Finding a future in hoistable gutter systems
Source: HD.com
Ten years later, the company became one of the first growers to adopt suspended strawberry runner plant production on a larger scale as its primary cultivation method. Always looking ahead, Neessen took another step forward in 2025.
When designing a new greenhouse, the company was not only focused on increasing capacity, but also on finding ways to use labor more efficiently and perform tasks more safely. © Metazet Previously, this was more difficult because the amount of work that could be carried out at height was limited by the number of carts available.
Because the floor remains free of obstacles, crop residues can be removed more easily and cleaning operations can be carried out more efficiently. The system also helps maximize the use of available greenhouse space.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
