Greenhouses can be a very fulfilling investment.
This ebook is designed to give you some great
ideas about how to start an awesome greenhouse
garden.
WHY A GREENHOUSE?
This first set of tips will discuss some of
the great reasons to start a greenhouse.
- Winter Plants
Many people have greenhouses so that they can grow plants
to use in the winter. It’s easier to grow smaller vegetables
for this purpose than bigger ones.! - Early Start
Having a greenhouse is a great way to get an early start for
tender plants seedlings. You can protect these young plants
better in a greenhouse, thus having better success. - Experiment
Having a greenhouse can be a fun hobby. With a
greenhouse, you can experiment with different plants, or
to develop new varieties.
LOCATION
This next set of tips will tell you some
of the factors that you need to
consider when choosing a location for
your greenhouse. - Sunlight
Your greenhouse should be in a place where it gets
maximum sunlight. Sunlight all day is ideal, but morning
sunlight on the east is best for plants. - Direction
It’s a good idea to face the long side of your greenhouse
south. There are two reasons for this:
• The angle of the roof is made to catch he
maximum amount of the sun's rays.
• If you use shadecloth, you will need to shade
only one side, instead of both sides. - Trees
Maple and oak trees can shade your greenhouse from the
afternoon summer sun. Keep in mind though; these trees
should not shade your greenhouse in the morning. - Water Source
Your greenhouse will need a reliable water source. Either
bring in a whole separate watering system, or have a hose
that can reach the entire length of your greenhouse. - Drainage
Good drainage is also very important for your greenhouse.
If you can, build your greenhouse above the surrounding
ground, so rainwater and irrigation water will drain away.
STRUCTURAL TYPES
There are several types of
greenhouses. This next set of tips
will go over some of the structural
options that there are. - Lean To
Lean-to greenhouses usually attach directly to a wall of
your home or garage. Here’s a picture: - Quonset Hut
Quonset hut greenhouses are sometimes referred to as
“hoop style.” They’re domed shaped, inexpensive and easy
to heat. Here’s a picture: - Gothic Arch
Gothic Arch greenhouses are a lot like the Quonset style,
except that the sides are usually straighter and the curved
roof is pointed on top. Here’s a picture: - Classic A-Frame
Classic A-Frame greenhouses have high, slanted sides.
They’re a bit harder to heat because of this. Here’s a
picture: - Modified A-Frame
Modified A-Frame greenhouses are different from the
classic, because they’re built with Gable roofs, which are
usually not as steep. Here’s a picture: - Barn Style
Barn-Style greenhouses, like their name implies, looks like
a barn. They have straight walls; therefore make very good
use of space. Here’s a picture: - Even-Span
An even-span greenhouse is a full-size structure that has
one end attached to another building. Here’s a picture:
SIMPLIFYING
This next set of tips will give you
some ideas on some shortcuts that
you can do to simplify your
greenhouse. - Cold Frames
If you don't have much space, cold frames are the way to
go. They are small, boxed in gardens, covered with glass or
Plexiglas. It’s like a miniature greenhouse. - Grow Racks
Grow Racks are the next size up from cold frames. They
usually come with a cover so that you can modify the air
flow, temperature, and humidity. Here’s an example: - Window Mounted
A window mounted greenhouse is just as it sounds: a
miniature greenhouse that’s mounted on a window. Here’s
an example: - Portable
Portable greenhouses range from 6 feet to over 50 feet.
You can often buy them as greenhouse kits that are easy to
assemble and disassemble. - Easy Drainage
There are some simple and economical ideas to make sure
your greenhouse has good drainage. For example, use any
of the following in the bottom of your boxes or pots:
• Cracked walnuts
• Marbles
• Broken clay pots
• Charcoal
• Gravel - Easy Trellises
You can make indoor trellises out of coat hangers. Get
creative and bend them into different shapes, like stars or
hearts, and put them into your pots.
TEMPERATURE BASED
Some people have greenhouses
that are based on temperature.
