Abstract
Galia muskmelons (Cucumis melo L.) produced in a passive-ventilated greenhouse as an alternative crop to traditional crops such as tomato or pepper can result in profitable returns to investment. Average yields for hydroponically grown Galia were five fruit per plant or 16.5 kg m[sup-] per crop, regardless of type of media or container used. Initial investment cost for a 1.0-hectare passive-ventilated greenhouse including land, labor, and transportation is $579,723 with an annual depreciation of $71,802. Net returns for a single crop are estimated at $3.46 per m or for a double crop at $10.22 per m. Using 5-year market prices of Galia muskmelon, sensitivity analyses summarize potential losses and profits at yields below and above average.
