What are the
benefits of owning a greenhouse?
Gardeners of all levels, from master to hobbyist, will
benefit from owning a greenhouse as a way to extend your growing season and
increase your yields. A greenhouse
can be a valuable tool as the basis of a home based, organic produce business.
Hobby greenhouses can also become the center of an enduring family
pastime, educating future generations and nurturing a passion for horticulture.
What will I need to
get started?
A little education goes a long way. What
are your horticultural goals? Read
up on what kinds of plants and produce you’re interested in growing.
This way you can better choose the hobby greenhouse kit that best suits
your needs. Once you’ve decided on your greenhouse configuration, a base,
foundation or anchor will be required to secure your nursery to the ground.
Consider what season you’ll be beginning your cultivation and the
climate characteristics of your area; you may need to ponder various heating and
cooling methods to maintain a constant comfortable temperature for your plants.
Portable fans, heaters and vent placement are all simple, inexpensive
ways to heat or cool your nursery. Make
sure there is enough shelving and workspace to, happily and healthily, achieve
your horticultural undertakings.
How do I prepare my
site?
Little preparation is needed before securing most hobby
greenhouses. Most importantly, you
will need to have level ground. If
your nursery requires a base or foundation you may need to have bare lawn or
ground without any sod or gravel. If
your interest lies in building a permanent greenhouse contact a contractor for
further information or assistance in constructing a lasting foundation.
Do I need a base,
and how does it attach to the ground?
The make, model, manufacturer and site of your hobby
greenhouse will determine whether or not you need a base.
The base serves to elevate your greenhouse off the ground, gives you room
to put down your choice of flooring and provides a structure for you to attach
your nursery. Most greenhouses come
with hardware and are predrilled to fit its proprietary base.
For nurseries that don’t require a base, they can be attached directly
to the ground with anchors often provided by the manufacturer.
Your hobby greenhouse must be secure enough to stand the test of time and
the elements and protect your investment.
How do I position my
greenhouse?
Your greenhouse should be placed where it can receive
maximum sunlight. This means
orienting it to face the south or southeast part of your lawn. Consider that most plants like diffused light or dappled
shade; very few like direct sunlight, and place your nursery accordingly.
Prevailing winds may play a part in the placement of your nursery as
you’ll want to avoid the wind blowing open and damaging doors, windows and
plants.
What can I grow in
my greenhouse?
You can grow whatever you want, from native plants to the
most exotic of flowers. With a
hobby greenhouse you can prepare and maintain a microclimate conducive for
growing a plethora of plants, vegetables and herbs.
Your only limits are you interests and imagination.
What is the
importance of ventilation?
Ventilation is crucial in providing your plants with plenty
of fresh carbon dioxide. Your goal is to remove the air from the inside of the
greenhouse and replace it with fresh outside air. You will want to maintain an
even flow of air, maintain relative humidity, and keep oxygen and carbon dioxide
concentrations at an acceptable level. Most manufacturers recommend a roof
window every four feet. Each season
will require different methods of ventilation. In the winter fresh air
circulation will prevent humid, stale air from causing mold. In the summer an
abundance of sunlight will cause the temperature of your greenhouse to rise
significantly and adequate ventilation will help keep temperatures down.
The spring-summer season varies so much that it will be important to keep
track of the humidity levels and temperature inside your greenhouse. Ventilation
can be achieved naturally or mechanically. Base vents on the sides and ends of
the greenhouse can achieve this. The advantage to natural ventilation is that it
is free and it does not depend on a power source. Mechanical ventilation,
however, will guarantee that your greenhouse has the proper amount of air
circulation. Auto-openers, for
example, provide a worry free way to properly vent your greenhouse.
How do I avoid
pests?
Prevention. Make
sure your greenhouse has adequate drainage to eliminate standing water.
Don’t stress your plants my inconsistently watering and then over
watering; stressed plants are more susceptible to pests and disease.
Some plants, like tomatoes, attract insects, while others, basil,
rosemary and lavender, actually repel them.
You can pair different plants and herbs together to prevent infestations.
The type of flooring you choose can play a part in pest control as well.
Organic pesticides can be used if numbers seem out of control, but
don’t over use any pesticide as some insects are actually beneficial to many
plants. As always, educate yourself
as to what types of pests your greenhouse may attract and take appropriate
steps.
What glazing and/or
panel thickness do I need?
There are several covering materials to choose from, each
of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Common covering materials are
glass, fiberglass reinforced panels, and double-layer structured panels.
Glass is the traditional greenhouse covering against which all others are
judged. Good-quality glass is an attractive, very transparent, and formal
covering material. Fiberglass
reinforced panels (FRPs) are rigid plastic panels made from acrylic or
polycarbonate that come in large corrugated or flat sheets.
Polycarbonate double-layer structured panels (DSPs) are made of two
layers of plastic held apart by ribs spaced 1/2
to 1 inch apart. The double-layer construction increases structural strength and
heat retention but decreases light transmission compared to single-layer
materials. The material you choose
will depend a great deal on your gardening goals, the greenhouse manufacturer
you choose, your geographic location and your budget.
How do I heat my
greenhouse and how big a heater do I need?
Nurseries can be heated using electricity, natural gas or
propane, fuel oil or solar energy. You can also connect the greenhouse to your
home heating system. A wide
assortment of gas heaters is available to heat hobby greenhouses. Some are
designed to hang from the frame of the greenhouse; others are positioned on the
floor. A wide variety of electric
resistance heaters can also be used. Those available in department stores and
home centers are usually only adequate in the smallest greenhouse for starting
seedlings in the spring. Larger units can be purchased through Outdora.com.
Heater size for a given greenhouse and geographic location depends on the
surface area of the greenhouse and the temperature difference between the inside
and outside of the greenhouse.
