Author: Ximena Sejas
While there are a few basics to greenhouses, there are many variations based on those principles. If you were to look right now at every greenhouse available to you, you’d probably wonder why there were so many. However, knowing the types of greenhouses and all the structural materials available will make all the difference between choosing the right greenhouse or making a costly mistake. While they all share the same principles, some greenhouses are better suited for your area than others. So before we get into it, start getting a rough idea of what you want to get out of…
There might be some gardening tools on your property, whether you’ve gardened or just done yard work, and so you might think you’ve saved yourself some trouble and can just use them for your greenhouse. Sadly, you need to make some new purchases for your greenhouse. Typically, outdoor gardening tools are just too much for greenhouse use. For example, a spade is great for outside work because it can get through the rocks and roots in the ground. But you’re working with loose soil that’s free of rocks and foreign roots, so there isn’t much need for that when you…
As technology and growing practices advance, there has been a surge in greenhouse lighting options. There are so many options out there for you to choose from. You can grow all day and night, all year, or simply give your plants a longer growing season. With all these options, it is good to know what lighting might be ideal for your greenhouse. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) These lamps have come into households as a cost-effective replacement for incandescent lighting. But as technology has advanced, they are finding their way into greenhouses to provide full-spectrum lighting to your plants. Full-spectrum lighting…
These plants would be what you find on your shelves in their separate pots, and that is typically all you need. Having them in their own containers will prevent them from harming your other plants. For example, mint likes to run roots beneath the soil, so it will grow in other areas, too. This plant would fare well in your greenhouse; the only thing you will really want to watch out for is mint rust. If the leaves look like they have rust on them, you must get rid of the plant. If you can catch it in time, you…
What do you want to plant? Are you looking for just an extra supply of local produce? Do you want to explore by growing plants from other regions? What are good beginner plants? And if you want to plant all year long, how can you do that? This article will explore plant hardiness zones, preplanting preparation, and plant selection for various categories. HARDINESS ZONES What is a hardiness zone, and does it matter to a greenhouse? First, a hardiness zone is going to give you the average extreme minimum temperature of your state or region. In the U.S., the USDA…
Before you bring plants into your greenhouse, there are some last additions you need in your greenhouse to make your first greenhouse crop a success. Some of these things will be helpful before you plant, and some are just considerations that will depend on what you’re wanting from your greenhouse. IRRIGATION AND WATER MANAGEMENT This is one of the most crucial needs of all plants. Without water, they will not produce, or they can become wilted and die. But as you learned with humidity control, too much water can also spell disaster. So after all the building and modifying is…
With your climate control systems, the first thing you should think about is the size of your greenhouse. Fans, heaters, and dehumidifiers come in various sizes to meet the needs of various spaces. When you purchase any of these, pay attention to the packaging to see if they cover the space of your greenhouse. This is not the time to put money toward something cheaper if it will not meet your needs. The other thing to think about is how automated you want your greenhouse. Again, there are vent systems that have thermostats and humidistats. They will open when things…
With your greenhouse sealed and ready to endure the elements, you now can focus on making the climate inside your greenhouse ideal for the plants you want to grow. While the main idea of the greenhouse is to capture the light and warmth from the sun, you can’t rely on sunlight alone if you plan to grow year round. That’s why the use of environmental controls is important. When you use them, you give your plants an environment that doesn’t exist where you live. THE FIVE FACTORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL You learned about what the plants need at the beginning…
Naturally, where you find positives, you will also find negatives. Greenhouses are no exception, and while no one wants to think about the downsides, they can help you with such an enormous investment. Greenhouses aren’t cheap by any means. There are some options that will give you a bit of a greenhouse, but it will not be what you really want if you have your heart set on year-round gardening. You also have to factor in the cost of upkeep. Would you be using electric heaters and grow lights? What about fans? Are you going to invest in automated vents?…
You’ve already learned the basics of how a greenhouse works. Sunlight comes in, and some is taken in by the plants while the rest is stored in opaque objects as heat. While the heat is eventually lost, it takes a lot longer to disappear. This is the basic answer, but there are more details to having a greenhouse that has maximum effectiveness. Optimal Growing Conditions Think about the conditions when plant growth (photosynthesis) stops. This will be from two factors-lighting and temperature. Most vegetables have an ideal range of 40 °F to 90 °F, so if the temperature drops below…