ZIPGROW

PRODUCTION ESTIMATES

BRIGHT

Bright Agrotech 2016

www.zipgrow.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRODUCTION ESTIMATES: ZIPGROW TOWERS...............3

GREENS.............................................................................4
HERBS................................................................................5
BATCH VS. CONVEYOR HARVESTING............................6
PRODUCTION DATA (BASIL)...........................................8
STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION...........................................9
PRODUCTION CALCULATOR........................................10
CITED STUDIES.................................................................11
ABOUT BRIGHT AGROTECH..........................................12

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PRODUCTION ESTIMATES: ZIPGROW TOWERS

Bright Agrotech constantly pursues a goal of providing our growers with the practical
information they need to plan and operate a vertical farm. This production estimates guide
allows Upstart Farmers using ZipGrowTM towers to accurately predict seasonal production
levels.
The values included in the following tables reflect certain conditions, including season,
lighting, environment, and growing tools, as well as user factors such as grower experience
and expertise. Crop selection, nutrition, cultural techniques and environmental factors can
all have a profound effect on the productivity of all greenhouse crops.
These values reflect our spring and fall production seasons, which serve as a median for
production rates. The summer season typically exhibits much higher production due to
increased day length, and the shortest days of winter under-perform in comparison. Over
the production year, average production rates mirror fall and spring seasons.
These values apply to growing conditions with no artificial light (which might have
significantly boosted production and should be taken into consideration) and represent the
productivity of a single 5 ZipGrowTM tower grown in mass configuration. The use of different
techniques (vconveyor and batch production) impact productivity and may be examined
(see Storey, 2012).

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GREENS
How often should I harvest?
You can harvest as often as you want; the frequency will depend on whether you use
a conveyor system or not. Since most greens are grown on a 5-week turn (10.4 turns per
year), you can use a conveyor system with 5-tower rows, and harvest every week.
You can increase production, however, by growing on a 6-week turn.

How can I calculate the productivity of my total space?

Crop spacing for typical conveyor cropping is between 2.25 and 2.5 square feet per tower. To determine productivity on a square foot basis, simply divide the production value
by 2.5 for the following two tables. For your total space, multiply that number by your total
square footage.
Example: Lettuce on a 6-week turn.
[(7 lbs)/(2.5 sq. ft.)]/(100 sq.ft.) = 280 lbs per turn

Complete Harvest
Crop

Production in Conveyor Cropping

per ZipGrow Tower (5)
Lbs per 5
Kg per 5
Lbs per 6
Kg per 6
Week Turn
Week Turn
Week Turn
Week Turn

Selected Lettuce

4-6 lbs

1.8-2.7

6-8 lbs

1.7-3.6

Bok Choi

6-7 lbs

2.7-3.2

8-9 lbs

3.6-4.1

Kale (Winterbor)

3 lbs

1.4

4 lbs

1.8

Tatsoi

3 lbs

1.4

4 lbs

1.8

Chard

4 lbs

1.8

5.5 lbs

2.5

Mustard Greens

3 lbs

1.4

4 lbs

1.8

*These values are for complete harvests although gradual harvests are possible for many of these
crops. Transplant size is typically 2-3 inches in size with one to two sets of true leaves.

Mustard Greens

Tatsoi
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Romaine Lettuce

HERBS
How should I harvest?
Most herbs cultured in towers have longer and more gradual harvest schedules.
Basil, for instance, is cut three times and at three week intervals before being replanted, and
each cutting yields more than the last.
Slow growing crops like oregano, rosemary, and sage often are cultured for 9-12 months with
increasing harvests. When the production of the tower begins to decrease again, the tower is
replanted.
Herbs

Week 5
(lbs)

Week 8
(lbs)

Week 11
(lbs)

Week
14 (lbs)

Week 17
(lbs)

Week
Week 23
20 (lbs) (lbs)

Week
26 (lbs)

Sweet Basil
(3 cuts)

