Polytunnels, Greenhouses and Protective Cropping

This comprehensive book, written by an acknowledged expert, is packed with useful information and is an invaluable reference work that covers all aspects of protected horticulture. It discusses the appropriate siting for a greenhouse enterprise, and covers greenhouse design principles and commercial glasshouses. It also considers cladding materials, the development and use of polythene-clad tunnel structures, and greenhouse energy sources. The greenhouse environment, growing rooms, irrigation, composts and other growing media are examined as well as plant nutrients, fertilizers, pest and disease control, nursery hygiene and much more. This is essential reading for keen amateur gardeners with an interest in growing plants under glass, and an invaluable reference work for undergraduate and post-graduate horticultural students, consultants, commercial horticultural growers and for all those involved in the protected horticultural sector. Fully illustrated with 86 colour photographs, graphs and drawings.

Thady Barrett started his career at the former ADAS Experimental Horticulture Stations at Luddington and Lee Valley in the UK while studying horticulture at Writtle College in Essex. Subsequently, he gained the Royal Horticultural Society's NDH in Commercial Horticulture [now known as the MHort (RHA)] and an MHort degree. For many years Thady has been a member of the International Plant Producer's Society and has served as one of the Society's area secretaries. An expert in growing salad crops, ornamental plants and cut flowers, including chrysanthemums, for twenty years he was a senior lecturer in commercial horticulture at Writtle College. He is now a horticultural consultant and provides practical and technical advice to small and medium-sized ornamental plant nurseries.