Greenhouse horticulture

Greenhouse cultivation has a long history and it is difficult to appoint where the first greenhouse was built. Such an appointment directly is hindered by a good definition of a greenhouse. However, independent of a precise definition, undoubtedly, one or more orangeries at castles or palaces will be mentioned, but no one can testify whether it really can be considered as the first greenhouse. The first developments of greenhouses focussed on commercial production of vegetables, fruits and flowers are dated at in the end of the 19th century and occurred mainly in the North-West area of Europe. In advance the production of these crops in greenhouses was mainly connected with the demand in the market for early fruits and vegetables. Another line in the development of greenhouses was the production of crops that could be grown hardly or not at all in the cool and wet climate conditions of North-West Europe.