# Tomatoes > Provider: [DutchGreenhouses](/) Tomatoes are the benchmark crop of Dutch greenhouse horticulture, grown on hydroponic substrate in hanging gutters for 20 to 30 weeks per cycle. Yield spans roughly 28 kilograms per square metre for cherry types to 90 for beef, so cultivar choice sets the economics before any technology does. ## Facts | Property | Value | |---|---| | Crop cycle length | 20–30 weeks | | Twenty-four hour average temperature | 21–27 °C | | Target relative humidity | 70–75 % | | Carbon dioxide enrichment level | 800 ppm | | Yield range by cultivar type | 28–90 kg/m² | | Labour requirement | 10 people per hectare | | Commercially viable scale | 40000–80000 m² | Cultivation · Vegetables # Tomatoes. The flagship crop of Dutch greenhouse horticulture. ## The benchmark crop of Dutch greenhouse horticulture Tomatoes are the crop against which high-tech greenhouse growing is measured. They thrive in warm, well-ventilated conditions with a consistent balance of light and dark: at least six to eight hours of good light for photosynthesis, and a dark period that supports respiration and healthy fruit development. Grown under glass on hydroponic substrate, a tomato crop typically stays in the greenhouse for 20 to 30 weeks, allowing multiple cycles per year depending on variety and local climate — and modern greenhouse construction makes it possible to hold those conditions steady almost anywhere. Climate and light are the foundation. Tomatoes flourish at a 24-hour average temperature of roughly 21–27°C — in a Dutch-style setup often steered to about 28°C by day and 18°C at night — with relative humidity held around 70–75% to encourage transpiration while preventing fungal disease. Enriching CO₂ to around 800 ppm lifts photosynthesis, and LED or hybrid LED/HPS lighting extends production through the darker months. A tomato greenhouse is usually specified with diffuse or shade screens in the top layer and energy screens below, on an 8-metre truss with hanging-gutter cultivation. Tomatoes are a labour-intensive, year-round crop. Segmented planting keeps harvesting continuous and the workforce steadily occupied across seeding, transplanting, pruning, harvesting and integrated pest management — typically around ten people per hectare plus management and support staff. Because the tasks never really stop, a well-organised team and clear cultivation protocols are as important to the result as the hardware. Commercially, tomatoes are a resilient proposition. Demand for fresh, locally grown fruit is stable year-round across countless cuisines and both local and export markets, insulating growers from the seasonality that affects other crops. Yields vary widely by cultivar — from around 28 kg/m² for cherry types up to 90 kg/m² for beef tomatoes — though once labour costs are factored in the bottom line often converges. Revenue can reach roughly €60 per square metre per year or more depending on the market, and while energy is a real cost, efficient climate technology and renewable sources can offset much of it. A commercially viable operation usually starts around 40,000 m² and is comfortably managed up to about 80,000 m². To model the return on investment for a tomato project in your market, get in touch with our experts. From the knowledge base ## Reads you might find interesting ceacultivationbusiness-case ### Grow Like a Pro: Starting Smart, Growing Strong How Grow Like a Pro combines smart farming, CEA technology and local partnerships for eco-friendly, profitable, pesticide-free greenhouse pr Read article education ### The Case for a College Greenhouse Why a college greenhouse belongs in the curriculum: teaching science, craftsmanship, business logic and sustainability, and preparing studen Read article education ### The Case for a High School Greenhouse Why every high school greenhouse matters: how it makes STEM tangible, builds responsibility and teamwork, and helps students discover their Read article education ### Greenhouses in Education: The Case for Schools Greenhouses in education reconnect students to reality — the full case for why every school, high school, college and trade program should h Read article historyconstruction ### The Origins of Greenhouse Horticulture: My Backyard A tour through greenhouse horticulture history: from 19th-century Westland fruit walls to the “City of Glass” and today’s international high Read article company ### DutchGreenhouses Rebranded: A New Corporate Identity Announcing our new corporate identity — a visual style reflecting our dedication to advanced, high-quality greenhouse projects and The Futur Read article ## FAQ **What climate do greenhouse tomatoes need?** A 24-hour average of roughly 21 to 27 degrees, often steered to about 28 by day and 18 at night, with relative humidity around 70 to 75 percent. Carbon dioxide is enriched to roughly 800 ppm. The day-night swing matters as much as the average, because respiration and fruit development need the dark period. **How much does a tomato crop yield?** Between roughly 28 kilograms per square metre for cherry types and 90 for beef tomatoes — a threefold spread that makes cultivar the largest single variable in the business case. Once labour cost is factored in, though, the bottom line across types often converges, because the higher-yielding fruit is not always the more profitable one. **How is a tomato greenhouse specified?** An 8-metre span with hanging-gutter cultivation on hydroponic substrate, diffuse or shade screens in the top layer and energy screens below, carbon dioxide enrichment, and LED or hybrid lighting to carry production through the darker months. The structural grid follows the crop rather than the reverse. **How labour-intensive is tomato growing?** Around ten people per hectare plus management and support, working year-round. Segmented planting keeps both harvesting and the workforce continuous rather than peaking. Because the tasks never really stop, cultivation protocols and team organisation affect the result as much as the hardware does. ## Related [Growlights](/growlights.md) · [Automation](/automation.md) · [Hydroponics](/irrigation/hydroponics.md) · [CO2 Enrichment](/climate/co2-enrichment.md) · [Energy Screens](/screening/energy-screens.md) · [Cultivation Gutter](/glossary/cultivation-gutter.md) · [Stone Wool Slab](/glossary/rockwool.md) · [Crop Steering](/glossary/crop-steering.md) · [Plant Load](/glossary/plant-load.md) · [Grafting](/glossary/grafting.md) · [Brix](/glossary/brix.md) ## See also https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23501 · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato · https://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7805