The agricultural sector is continuously evolving with innovations aimed at increasing efficiency and productivity in crop production. Mini cucumbers, a staple in health-conscious diets worldwide, are particularly sensitive to growing conditions, which significantly impacts their yield and quality. As consumer demand for these high-quality vegetables grows, commercial greenhouse growers turn to advanced technologies to stay competitive.
Dynamic LED lighting, as designed by Sollum Technologies, represents an important advancement in growing mini cucumbers. The technology allows precise control over light intensity and spectra, optimizing growth conditions throughout the production cycle to maximize output and efficiency.
Adopting Sollum's dynamic LED lighting has contributed to an average yield increase of 16.7% across several varieties of mini cucumbers compared to traditional fixed lighting systems. This significant yield improvement is attributed to the optimal light recipes that promote accelerated photosynthesis and growth, and improved fruit setting and quality.
16.7% average yield increase
Coupling Sollum’s dynamic lighting features, including season-specific far-red applications, and a slightly higher light intensity, the grower maintained an open canopy from winter to spring to keep mini cucumber production high.
Source: Red Sun Farms Ontario
• Marked energy efficiency and cost reductions
Energy efficiency is paramount in reducing the operational costs of greenhouse production. With Sollum's dynamic LED solution, the grower reported a 26% reduction in energy usage from January to May, peaking at 44% savings in May.
These savings were achieved with Sollum’s SUN as a Service® (SUNaaS®) cloud platform, which automatically adjusts lighting in real time in response to natural light conditions, avoiding unnecessary energy use and reducing costs, particularly in the spring. Notably, 5-6% of the savings resulted from recipe changes that also positively impacted yield.
Graph shows how SUNaaS activated dimming less in January due to low light levels, then increasingly as natural light levels increase.
Graph shows 29% reduction in energy use (represented by light blue section of the bars above).
Graph shows 44% reduction in energy use (represented by light blue section of the bars above).
Source: Red Sun Farms Ontario
Streamlined operations improve costs and predictability
Sollum's unique solution streamlines many aspects of greenhouse management. Its intuitive, cloud-based interface enables remote monitoring and adjustments. This automation not only cuts labor costs but also improves the consistency and predictability of crop outputs, which is essential for planning and meeting market demands.
Source: Red Sun Farms Ontario
Strategic and commercial future-proofing
Investing in Sollum's dynamic LED lighting technology for commercial greenhouse growers means more than upgrading systems. It translates into tangible improvements in profitability and market positioning. Enhanced product quality and sustainability appeal to a broader customer base, while operational efficiencies ensure scalability and responsiveness to today’s market demands.
Conclusion
Adopting Sollum's dynamic LED lighting technology marks a significant leap forward for commercial greenhouse growers specializing in mini cucumbers. The results speak for themselves: higher output, better quality produce, reduced environmental impact and production costs.
These benefits make Sollum and its agronomy support a must for any grower looking to thrive in the competitive market of high-quality vegetable production.
Summary
Would you like to learn more about Sollum Technologies and its dynamic LED lighting solution?
Contact our - Senior Sales Manager, Nick Occhionero at +1 (514) 220 9284 - Senior director Sales, US, Matthew Bonavita at +1 (919) 413 0365 - Agronomist, Rose Séguin at +1 (438) 464 0535.
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