3-4 lbs

4-5 lbs

5-6 lbs

New
Cycle

Oregano
(Spanish)

1 lb

2.5 lbs

2.5 lbs

2.5 lbs

2.5 lbs

2.5 lbs

2.5 lbs

2.5 lbs

Rosemary

.5 lb

1 lb

1 lb

1 lb

2 lb

Sage

.5 lb

1 lb

1 lb

2 lb

2 lb

Fennel

5-7 kb

New Cycle

Parsley

3-4 lbs

3-4 lbs

New Cycle

Cilantro

3-4 lbs

2-3 lbs

New Cycle

Herbs

Week 5
(kg)

Week 8
(kg)

Week 11
(kg)

Week
14 (kg)

Week 17
(kg)

Week
Week 23
20 (kg) (kg)

Week
26 (kg)

Sweet Basil
(3 cuts)

1.4-1.8

1.8-2.3

2.3-2.7

New
Cycle

Oregano
(Spanish)

.45

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

Rosemary

.23

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

Sage

.23

.45

.45

.45

.9

Fennel

New Cycle

Parsley

1.4-1.8

.9-1.4

New Cycle

Cilantro

1.4-1.8

.9-1.4

New Cycle

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BATCH HARVESTING VS. CONVEYOR CROPPING

Batch harvesting = uniform production,
uniform harvest

Batch production systems are a

method of planting and harvesting
ZipGrowTM towers where all production
is of the same generation. This differs
from conveyor cropping, which is
mentioned below.
Appendix 0.04
Batch cropping in vertical hydroponic production. All
crop plants are of the same generation. Initial growth
is fast, but moderate shading effects are experienced
as the crop reaches maturity.

Conveyor cropping = generational production, generational harvesting

A conveyor system is a method of
planting, harvesting, and moving
ZipGrowTM towers that allows you to
continuously produce greens and
herbs while maximizing light use in the
greenhouse.
Single axis light management: In
horizontal one dimensional management
methods, towers are arranged in rows,
each corresponding with a seedling
generation. There are as many rows per
block as weeks or other harvest-related
time units in the production cycle. For
instance, a 4 week production trial would
have four rows per block. On a weekly
cycle, the last row of towers is removed
and sent to market, the anterior rows are
moved back, and the southernmost row
(Row 1) is filled with towers containing
newly transplanted seedlings.
By continuously moving maturing
plants to the rear of the tower mass,
light is conserved horizontally, with less
interference from immature towers
forward in the tower mass.

Appendix 0.05 A side illustration of single axis light management in the

tower block (Single-Pull, Horizontal Conveyor). Towers are placed based
upon the generation they contain. Young towers are placed on the sunfacing side and moved sequentially to the rear with the harvest of older
generations. In this way, minimal interference in the front appears to result
in lessened shading effects in the rear of the tower mass.

When towers cannot be physically

moved, towers are harvested and replaced row by row, establishing a similar pattern of minimized
light interference within a set tower grid. This is the most common type of light management
production style used in unidirectional vertical hydroponic greenhouse production.

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PRODUCTION DATA (BATCH HARVESTING)

Although batch harvesting is possible, the majority of todays Upstart Farmers still prefer
conveyor cropping for continuous production of greens and herbs.
The values in the table to the right are an illustration of batch harvesting, however. They
represent a tower mass containing a single generation or age group of crop plants.
Harvests are complete and transplant size in this study was slightly smaller than the plugs utilized
in the commercial production schedules above.

