Greenhouse Horizons: Top Trending Crops and Innovations for 2025

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In 2025, several crops are poised to dominate the greenhouse landscape, driven by consumer demand, technological advancements, and sustainable practices. Let's explore the top trending greenhouse crops for 2025 and why they capture the attention of growers and consumers alike.

What We Are Covering Today:

1. Tomatoes: The Greenhouse Staple Evolves

2. Cucumbers: Parthenocarpic Perfection

3. Eggplants: Colorful and Compact

4. Lettuce: Year-Round Greens

5. Radishes: The Rising Star

6. Peppers: Sweet and Spicy Success

7. Microgreens and Herbs: Efficiency & Big Flavor

8. Berries: Sweet Innovations

9. Tree Seedlings: Reforestation's Green Revolution

10. Emerging Trends Shaping Greenhouse Crop Selection

11. Conclusion

12. Complementary sources:

Tomatoes: The Greenhouse Staple Evolves

Tomatoes continue to dominate greenhouse production, and for good reason. They offer high yields, extended growing seasons, and superior quality compared to their field-grown counterparts.

In 2025, we expect to see:

• Increased focus on disease-resistant varieties

• Adoption of compact, "polite" plant habits for better airflow and reduced pruning

• Emphasis on flavor and texture to meet discerning consumer tastes

Growers are increasingly turning to varieties that can withstand the unique challenges of greenhouse environments, such as leaf mold and powdery mildew. The trend towards more compact plants simplifies management and allows for higher planting densities, potentially boosting overall yields.

In 2025, a significant breakthrough in tomato cultivation is the widespread availability of varieties resistant to the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV). Major seed companies have introduced numerous ToBRFV-resistant tomato varieties across various segments, from mini-plum to beef tomatoes, offering growers enhanced protection against this devastating pathogen.

Cucumbers: Parthenocarpic Perfection

Cucumbers are set to maintain their position as a top greenhouse crop in 2025, with a focus on parthenocarpic varieties that don't require pollination.

Key trends include:

• High-yielding varieties to maximize greenhouse space utilization

• Improved disease resistance for protected environments

• Enhanced eating quality with thinner skins and seedless fruits

Cucumbers' ability to produce fruit without pollination makes them ideal for enclosed greenhouse systems, which ensure consistent yields throughout the year.

Last year, Great Lakes Greenhouses, North America's largest hydroponic cucumber grower, significantly boosted production and efficiency by implementing LED top lighting with an innovative Control System. These systems allow for precise energy management and improved crop quality. This innovation exemplifies the ongoing advancements in greenhouse cucumber cultivation, contributing to the sector's growth and sustainability.

Eggplants: Colorful and Compact

Eggplants are gaining traction in greenhouse production, trending towards diverse colors and compact growth habits.

In 2025, look out for:

• Varieties suitable for both high-tech and low-tech greenhouse systems

• Focus on baby and mini-sized fruits for gourmet markets

• Increased interest in striped and white varieties for visual appeal

Eggplant varieties like 'Gaudi', 'Annina', and 'Aretussa' lead the way with their adaptability to greenhouse conditions and attractive fruit characteristics.

Eggplant is a promising greenhouse crop with high yield potential. It offers year-round production, improved fruit quality, and the ability to extend growing seasons through advanced cultivation techniques like dynamic LED lighting and precise environmental control (Sollum, 2024).

Lettuce: Year-Round Greens

Lettuce remains a favorite greenhouse gas, especially for winter production. In 2025, we anticipate:

• Continued development of downy mildew-resistant varieties

• Increased adoption of high-efficiency lettuce types like Salanova®

• Growing interest in colorful lettuce mixes for visual appeal and nutritional diversity

The 'Five Star Greenhouse Lettuce Mix' exemplifies the trend towards disease-resistant, colorful lettuce varieties optimized for low-light winter conditions.

The best high-tech greenhouse project example currently under construction is VegPro International. Indeed, the Canada's largest open-field lettuce grower is transitioning into greenhouse cultivation with a $135 million state-of-the-art Vermax glass greenhouse project in Sherrington, Quebec, designed by Harnois Greenhouses, set to produce 7.8 million pounds of lettuce and vegetables annually starting in early 2025, showcasing the industry's shift towards more efficient and sustainable year-round production.

In addition to high-tech solutions, a growing trend in the CEA industry is the adoption of low—and mid-tech greenhouse systems for hydroponic lettuce production. Veggiwell in Guatemala has successfully implemented NFT systems in modern poly greenhouses to achieve profitable and sustainable leafy green cultivation.

Radishes: The Rising Star

Radishes are emerging as a promising greenhouse crop, offering a quick turnaround and year-round production potential. In 2025, we expect radishes to gain significant traction, with a spotlight on innovative growers like Les Serres Leciel Stéphane Bertrand in Québec, Canada.

