MODEL FEATURES Choose your location in the US (Including Alaska, Hawaii, and US Territories). Build your own greenhouse including materials, heating setup, fuel type, and heating schedule.  Estimate fuel costs for a growing season. Estimate plant growth for a growing season.             Download Now        Manual for Virtual Grower

On Virtual Grower's design page, select your state and city from the drop down menus at the bottom of the page.  Then add a new greenhouse by clicking the "Add New Greenhouse" button at the top of the page.

You can then create a simple greenhouse by entering the information into the main design page, or click on the "Advanced Design Options" button to create a more detailed greenhouse.  Here, you can change the greenhouse's various dimensions, roof shape, and materials.

Virtual Grower can estimate the air exchange rate (leakage or infiltration) for a greenhouse.  This allows users to see how small changes in the greenhouse can impact their overall costs.

The "Heating Efficiency" section allows users to estimate overall heat system efficiency based of simple user input.  This allows users to see how the changes in management of a heating system (such as maintenance frequency) can impact overall costs.

Virtual Grower also allows you to design complex and realistic heating schedules.  To do this, click on the "Heating Schedule" tab.  Then select your greenhouse and click on "Add Schedule".  You can then customize the schedule to match what you are modeling.

Clicking the "Costs" tab will allow you to estimate your fuel costs based on location, fuel, heating schedule, and greenhouse design.

The "Plant Growth" section allows you to grow plants in your virtual greenhouse and see how different heating schedules will impact a plant's development.  Plant size and the time it will take to flower are estimated using light, temperature, and CO 2concentrations in the greenhouse.

GOAL When optimizing production for one feature (energy, plant growth, or labor), the outcome from other parameters (plant productivity, profitability, sprays, labor) will be affected. Management decisions can then be made with an eye on overall system function.
COOPERATING INSTITUTIONS & ORGANIZATIONS N.C. State University, Michigan State University, Toledo Area Flower and Vegetable Grower’s Association, Ohio Florists Association, Center for Innovative Food Technology

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Manual for Virtual Grower Program	Adobe document
Software Download
Contact: Jonathan Frantz USDA-ARS@utoledo.edu