Complete Harvest
Crop

Production in Conveyor Cropping

- per ZipGrow Tower (5)
Lbs per 5
Kg per 5
Lbs per 6
Kg per 6
Week Turn
Week Turn
Week Turn
Week Turn

Selected Lettuce

4-6 lbs

1.8-2.7

6-8 lbs

1.7-3.6

Bok Choi

6-7 lbs

2.7-3.2

8-9 lbs

3.6-4.1

Kale (Winterbor)

3 lbs

1.4

4 lbs

1.8

Tatsoi

3 lbs

1.4

4 lbs

1.8

Chard

4 lbs

1.8

5.5 lbs

2.5

Mustard Greens

3 lbs

1.4

4 lbs

1.8

Watercress

3 lbs

5 lbs

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BASIL PRODUCTION DATA

Basil is a very popular crop among Upstart Farmers.
See the production values for Genovese basil (from the literature) in the table below.
The production values using ZipGrowTM Towers is highlighted.
Technique

Production
(kg m2)

Production
Period

For Comparison:
kg m2

Study

Zipgrow
Aquaponic

9.4

5 weeks
post-transplant

1.88

Storey, 2012

Raft
Aquaponic

13-42

52 weeks
post-transplant

.25-.81

Savidov et al.,
2007

Raft
Aquaponic

23.4-25

52 weeks
post-transplant

.45-.48

Rakoey et al.
2004

Hydroponic
Media Bed

6.26

5.7 weeks
post-transplant

1.1

Bradley and
Marulanda,
2001

Raft Hydroponic

25-50 plants

1.5 weeks
post 5 week
establishment
period

.4-.55 (1.7-2.4)

Micheli et al.,
2003

Vertigro Field
Hydroponic

6.2-7.1

15 weeks posttransplant

.41-.47

Hockmuth
and Leon,
1999

Field
Production

7.8

52 weeks posttransplant

.15

Rakoey et al.,
2004

Intensive Field
Production

2.5

7 weeks posttransplant

.36

Sifola and
Barbieri, 2006

To convert from
Kg m2 to lb ft2,
simply multiply
by (2.2/10.76),
or (.20446)

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STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION DATA

Strawberry production has been trialled using ZipGrowTM Towers
(Storey 2012) and a production value of 4.9 kg/m2*month was
achieved using Seascape.
This is between 2.5 and 7 times the standard industry production
values.
The table below shows production values for various strawberry
varieties using different production methods. ZipGrowTM tower

Variety

Production
Method

Density:
Production
plants m2

Harvest
Period

Production per Author

Month: kg m2

Chandler

NFT

10.8

0.6-0.9
kg/plant; 6.59.7 kg/sq. m

6 months

1.1-1.6

Takeda and
Hokanson, 2002

Sweet Charlie

Hydroponic
Tower

32

.226-.368 kg/
plant; 4.5-7.8 kg/
sq. m

4.5 months

1-1.7

Durner, 1999

Elsanta

Hydroponic Peat
Bag

8.5

8 kg/sq. m

12 months

.7

Leiten and Baets,

1991

Chandler

Aquaponic
Stacked Pot
Tower

28

195g/plant; 5.4
kg/sq. m

5 months

1.1

Takeda et al.,
1999a; Takeda et
al., 1997

Sweet Charlie

Aquaponic
Stacked Pot
Tower

28

167g/plant; 4.7
kg/sq. m

5 months

.9

Takeda et al.,
1999a; Takeda et
al., 1997

Oso Grand

Aquaponic
Stacked Pot
Tower

28

138g/plant; 3.9
kg/sq. m

5 months

.8

Takeda et al.,
1997

Chandler;

Hydroponic NFT

14

5.2 kg/sq. m

5 months

Takeda et al.,
1997

Sweet Charlie

Hydroponic NFT

14

261 g/plant; 3.7

kg/sq. m

5 months

.7

Takeda et al.,
1997

Oso Grand

Hydroponic NFT

14

253 g/plant; 3.5

kg/sq. m

5 months

.7

Takeda et al.,
1997

Chandler;