Key trends in greenhouse radish production include:

• Diverse color options beyond traditional red, including white, pink, and purple varieties

• Focus on spring varieties for greenhouse cultivation, emphasizing rapid growth and high yields

• Adoption of hydroponic systems for improved quality and reduced cracking

Les Serres Leciel in Québec, Canada, has been at the forefront of this trend, offering fresh, locally-grown radishes year-round, including their signature tri-color radish mix. Their success demonstrates the potential for radishes as a profitable greenhouse crop, even in colder climates.

Greenhouse cultivation allows for multiple annual growing cycles compared to open-field production, significantly increasing overall yield and productivity15. While open-field cultivation is typically limited to one or two growing seasons annually due to weather constraints, greenhouses enable year-round production regardless of external conditions.

Peppers: Sweet and Spicy Success

Bell peppers and specialty hot peppers continue to be popular greenhouse crops.

In 2025, watch for:

• Increased variety in colors and heat levels

• Focus on high-yielding, disease-resistant cultivars

• Growing interest in specialty peppers for niche markets

Greenhouse peppers offer consistent quality and extended seasons, making them attractive to growers and consumers.

Microgreens and Herbs: Efficiency & Big Flavor

The trend towards fresh, flavorful ingredients drives increased greenhouse production of microgreens and herbs. In 2025, expect to see:

• Expanded variety of microgreen mixes for culinary applications

• Year-round production of popular herbs like basil, cilantro, and mint

• Integration of vertical farming techniques to maximize space efficiency

These crops offer quick turnaround times and high value per square foot, making them attractive for greenhouse growers looking to diversify their offerings.

Gourma, a leading herb producer in Quebec, has successfully implemented semi-automation and robotics in its high-efficiency greenhouse complex to cultivate basil year-round. This has significantly increased profitability and reduced energy consumption while maintaining consistent quality.

Berries: Sweet Innovations

Strawberries and other berries are gaining ground in greenhouse production. In 2025, look for:

• Advancements in substrate culture and vertical growing systems

• Focus on ever-bearing varieties for consistent production

• Increased interest in specialty berries like raspberries and blackberries

Greenhouse-grown berries offer superior quality and extended seasons compared to field-grown counterparts, commanding premium prices.

In North-America, the rise of low-tech soilless cultivation systems for berries is gaining momentum over traditional open-field methods. Driven by climate change concerns, soil pollution issues, chemical use restrictions, and labor shortages, these systems offer growers a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable approach that significantly reduces water, fertilizer, and pesticide inputs.

Tree Seedlings: Reforestation's Green Revolution

The greenhouse industry is crucial in reforestation efforts, with tree seedling production emerging as a significant crop. In 2025, tree seedling nurseries are modernizing their operations to meet growing demand and overcome challenges:

• Increased demand: Over 5.3 billion seedlings are needed to restore just 15% of forests destroyed in 2023 and 2024.
  

• Modernization efforts: Nurseries are upgrading facilities and adopting new technologies to boost productivity and reduce labor dependence.
  

• Government support: Recent government initiatives are accelerating reforestation efforts, with Canada's 2 Billion Trees program investing $3.2 billion over 10 years, and the U.S. REPLANT Act directing the Forest Service to plant more than a billion trees in the next decade, supported by a $20 million agreement signed in December 2023 to scale up reforestation across national forests.
  

• Extended growing seasons: Greenhouse cultivation allows for year-round production, significantly increasing seedling output compared to traditional methods.
  

• Diverse species: Nurseries are expanding their offerings to include a wider variety of native trees and shrubs, crucial for ecosystem restoration.

This trend towards efficient, high-volume seedling production in greenhouses is essential for meeting reforestation goals and adapting to climate change challenges.

Emerging Trends Shaping Greenhouse Crop Selection

As we look towards 2025, several overarching trends are influencing crop selection and production methods in greenhouses:

1. Sustainability: Growers increasingly adopt eco-friendly practices like rainwater harvesting and natural pest control.
   

2. Technology Integration: Advanced climate control systems, LED lighting, and data-driven decision-making are optimizing crop production.
   

3. Local Production: The demand for locally grown produce continues to rise, and greenhouses play a crucial role in year-round supply.
   

4. Variety Diversification: Consumers seek unique and flavorful options, driving growers to experiment with new cultivars and crop types.
   

5. Ready-to-Go Solutions: There's growing interest in pre-planted containers and easy-care options for consumers with limited gardening experience.

Conclusion

The greenhouse industry is poised for exciting developments in 2025, with a diverse range of crops taking center stage. From the continued dominance of tomatoes and cucumbers to the rising popularity of radishes and specialty greens, growers have numerous options to meet consumer demand and maximize profitability. As we've seen with innovators like Les Serres Leciel, there's ample opportunity for creativity and differentiation in the greenhouse market.

By staying attuned to consumer preferences, leveraging technological advancements, and prioritizing sustainability, greenhouse growers can position themselves for success in the coming years. The future of greenhouse cultivation is bright, with endless possibilities for innovation and growth. As we move towards 2025, keep an eye on these trending crops and emerging technologies – they just might shape the next revolution in controlled environment agriculture.

Complementary sources: