Protected Cultivation
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English
The production of high-value vegetables and other horticultural crops in greenhouses and vertical farms. It allows farmers to grow cash crops on small plots in marginal, water-deficient areas where traditional cropping may not be viable. Also called protected agriculture or protected crop production.
Narrower Topics
Citrus under Protective Screen (CUPS)
Citrus can be grown under protective screen structures for fresh-fruit production to exclude the Asian citrus psyllid —which is the vector of the causal pathogen of huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease—and thereby produce disease-free healthy fruit.
Greenhouse Production
production of crops in a greenhouse structure.
Publications
Characterization of the Florida Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry Using Hydroponic Systems or Protected Agriculture Structures
Robert C. Hochmuth and Dilcia E. Toro
Integrated Pest Management in Protected Structures I: Basic Principles and Scouting
Bielinski Santos, Hugh A. Smith, Gary Vallad, andBielinski M. Santos
Protected Culture for Vegetable and Small Fruit Crops: Types of Structures
Shinsuke Agehara, Gary Vallad, andEmmanuel A. Torres-Quezada
A protective structure is defined as any structure designed to modify the environment in which plants are grown. Protective structures, such as greenhouses, screen houses, and tunnels, are known worldwide as production systems for high-quality vegetable and fruit crops. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Bielinski M. Santos, Gary Vallad, and Emmanuel A. Torres-Quezada, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, July 2013.
2026–2029 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Citrus under Protective Screen (CUPS) Production Systems
Arnold Schumann, Ariel Singerman, Mark A. Ritenour, Jawwad Qureshi, andFernando Alferez
Other Contacts: Tripti Vashisth
2026–2029 Florida Citrus Production Guide (Citrus Production Fundamentals).
Protected Agriculture in Mexico
Feng Wu, Zhengfei Guan, and Kuan-Ming Huang
Mexico is a market power in the US produce market. Protected agriculture accelerated the rapid growth and transformation of the Mexican produce industry. This publication provides a comprehensive overview and in-depth analysis of protected agriculture in Mexico to help understand this fast-growing sector and the driving forces behind its expansion.
“Push-pull” Technology and Companion Planting: A Dual Strategy for Insect Pest Management in High Tunnel Vegetable Production and Organic Systems
Jesusa C. Legaspi, Alejandro Bolques, Fanny E. Ospina, Shufang Tian, Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez, Amanda C. Hodges, Adam J. Pitcher, and Xin Zhao
This publication is aimed to introduce “push-pull” technology and companion planting for pest management to high tunnel vegetable growers. It is also of interest to other crop producers wishing to improve their IPM practices.