Montana’s climate varies significantly across the state.

Western Montana: With higher precipitation levels, external light deprivation systems may face challenges from rain and snow, leading to motor strain. A dual-frame internal light deprivation system is recommended for this region.

Eastern Montana: The drier conditions in Eastern Montana are suitable for external roll-to-peak light deprivation systems. However, high winds are a common concern, so installing a wind retention system is strongly advised.

Montana 's dry climate increases the performance of an evaporative cooling system. As the hot and dry air from outdoors is pulled through the wet wall, the air gets conditioned to a cooler temp. Example from UMASS: 90 degree outside air @30% humidity = 30 degrees of cooling @50% humidity = 20 degrees of cooling @70% humidity = 8 degrees of cooling

Yes! Upgrading your environmental control system to the competitively priced agrowtek gcx is necessary in any instances where you are using artificial lighting, heating, or want programmable controls with different stages of heating/cooling. Example features include: Turning lights on and off based on cloud cover, interrupting functions such as heat when the exhaust fan turns on, using heat or cooling stages to even out the temp/humidity swings to create more consistent growing conditions. Analog controls can be used if you are just concerned with one or two variables. Be aware that if the heater and exhaust fans are on separate thermostats, they can both get stuck on at the same time, this will drain the propane tank and prevent the greenhouse from getting up to temp.

In Montana (Latitude ~40°+): 1 Light Dep + 1 Full-Season Harvest

Daylight for Vegetative Growth: Begins mid-May (~14+ hours of daylight).

Natural Flower Trigger: ~August 15 (12–13 hours of daylight).

Full-Season Harvest: Mid-October (60 days from natural flowering trigger).

Harvest Schedule:
Light Dep Vegetative Growth: Mid-May to Mid-June (30 days, >14 hours of daylight).

Light Dep Harvest: Mid-August (60 days flowering, starts mid-June).

Full-Season Vegetative Growth: Natural vegetative period continues until August 15.

Full-Season Harvest: Mid-October (60 days flowering, natural trigger mid-August).

Total Harvests: 2 harvests (1 light dep + 1 full season).

In Montana, single-span greenhouses are a cost-effective solution for small farmers. They shed snow efficiently, are quicker and cheaper to build, and their independent structure minimizes the risk of pest and pathogen spread. While gutter-connect greenhouses offer scalability, they come with higher upfront costs, longer construction timelines, and greater risks of disease spread due to shared systems.

To grow year round in Montana you will need to control all of the environmental variables to maintain consistent growing conditions.

Dual Frame Insulated Greenhouse-Hortitech's dual frame design can grow year round in any state. The internal light deprivation system is protected from weather elements and the 2ft thermal air gap provides superior insulation.

Photo period- Use artificial lighting to supplement when days are short to maintain enough DLI to keep plants in vegetative state or to provide enough energy to flower on cloudy winter days. Use light deprivation to shorten the days during spring and summer to maintain flowering cycles.

Temperature- Use intake shutters/exhaust fans with light traps to cool and dehumidify the greenhouse during the summer and as needed in shoulder seasons. Use a greenhouse heater to maintain optimal growing conditions year round and to prevent freezing during the winter.

Dehumidifiers- During the cooler months when the exhaust fans are not running as often, you will need dehumidifiers to offset the humidity from plant transpiration. All of the water put into the growing media will transpire through the plant and become air borne. Mismanaging humidity will lead to botrytis and powdery mildew.

Semi Gable frames are used in areas with snow and high humidity. The steep pitch of our semi gable frame allows for the snow to shed on its own. The increased peak height allows for heat and humidity to rise off the plant canopy and be exhausted by a peak fan.

Yes! woven plastics are mandatory with roll to peak light deprivation systems. These systems take time to install, and you'll want to make the most of your investment by using thick plastic, do not use anything less than 9mil. An added benefit Hortitech's clear light dep plastic is that we can weld blackout overlaps into the clear plastic creating a perimeter light seal. This saves on labor and materials, eliminating the need for extra channel, wiggle wire, or lumber.