Container-based plant factory：Pea Shoots and Microgreens Programme
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Leafy green prices swing mainly because harvest dates are uncontrollable. In the container, Pea Shoots and Microgreens moves from transplant to harvest in 7 - 12 days, and with tiered lighting and CO2 control the harvest date can be fixed weeks ahead and orders fulfilled weekly.
Logging covers temperature, humidity, CO2, EC, pH and light by batch, supporting order audits and origin documentation.
One of the highest harvest counts in the range; dense sowing supports continuous rolling production.
Agri-tourism projects turn the 7 - 12-day Pea Shoots and Microgreens cycle into a visitor route, showing a growing crop rather than packaged produce on a shelf.
CROP AND OUTPUT DATA
Variety | Pea Shoots and Microgreens (Specialty green) |
Growing cycle (transplant to harvest) | 7 - 12 days |
Unit weight | marketable weight |
Plants per cycle | approx. 3,300 - 5,800 |
Yield per cycle | 150 - 250 kg |
Cycles per year | 25 - 40 |
Annual output (estimate) | 3,750 - 10,000 kg |
Propagation | Direct seeding |
Crop difficulty | Easy |
Figures follow the 40 ft standard container baseline with about five growing tiers. Yield per cycle and annual output are estimates; actual results vary with tier count, light recipe, CO2 level and crop management.
KEY ADVANTAGES
· The unit can be shared with other leafy varieties on a weekly rotation for a more flexible product mix.
· No soil in the room means clean leaves and less post-harvest washing.
· The closed hydroponic loop uses far less water than soil culture, which suits water-scarce sites.
· Per-tier LED recipes give more uniform leaf colour, plant shape and head weight.
· 25 - 40 cycles a year keep the same unit producing continuously without a seasonal break.
· 3,300 - 5,800 plants per cycle and 150 - 250 kg per cycle make output plannable against contracts.
· Seedlings account for roughly 5 - 12% of operating cost, keeping the cost structure transparent.
· The 40 ft ISO shell ships on a standard flatbed and is lifted into place on site.
CONTAINER CONFIGURATION
Footprint | 12.19 x 2.44 x 2.90 m (40 ft ISO container) |
Growing system | Approx. 5 tiers, hydroponic or aeroponic |
Scale per cycle | 3,300 - 5,800 plants |
Temperature | 18 - 24 °C, set per variety |
Relative humidity | 60 - 75% |
CO2 concentration | 800 - 1,200 ppm |
Lighting | LED recipe, dimmable per tier |
Nutrient solution | Closed loop with automatic EC and pH control |
Energy reference | 0.8 - 1.2 kWh per kg of fresh greens; electricity about 60 - 70% of operating cost |
Control and monitoring | PLC, touchscreen HMI, remote monitoring and alarms |
Delivery | Pre-commissioned at the factory, set and connected on site |
CLIMATE AND CONTROL
Zones are explicit: nursery or seeding, transplant and growing, harvest and washing. Return water is kept away from the work flow, and wash water never enters the nutrient loop.
The controller stores recipes by variety - temperature, humidity, photoperiod, irrigation frequency and nutrient targets - called up as a set. Changing crops loads a new recipe while batch history is retained.
CULTIVATION AND SCHEDULING
Planting density is held at 3,300 - 5,800 plants per cycle, with spacing and tier height matched to plant habit; harvest is graded to marketable weight per cut.
The standard schedule assumes a 40 ft unit with about five tiers: plant one batch and harvest one batch each week, giving 25 - 40 Pea Shoots and Microgreens cycles a year. Adjust to order structure and harvest labour.
DELIVERY, TRAINING AND SERVICE
Commissioning covers nutrient mixing, EC and pH probe calibration, per-tier light measurement and climate interlock tests, confirmed item by item against the recipe.
Quarterly preventive maintenance covers filter changes, probe calibration, pump inspection, light-output measurement and alarm testing.
