suits high-radiation-management, high-value, long-cycle production where heating, screens and full climate control are justified. Wind, snow and seismic loads are set by local code and verified by a structural engineer.
What actually drives the answer
The practical question is how much of the outside climate you must exclude and for how many months. That determines covering, gutter height, ventilation area and whether active cooling or heating is required.
Gutter height is one of the highest-leverage decisions: it buys climate buffering and crop-work volume, and it raises structure, wind-load and covering cost across the whole footprint.
Covering choice interacts with the structure. Glass, rigid polycarbonate and multi-season polyethylene differ in light transmission, diffusion, service life, insulation and replacement logistics — and each implies a different frame.
Every structure quoted must state the design wind speed, snow load and applicable standard. Two proposals with different load assumptions are not comparable on price.
Variables that change the answer
- Radiation and temperature extremes
- Humidity and disease pressure
- Wind, snow and seismic load
- Crop value and cycle length
- Energy price
- Labour and maintenance access
Evidence a supplier needs before quoting
- Local climate data for the site
- Applicable structural design code
- Crop and cycle plan
- Energy price and availability
What this answer does not settle
- Structure class is a shortlist filter. It does not replace load calculations or a stamped structural design.
- No structure class guarantees a yield, a climate outcome or a disease result.
Responsibility
- Professional review:
- Structural engineer licensed in the project jurisdiction
- Delivered by:
- Greenhouse manufacturer or turnkey integrator
- Feeds RFQ section:
- Structure, covering and design loads
Sources
- Good Agricultural Practices for greenhouse vegetable productionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 2013 · Primary source · accessed 2026-08-21
- Greenhouse Horticulture research programmeWageningen University & Research · Secondary source · accessed 2026-08-21
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