Hydroponic
Tower

40

500g/plant; 20
kg/sq. m

12 months

1.7

Resh, 2004

Seascape

ZipGrow Aquaponic

35.3

6.9 kg/sq. m

1.4 months

4.9

Total Production:
Storey 2012

Seascape

ZipGrow Aquaponic

35.3

6 kg/sq. m

1.4 months

4.3

Group B Production: Storey 2012

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LEARN HOW MUCH YOU CAN GROW

HOW TO USE THE ZIPGROW PRODUCTION ESTIMATOR

1) Estimate how many towers will fit in your space by editing the square footage cell. (Or type in how many towers youre looking to purchase)
2) The Estimator will do the rest and estimate how much lettuce or basil you
can grow, and what type of revenue you can generate from each crop.
*These estimates are based on regional averages and proper growing techniques. Keep in mind local
prices and market demand may vary. ALWAYS survey your local pricing/demand first!

Start Estimating Here

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CITED STUDIES
Bradley, P. and C. Marulanda. 2001. Simplified hydroponics to reduce global hunger. Acta Horticulturae.
554:289-296.
Durner, E. 1999. Winter greenhouse strawberry production using conditioned plug plants. HortScience
34(4):
615-616.
Hochmuth, R. and L. Leon. 1999. Comparison of six soilless media in a vertical production system
(VertiGro) for basil. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Publication
99-05.
Lieten, F. and W. Baets. 1991. Greenhouse strawberry culture in peat bags. Advances in Strawberry Production 10:56-57.
Micheli, A., A. Moncada, F. Vetrano, and F. DAnna. 2003. First results on yield and quality response of
basil
(Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in a floating system. Proc. IS on Greenhouse Salinity, Acta Horticulturae
(ISHS) 609:377-381.
Rakocy, J., R. Schultz, D. Bailey, and E. Thoman. 2004. Aquaponic production of tilapia and basil: comparing a
batch and staggered cropping system. Proceedings of the South Pacific Soilless Culture Conference ,
Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 648: 69-69.
Resh, H. 2004. Hydroponic crop production, sixth edition. Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, FL
Savidov, N., E. Hutchings and J. Rakocy. 2007. Fish and plant production in a recirculating aquaponic
system: a new approach to sustainable agriculture in Canada. Proceedings of the International
Conference and Exhibition on Soilless Culture, Acta Horticulturae (ISHS)742:209-222.
Sifola, M., and G. Barbieri. 2006. Growth, yield and essential oil content of three cultivars of basil grown
under
different levels of nitrogen in the field. Scientia Horticulturae 108(4):408-413.
Stapleton, S. and R. Hochmuth. 2001. Greenhouse production of several fresh-cut herbs in vertical hydroponic
systems in north central Florida. Proc. Fla. Hort. Soc. 114:332-334.
Storey, N. 2012. Vertical aquaponic crop production towers and associated produce sales and distribution
models: design, development and analysis. (Doctoral Dissertation) University of Wyoming. University
of Wyoming ProQuest/UMI.
Takeda, F., P. Adler, and D. Glenn. 1997. Strawberry production linked to aquaculture wastewater treatment.
ISHS 439(2):673-677.
Takeda, F. 1999a. Strawberry production in soilless culture systems. Proceedings of the international Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics, Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 481:289-295.
Takeda, F. and S. Hokanson. 2002. Effects of transplant conditioning on Chandler strawberry performance in a winter greenhouse production system. P. 132-135. In: S. Hokanson and A. Jamieson (eds.)
Strawberry Research in 2001. ASHS Press, Alexandria, Virginia.

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WHO IS BRIGHT AGROTECH?

Bright Agrotech is composed of a rapidly growing group of incredibly hard
working, passionate individuals committed to empowering the farmers of
tomorrow.
Our ZipGrow vertical farming/gardening towers help small hobbyist growers and
commercial producers everywhere see maximum yields and economic profit.
We want to help farmers live better, increase their margins, and give their
consumer the most high quality produce possible.

CONTACT US
We would love to help you get started. Call us and we can guide you through
the planning and ordering process as well as addressing any concerns you
might have with growing vertically with ZipGrow Towers.

307-288-1188
Info@brightagrotech.com

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