Is it true that the Chinese grow peaches and nectarines in greenhouses? Why do they do this?

Answer: “Protected cultivation” as it is called, using simple, energy efficient solar greenhouses, is widely used in China for horticultural crops. In fact, by 2005, it was estimated that there was nearly 1.4 million acres of fruit, vegetable, flowers, etc. being grown using this technology. For peaches and nectarines, the estimated acreage is around 30,000. The beauty of this system is that it is energy efficient, it can enable fruit production beginning 1 year after trees are planted, fruit can be produced up to 2 months early getting high market price and the need for and cost of pest control measures is considerably reduced.

Learn more:

• Read the column: Peaches in Greenhouses--What's This?
• Read the column: Chinese Peaches: Past and Present
• Read the column: Diversifying Your Fruit Portfolio
  
• Blog from my April-May 2010 trip to China
• Watch the video: Chinese Protected Fruit Cultivation

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