A Greenhouse for the Garden

The idea of having light enter, and reflect infrared rays back requires careful choosing of the construction material.  Use a kit and feel your greenhouse will be efficient.

Of course you must choose your kind of greenhouse.  One size does not fit all.  Some are portable.  Some are small with several transparent shelves so light can fall on plants below the top shelf.  Others are large enough to walk through.

There are many purposes for a greenhouse.  In addition to controlling temperature, water is controlled. 

Rehabilitating plants in distress is one use of a greenhouse.  This might not be enough of a need to justify the expense of buying a greenhouse, but is a plus if you already have one for other purposes.

Having a start on the growing season by planting seeds before the outside temperature is warm enough to permit direct planting into the ground is a real advantage for those who have a greenhouse.  Most seedlings are very susceptible to frost damage.  And, having mature plants earlier can bring your harvest sooner, and even extend the season by allowing you to stagger planting over several weeks.  Starting seedlings indoors might allow too little sunlight to establish the young plants.  But a greenhouse permits light to reach them in abundance.

Another reason for a greenhouse is to grow plants that normally grow in a different climate.  Tropical plants can often be grown in a greenhouse.  If you experience short days there might be a need for artificial light, but you can enjoy such beauties as orchard simply by walking into your greenhouse.

A greenhouse can be a dry place for storing garden tools and bags of fertilizer that must be kept dry.  A little space in a corner of a greenhouse can eliminate the need for a tool shed.  In fact, under a table might work well for storing such items.

A greenhouse allows your plants to be placed on tables, making bending over to tend them unnecessary.

One real advantage is weed seeds and air borne diseases are less likely to invade your garden.

Small greenhouses need gentle watering, so a watering can might be a wise addition.  And hand tools work well with small plants, especially potted plants.

Seedlings need to be started in something.  There are special, compartmentalized planting units for starting seedlings.  They cannot just be grown in one flat container because the roots will tangle, and damage in transplanting will occur.

The first obvious challenge you will have is the need to water your plants.  You can have an irrigation system if the greenhouse is large enough.  Or, you can water by hand, especially if you have a small greenhouse.  Allowing nature to provide direct water by rain is not always possible.  Most greenhouses have no access for rain.

Heat buildup can become excessive.  Some greenhouses have windows that open, and opening the right number of windows is important.  You might use an automatic system that closes windows at night.  In some climates this might not be a consideration, but in warmer climates there is a real problem with too much heat.  Some larger greenhouses have ventilation systems, and regulate the temperature more precisely.  That is a feature home greenhouses may not need unless you are growing prize winning plants, or are a real serious gardener.  More complex additions to your greenhouse add expense.

Pollination is another issue.  Growing tropical plants, or starting seedlings, does not require pollination, but growing plants for a food source may.  A greenhouse with windows that open will allow bees access to your plants.

Animal control is another problem.  Animals borough under things, so it may be necessary to build on a slab of concrete.  Yes, it is cheaper to place your greenhouse on the ground, but animal control is also important.  And, in the section below on anchoring you will see another reason for a slab floor.

Glass is susceptible to hail damage if the hailstones are large enough, especially in the roof area.  Choose a material that does not break so easily, but works like glass in admitting light and preventing loss of infrared rays. 

Winds, especially high winds, can topple and even transport small buildings.  You need to provide an adequate anchoring system to hold your greenhouse upright, and in place.  A flying greenhouse not only will be damaged, but is dangerous. 

Anchoring is easier if you actually pour a slab upon which you erect your greenhouse.  Anchors can be inserted into the wet concrete, and thus become firmly part of the foundation once the concrete cures.  Just make certain you use strong enough material, and enough anchors, to keep the greenhouse from breaking away. 

Choose the right greenhouse for your needs.  If it is only to grow a few seedlings you can use a small shelved unit that you simply open a door and reach into.  If it is for a large tropical garden you will need a larger unit that you can walk through to enjoy the plants.  And, if you use it seasonably you can select a portable greenhouse.

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