Greenhouse Equipment & Systems — BensGarden NZ

Greenhouses for
Tropical Fruit in NZ

Most NZ greenhouses are built for seedlings, not tropical fruit. There's a real difference — and getting it wrong costs you your crop. Here's what actually works, from 49 years of growing Tropicals in Auckland and Northland.

1
Greenhouses are great
2
The 52°C shock
3
Windows open — still hot
4
What heat does to plants
5
25 cents a day
5 things worth knowing about NZ greenhouses and tropical fruit.
Click any number to find out.

Free Greenhouse Heat Calculator

Enter your greenhouse details — results appear instantly for both a moderate sunny day and the hottest day of the year in your region.

Your greenhouse details

Average height inside — taller greenhouse = cooler. This matters a lot.
32°C
This is what your thermostat holds. Set it to match your controller setpoint.
🌡️

Enter your details and click Calculate — you'll see both a moderate day and the hottest day of the year for your region, for every level of ventilation.

Your Greenhouse Results
Outside air Danger Too warm Safe range Optimal zone
⛅ Moderate Sunny Day
☀️ Peak Hot Day

📬 Send these results to your inbox

No email app needed — fills in directly here. We'll send your greenhouse analysis to you.

Three levels of growing — what each achieves

Where your tree sits determines which varieties you can grow and how well they'll perform.

🌳
Outside
0–30°C

NZ Outdoor Range, temperature varies.

  • ✓ Works for 9 hardy varieties
  • ✓ No infrastructure cost
  • ✗ Cold southerlies damage new growth
  • ✗ Wet winters stress roots
  • ✗ Frost risk for young trees
  • ✗ Premium varieties not possible
Best varieties: Kesar, Rajapuri, Alphonso, Mallika, Himsagar, Chausa, Dasheri, Langra, Neelam
🏠
Basic Greenhouse
0–52°C

On bright hot days

  • ~ Up to 44°C with windows open and little airflow
  • ✗ Windows closed — up to 52°C
Better than outside — but without ventilation, summer heat causes real damage
🌡️
Controlled Greenhouse
You Decide the Temperature Range
  • ✓ BensGarden greenhouses operate a max heat of 32–34°C.
All varieties including Banganapalli, Peda Rasalu, Cheruku Rasalu
"
In our 6×3.3m greenhouse we set our target temperature at 32°C with a cooling differential of 2°C — so the fan turns on at 34°C and off at 32°C. It's that simple. On moderate days it costs around 10 cents a day to hold that temperature. On the hottest days, maybe 25 cents. That's why we hardly ever lose plants. Good temperature control keeps plants healthy — and healthy plants are far less prone to disease, pests, and the problems that frustrate most growers.
— Ben King, BensGarden, Kaitaia. 49 years growing tropical fruit in NZ.

Equipment — what we sell and what it does

Every item chosen specifically for tropical fruit growing. Not generic greenhouse gear — the right tools for the job.

Recommended Devices

These are an example of some of the monitoring / controlling devices that can be used alongside our Exhaust Fans / Vents and other equipment.

There are lots of devices out there that can monitor and/or control temperature, ventilation and humidity in your greenhouse. Some are mechanical, some digital, some AC, some battery powered. Some WiFi, some Bluetooth, and some with nothing but a simple screen.

We highly recommend you have some method of not just being able to see the temperature at a glance, but being able to track and log the data so you can look back on a day, week or even a year to see what's really going on. It's a great feeling for a grower to be aware of the climate problems and then do something about it.

These are just a few of the items we use. Today (22/7/2026) I'm going to film a short review of these and other items (fans, vents etc) so you can see if or how they might be helpful to you. Of course you might find other similar brands out there, but watching this upcoming video will be of help, I hope. Come back soon — I'll add the link when the video is ready.

Inkbird IBS-TH2 📱
Temperature & Humidity Monitor
Inkbird IBS-TH2
Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensor with phone app. Logs data over time — you can see the overnight lows and midday peaks. Great for understanding what your greenhouse is actually doing.
Inkbird IBS-TH3 📡
WiFi Temperature & Humidity
Inkbird IBS-TH3
WiFi-connected upgrade on the TH2 — data goes directly to the cloud so you can check your greenhouse temperature from anywhere. Real-time alerts if your greenhouse overheats or gets too cold overnight.
Inkbird ITC-308WIFI 🔌
WiFi Temperature Controller
Inkbird ITC-308WIFI (or manual version)
Plug-in dual-stage temperature controller with WiFi. Controls either heating or cooling devices — plug your fan or heater directly in. App-controlled setpoints and remote monitoring. Works with our exhaust fans or any AC cooling or heating appliances.

Note: Devices listed are our recommendations — we don't sell them directly. Buy from NZ electronics retailers or inkbird.co.nz. Our reviews cover exactly how to set them up (or similar options) for tropical fruit growing.

Note: Some controllers are WiFi, some not. Temp/humidity devices that log data are either WiFi or Bluetooth.

Already have a greenhouse?

Most existing greenhouses can be made to work properly for tropical fruit with the right modifications. Ben's been fixing badly-designed greenhouses for years.

What usually needs fixing

Almost all greenhouses we look at have the same problems — all fixable:

  • 🌡️ Most greenhouses only have passive ventilation that, on days with little airflow, can easily reach 44°C or more.
  • 👀 Most greenhouses have owners who can't watch the temperature all day and adjust windows to avoid extreme heat.

The BEST SOLUTION

If you can get AC power to your greenhouse, you can install our Exhaust Fan & Vent and operate them with a controller. This way you can set the temperature range and have peace of mind. And the cost to run is ridiculously low. Watch the video.

EASY-FIT

Our Fans and Vents will easily fit your existing greenhouse with minor frame and skin modifications.

Get honest advice from Sam

Email us with your greenhouse dimensions, orientation, and what you're growing. We'll tell you what's likely causing problems and what would fix it — no obligation.

We've seen enough greenhouses to know quickly what's wrong and the most cost-effective fix.

sam@kingag.co.nz →

09 408 0420

Which varieties need greenhouse protection?

A controlled greenhouse opens up varieties that simply aren't possible outside in most of New Zealand.

Alphonso
Can Grow Outside

Thrives in Northland/Auckland without protection.

Kesar
Can Grow Outside

Ben's top pick for outside growing in NZ.

Rajapuri
Can Grow Outside

Vigorous and productive. Handles NZ conditions well.

Mallika
Can Grow Outside

Outstanding flavour. Performs well in Northland.

Chausa
Can Grow Outside

Juiciest mango in the world. Fine outside in NZ.

Banganapalli
Greenhouse Essential

Clean firm flesh. Greenhouse necessary in NZ.

Peda Rasalu
Heated GH Advised

Ultimate juice mango. Needs warmth to fruit reliably.

Cheruku Rasalu
Heated GH Advised

Extraordinary sweetness. Worth every bit of effort.

How to Select the right Mangoes & Papaya for your Greenhouse → Mango Matchmaker

🏗️ Building your own greenhouse?

Plans for several sizes — from a single-tree hut to a 21×8m commercial structure. Videos and downloadable plans launching soon.

See DIY Plans →

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