Customer: Clockhouse Farm 

Location: Kent, UK 

Crop: Strawberries in Substrate 

Tunnel Type: Ventura 

Substrate Gutters: C160 profile on tabletops

As one of the largest UK berry producers, Nick Deppe Production Director, talks through how they are using Haygrove products to achieve their efficiency targets. 

Clock House Farm were one of the pioneers of growing strawberries in substrate on a commercial field-scale with the first substrate systems being purchased in 1998. By 2006 they had completely converted their production to be out of the soil. 

There are 6 lines of tabletops in each 9m wide Ventura polytunnel, which are split by a central alleyway where machinery can drive. By having an even split of 3 rows either side, the crop can be sprayed in one-pass in either direction, without having to adjust the sprayer settings. The tabletop strawberries are constructed at 1.1m height, a comfortable height for workers to pick well-presented fruit meaning high picking speeds are achieved.

Haygrove’s strong HSO steel has given Clock House the confidence in the strength and stability of the polytunnel to increase the bay width to 9m with 6 rows of substrate gutters per tunnel, whereas previously they worked on a 4-row system in a 6.5m wide tunnel.

There are multiple benefits to increasing polytunnel bay width. Firstly, less time is spent spraying as not so many passes are needed. Secondly, a wider bay width reduces amount of fruit exposed to the weather in the leg row valleys. Thirdly, a wider bay width reduces number of operational tasks such as venting to be done in the leg row and reduces construction and re-covering time. 

The Ventura hoop shape and the unique v-leg means the plastic covers can be pushed up and securely fastened for most of the season. As Ventura tunnels are not designed to be regularly vented, labour costs from venting are avoided but the crop is not severely compromised from weather damage due to the positioning of the vents. Combined with hoop shape and the 1.2m spacing from the support leg to the tabletop crop, less of the crop is exposed when the vents are open than would be on a Pioneer polytunnel. The designated space at the sides also makes it easier for husbandry, with space for workers and machinery, such as grass mowers. Haygrove Ventura polytunnels are an excellent choice for a basic tunnel covering over a mid-season crop.

To cover the Haygrove Ventura tunnels over a mid-season everbearer strawberry crop, Clock House Farm are using a Luminance 55 polythene film. This diffuses 55% of light which is enough to scatter the light on a bright sunny day but does not compromise growth on a lower-light cloudy day. This polythene film is a halfway product between our Clear (high light transmission) and Luminance (high diffusion) polythene options. It is well suited to the UK climate and mid-season everbearer growing requirements at Clock House Farm.

The polythene is the Haygrove standard thickness of 150mu and designed to last 3 seasons in the UK, although Clock House are not unusual amongst growers finding that their Haygrove polythene lasts about 5 seasons.

On a different site to the Ventura tunnels, Clock House Farm have a block of automated Haygrove ProVent tunnels. These are permanent tunnels that are covered all year round. Here the vents are connected to climate control computer and sensors. The wind sensors are set to close when the wind speed reaches 15 miles per hour, meaning the crop is quickly protected. There are multiple benefits to using automated venting Haygrove polytunnels, managing temperature and humidity, protecting the crop from wind and rain damage, and labour efficiency. Workers are not required so can be used more efficiently on other tasks.

Increased investment in automation is leading to better control of the climate, better crop protection and more efficiency with labour on farm. Roller doors are connected to 24volts motors meaning 1 person can operate 50m of Haygrove roller door at one time. As well as access to the polytunnels, the roller doors are used as a vent to prevent temperature and humidity rising too high and closed to seal the polytunnels on cooler nights.

An additional benefit of the permanent ProVent tunnel that is covered all year as the grass in the alleyways does not receive any water, it does not grow and therefore does not need to be mown. It is another labour saving and helps to make the Clock House Farm more efficient.

The ProVent tunnel has a high air volume which reduces temperature fluctuations and creates a more stable growing environment and a good air flow for the plants to thrive.