Chapter 3

Greenhouse Curtain Systems

Best Practices for Care and Maintenance of Greenhouse Curtains

A curtain system requires a certain amount of maintenance to keep it operating. The edge seals should be checked weekly to make sure the edge is staying in the pocket and maintaining a seal. Wires may need to be tightened now and then, and wear spots on the curtain and hooks should be located and repaired or replaced. The gear motor, rollers, and any universal joints need to be checked and lubricated routinely. Following some basic curtain management practices will help avoid problems. During periods of snow, the curtain system should be left open to allow the heat from the greenhouse to melt the snow off the roof, avoiding snow buildup that will block light and possibly stress the greenhouse structure. Also, it’s best to open the curtain in stages. Cold air is trapped above a closed curtain, and when the curtain is opened, this cold air falls into the growing space and can stress the plants. To avoid problems, open the curtain in stages so the air above and below the curtain have time to mix slowly. Another option is to delay opening the curtain until the sun warms the air above the curtain to some minimum temperature.

Click on the following topics for more information on greenhouse curtain systems.