A light deprivation/blackout system for greenhouses offers affordable growing solutions for various crops and is an essential way to maximize annual yields, particularly when the market demand is high for your specific product.
The ability to trick the plants to start developing before the natural light cycle outdoors reaches 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness in a 24-hour period, produces multiple crops each year. Flipping crops indoors has always been easier in this respect, but Slip Tube Enterprises has been developing and perfecting an external light deprivation system for over 10 years. Ongoing feedback and observations have helped Slip Tube evolve from our first generation of blackout (one-piece 6-millimetre poly with chain assist gears) to our current three-piece manual/automated light deprivation system outlined below.
Mechanical cranks and chain assist gears manage the manual system, and a control box with a timer and four tube motors operate the automated system. Both systems can be fully deployed or retracted in six minutes or less with minimal effort.
The advantage of the automated system is its ability to deploy in your absence; it is a self-operating method. It’s not always feasible to have someone on site for the 12-hour period required to deploy and retract the light deprivation cover. The automated system does the work for you at prescheduled times, and as a result, is becoming increasingly popular. However, the manual system is less expensive and can always be retrofitted for automation with ease at a later date.
Why External Light Deprivation?
The external light deprivation system is ideal to keep maximum space inside your greenhouse. Additionally, it does not create a microclimate, like the interior blackout systems, which can lead to condensation issues and difficulty in maintaining proper temperatures and humidity levels.
