V.3 Polydome Concept Overview against nematodes, and garlic can be planted to protect against certain fruit tree pests. In winter, most of the perennials need between 150 and 1000 “chill hours,” which are hours spent below 7,5 degrees Celsius. This means that a large part of the greenhouse is scheduled to go into dormancy for this part of the year, and will not need supplemental heating or lighting. The dormancy can also be lifted in two different phases for the chilled crops in order to stagger the fruit production of these crops, creating a longer harvesting period. Additional uses can be devised for the chilled section of the greenhouse while it is in dormancy. For example, a top section of the chill zone could be separated off and minimally heated to provide an extra hydroponics zone, or a temporary area for the cultivation of potted plants. Alternatively, it could be used as a protected “cold room” for the refrigeration of the year-round hydroponic harvest. Functional Crop Clusters A central feature of the Polydome greenhouse is the appropriate use of high-density planting. The main concept revolves around the creation of successful “crop clusters,” groups of interacting plants that use space and nutrients to maximum effect, allowing multiple products to come from a much smaller single area than would normally be possible in a traditional greenhouse. These crop clusters are like interchangeable Lego blocks. There are many functional combinations that can be mixed and matched depending on the desired output of the greenhouse. We began by clustering crops based on their soil pH, water requirements, light requirements, and nutrient demand. We also looked at a variety of sources of companion planting data, which we used to determine beneficial plant-plant relationships. Companion plants provide each other with a range of benefits including: • • • • • • • • • • enhanced flavor greater yield trellising or groundcover shading pest suppression pollinator and predator recruitment hosting beneficial insects trapping pests disease resistance pattern disruption (preventing pests from easily jumping from one food plant to the next) Coccinelle (L We also strategically sited a variety of support crops within the system. Some of them, known as dynamic accumulators (e.g., borage and comfrey), concentrate high levels of important trace minerals in their leaves, and provide a very helpful addition to compost. Our process for developing these crop clusters is further explained in the Process Document. 30 Pagina 29
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