Done in a few hours
WaLeRo contracts out the application of Transpar on the greenhouse roof to HPW Spuittechnieken in Rotterdam. The sweet pepper grower has had a positive experience with this company. ’We like to see the coating applied in short order during an already busy time for the contractor but we are always able to make the necessary arrangements in consultation with the company’s owner Gert-Jan van Hattem. HPW looks after the machine and the coating and in a few hours, they are done.’ To ensure proper adhesion of the Transpar product, Van den Bosch removes any dust and dirt from the greenhouse roof itself. ‘We have our own greenhouse roof- washer and use it make sure the greenhouse roof is washed shortly before applying the coating.’
Van den Bosch considers Transpar user-friendly and affordable. ‘You apply it and it does what you expect it to do.’ In his experience Transpar provides for a more moderate climate that improves the sweet pepper’s performance. ‘By the middle of May, you will already see some wear in our main variety Gialte: the leaves are not as bright green and you can see that the plant has to work hard to produce. Transpar blocks heat and moderates the radiation. The coating keeps the plant’s temperature lower and enables the variety to continue to produce better. In addition, it reduces the chance of burning or blossom-end rot. Furthermore, the coating creates a more pleasant temperature for our staff to work in. That is also important.’
Less Needed
As the has been on the greenhouse longer it wears off somewhat. ‘And that’s perfectly acceptable,’ says Van den Bosch. ‘There is less need for the coating at the end of the season. When the plants start producing the last fruit setting, we often pass the greenhouse cover washer with only water just once. This slightly thins the Transpar layer, allowing some more light and heat to enter the greenhouse.’
During the crop change, the roofwasher makes a last pass over the greenhouse roof. To completely remove the coating, Van den Bosch fills the connected dosing pump with the Topclear cleaning agent. ‘A clean greenhouse roof is a good start for a new growing cycle.’