THE EVOLUTION OF GREENHOUSE CULTURES IN SARDINIA

The fundamental stages that led to the development of greenhouse cultures in Sardinia are briefly reported, starting from the first greenhouses just after World War II up to the present day.

The picture that emerges is particularly interesting since Sardinia has witnessed a totally different evolution as compared to the rest of the country.

In Sardinia greenhouse culture did not start in the form of small family-run farms as in the rest of the country, but assumed a capitalistic type of organization with large covered areas (in 1952 Sardinia had the largest iron and glasshouse in Europe) and a significant number of workers.

Subsequently, for a number of economic and social reasons, this type of farm went through a period of deep crisis. It later developed into the small family-run farms that sprang up when plastic films became available.

The paper reports on the stages that have marked the development from horticulture to the specialised culture of carnations for the North European market, "mixed" floriculture for the local and domestic market, the monoculture of tomatoes, the appearance of nurseries for gardening and horticulture and the production of flower pots.

Finally we report on the most important stages that have characterised the evolution of the different structures, equipment and cultivation systems.