Estabrook’s Nursery and Garden Centers has recently completed construction on a cutting-edge commercial greenhouse in Pownal, Maine. The facility, which spans 55,000 square feet, is nearly the size of a football field. According to Tom Estabrook, co-owner of the company, the new greenhouse will significantly boost production capacity and efficiency.
During a tour of the facility on Tuesday, Estabrook told Mainebiz that the greenhouse will double the company’s production capacity. Additionally, it will reduce the time required to grow plants to market-ready size by 30%. “This is a major step forward for our operations,” Estabrook said.
The greenhouse was supplied and constructed on-site by Attko, a Netherlands-based company with a U.S. facility in Powder Springs, Georgia. Estabrook described the facility as “the most technically advanced facility in the state for horticulture.”
All systems within the greenhouse are computer-controlled, including watering (both from above and below), fertilizing, and monitoring of roof vents. Mechanized curtains can be closed at night to retain heat, while automated radiant heat lines the floor. Piping along the walls and glass roof will provide year-round warmth, powered by a 30,000-gallon propane tank.
