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Every home gardener fantasizes of having their own
backyard greenhouse, which offers the ideal atmosphere for beginning plants
from seed and growing flowers and vegetables. A greenhouse also encourages you
to start spring planting earlier and prolong the growing season well into the
fall.
Modern greenhouses, on the other hand, are very costly
and usually too big for the ordinary backyard. Fortunately, there are two
choices for do-it-yourselfers: order a ready-to-assemble greenhouse package or
purchase plans and create the greenhouse from scratch. (It should be noted that
free downloadable plans are also available from a variety of online sources.)
There are several factors to weigh before deciding on the best greenhouse for you.
As an example:
Ordinances in Local Government
Check with your town’s construction department to see if you can even create a
greenhouse on your farm. Greenhouses are usually called outbuildings, meaning
you’ll need to register for a construction permit. If you live in a
neighborhood with a homeowner’s association (HOA), you’ll need to seek
permission from the HOA, which could be tough since many housing associations
have a strict no-outbuildings covenant.
Orientation in relation to the Sun
Since the aim of a greenhouse is to provide a warm, sunny environment for your
plants, it is critical that it be properly placed in your yard. The best
greenhouse orientation is faced south or southeast to catch the early morning
light. In most climates, an east-facing orientation is also beneficial.
Choose a place that gets at least six hours of direct
sunlight per day. If you live in a snowy area, make sure the greenhouse’s
snow-load rating can withstand a blanket of snow without collapsing.
Materials for the Frame
The bulk of greenhouse frames are constructed from wood or metal. Wood is less
costly, easy to deal with, and more suited for small to medium-sized
greenhouses. Metal is more durable and weather resistant than wood, but it is
more expensive. Aluminum is a popular material to use because it is thin,
corrosion resistant, and solid.
Options for Glazing
Glass is the most popular greenhouse glazing medium.
However, since glass is thick, porous, and costly, most do-it-yourself
greenhouses are glazed with polycarbonate, plastic, fiberglass, or polyethylene
sheeting.
Polycarbonate, acrylic, and fiberglass panels are
durable, good insulators, and have good light transmission, though fiberglass
can discolor over time. Polyethylene sheeting is inexpensive and simple to
apply, but it is not very durable and is easily punctured and destroyed.
Temperature Control
It’s important to be able to control the temperature
inside the greenhouse so it can get suffocatingly hot in the summer and
freezing cold in the winter. Using operable ventilation, rooftop vents, or
exhaust fans to remove hot air. Often, utilizing shade cloths to prevent solar
heat gain.
When the weather turns cool, keep your greenhouse warm by adding an electric heater with a thermostatically powered fan. Passive solar systems can help keep the cold at bay in temperate climates. Fill barrels with water or stack concrete blocks within the greenhouse; the sun’s warmth will be absorbed during the day and released as heat at night.
Materials for the
Floor
A greenhouse’s floor can be made of a variety of
materials, including asphalt, wood decking, flagstone, metal grates, poured
concrete, or simply pure earth. However, keep in mind that a dirt floor is only
feasible if your yard remains dry; otherwise, it can become a dusty quagmire.
Concrete is highly tough, but it is costly to pour and does not drain well. A gravel floor is low-cost, drains well, and can be quickly refurbished by simply adding more gravel.
The Best Greenhouse
Plans and Supplies
- EAGLE PEAK Portable Walk-in
Greenhouse 8′ x 6′ Instant Pop-up Fast Setup
- TOOCA Mini Greenhouse 3 Tier Portable Greenhouse
- VIVOSUN Hydroponic Grow Kit
- Kradl Portable Outdoor Greenhouses
- Mini Greenhouse Indoor and Outdoor with PE Cover
As an Amazon
Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Gardeln is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn
advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com