A DIRECTORY FOR USING A HOBBY GREENHOUSE FOR NEWBIES A greenhouse is the best option if you want to extend your growing season or cultivate tropical plants, flowers, veggies, and herbs all year long.
A great DIY backyard project is building a greenhouse, which is the ideal method to give your plants a year-round climate that they can thrive in. Get a head start on the growing season by sowing veggies like peppers and tomatoes in the greenhouse when it’s still freezing outside and planting them in the garden as the weather starts to warm up.
The good news is that greenhouses are rather simple to set up, whatever your motivation for wanting one.
STARTING OFF: CONSIDERATIONS Choosing the appropriate size for your greenhouse is the first step in either building or purchasing one. You should consider your greenhouse as a long-term investment when choosing its size. The greenhouse you select should have enough space to meet your needs going forward.
When choosing a location for your greenhouse, take into account how simple it will be to connect to an garden drip irrigation system and an electrical outlet in case you need to install heating or grow lights in the future. You should choose a location with lots of natural sunshine if you want to build a greenhouse to produce veggies or other high-light plants.
Structure of a green house You have two choices for the design of your greenhouses: either a lean-to or a freestanding building. Lean-to or attached greenhouses contain at least one weight-bearing wall and are attached to an existing building (like your house or garage). Freestanding greenhouses can be located anywhere and can be positioned to receive more natural light, albeit typically costing more money.
Maximizing exposure to light Choose a flat place with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day during the winter as the location for your greenhouse. It’s also a good idea to build your greenhouse with the broad side facing east and the narrow side facing west. If the amount of natural light on your land is insufficient, you could want to add artificial light in the form of grow lights.
You should stay away from coniferous tree-shaded areas when looking for a location for your greenhouse. Coniferous trees will throw a shade in the chilly winter months, whilst deciduous trees will lose their leaves in the fall and let sunlight into your greenhouse.
DRAINAGE Although practically any surface can be used to build a greenhouse, you need make sure it has good drainage. By covering the ground with landscape fabric and then a layer of gravel, you may create the perfect surface. The gravel will provide drainage while preventing weed growth.
A REGULATED ENVIRONMENT Because they offer a highly adjustable atmosphere, greenhouses are perfect for growing plants, flowers, or tropical vegetation.
ACCESSORIES Depending on your budget, you can add a variety of accessories to your greenhouse in addition to the heating and ventilation systems. Wall-to-wall shelves, a potting table, a living wall, a misting system, a tool rack, etc. can all be put in place. When purchasing greenhouse accessories, keep your demands and budget in mind.
INSULATION You might need to insulate your greenhouse to keep it warm if the winters get chilly where you live. An uninsulated greenhouse may receive ample sunlight during the day, but when the temperature drops at night, the heat may escape. Consider installing a heating system if the greenhouse is becoming too chilly at night.
In greenhouses, tiny oil or gas heaters with a 220-volt circuit work well, although operating them can be costly. Solar heaters that don’t require a connection to the electricity grid are ultimately the least expensive alternative in terms of energy consumption.
Soil heating wires and suspended radiant heat lamps are additional options for heating a greenhouse. Just make sure that your greenhouse has adequate ventilation and that your heat source has an automated shut-off function.
SHADE If you reside in a warm region, you should give your plants shade to prevent sunburn during the sweltering summer months. Plant shading materials include roll-up screens, vinyl greenhouse shading, and polypropylene shade cloth.
VENTILATION Any greenhouse needs ventilation. Greenhouses are enclosed spaces where it is easy for it to become too hot or humid.
You may prevent mold growth and soaring temperatures by keeping an eye on the temperature inside your greenhouse and adjusting the vents (hand-crank or motorized vents) for air circulation. By adding a fan, you can maintain air circulation, reduce humidity, and ward off mildew and disease in the greenhouse.