This next section will go over these
different types. - Cool
In a cool greenhouse, the temperatures stay around forty
degrees F. These greenhouses are great for seedlings or for
storing other plants that don’t need a constant high
temperature. - Warm
In a warm greenhouse, the temperatures are around fifty
degrees F. This means that most plants you grow outdoors
can survive through the winter in this environment. Many
types of houseplants also do well in warm greenhouses. - Hot
Hot greenhouses maintain a temperature of 70 degrees F or
warmer and are great for growing tropical plants. To have
a hot greenhouse, you’ll probably need special equipment,
such as grow lamps, to maintain their temperature. - Solar
Solar greenhouses collect and store solar energy. This
keeps your plants warm at night and when the weather is
cold and cloudy. - Passive Solar
Passive solar greenhouses combine solar energy with other
forms of heating to keep your greenhouse warm during the
coldest months. - Pit
A pit greenhouse is one where you grow your plants at
ground level, then dig a walkway underground in order to
have access to the plants.
COVERINGS
This next set of tips will discuss some
of the options that you have for
covering your greenhouse. - Glass
Glass was the original covering for greenhouses. It looks
great and is easy to maintain. Sometimes tempered glass is
frequently used instead because it is two or three times
stronger than regular glass. - Fiberglass
A fiberglass cover is great because it’s strong and
lightweight. Make sure it’s good quality fiberglass that is
clear and transparent. - Film Plastic
Film-plastic coverings are made of polyethylene (PE),
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), copolymers, and other materials.
It’s great because it’s fairly inexpensive, and lasts between
1 and 3 years. - Double Wall Plastic
Double wall plastic covers have two layers of rigid plastic
separated by webs. These covers are great because they
retain more heat, so you can save up to 30 percent on
energy. - Floor
The flooring is very important in your greenhouse. It’s a
good idea to make a walkway made of concrete, gravel, or
stone, down the middle of your greenhouse. The area
under the plants should be covered by several inches of
gravel for drainage of excess water.
OTHER STRUCTURAL TIPS
This next set of tips will give you
some more ideas on how to make
your greenhouse run smoothly. - Heating
You’ll need a good heating system in your greenhouse. You
can get some heat from the sun, but you’ll probably need
more than that, especially for a cold winter nights. A good
choice is a 220-volt circuit electric heater, as it’s clean and
efficient. - Cooling
Sometimes, especially during the heat of the summer, your
greenhouse will need a means to cool down. A good way to
do this is with a small evaporative cooler. They cool the air
increases humidity in your greenhouse. - Soil
The best soil that you can use in your greenhouse is just
commercial potting soil found at any garden store. Look for
things like perlite, sand, fir bark, peat moss, and
vermiculite on the bag. - Air Circulation
Circulation of air in your greenhouse is important. It’s a
good idea to install circulating fans in your greenhouse.
Even in the winter when you heat your greenhouse, the fan
will circulate that warm air and keep the temperatures
uniform. - Ventilation
Make sure your greenhouse has proper ventilation. A good
way to do this is to use roof vents on the ridge line with
side inlet vents. Then, use your fan(s) to circulate the air. - Controllers
It can be hard to maintain a successful greenhouse without
automatic controllers. The outside weather and
temperature can change so quickly, and you’d have to
monitor your greenhouse very close without an automated
system that controls temperature and moisture. - Water Systems
A lot of people hand water their plants by hand. This is
great for most greenhouse crops, but you need to be
available to water during the day. But many people work
during the day, so it’s a good idea to get an automatic
watering system. - Light and CO2
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and light are important in your
greenhouse. You can buy bottled CO2, dry ice, and sulfurfree
fuels as CO2 sources. - Workspace
Don’t forget to make room in your greenhouse for potting
plants and working on other projects. If you have limited
space, they have potting benches can fold down when
you’re not in using them. - Maintenance
Keep in mind that your greenhouse will have its own
maintenance requirements. Be sure to regularly disinfect
your greenhouse with diluted bleach, being very careful not
to get any on your plants.
WHAT PLANTS NEED
This next set of tips will go over 4 important
things that your plants in your greenhouse
will need. - Nitrogen
Nitrogen is needed for healthy leaf growth. Sources of
Nitrogen include:
• Bone Meal
• Activated Sludge.
• Bloodmeal
• Manure
• Cottonseed Meal - Potassium
Potassium is used in plats for cell division and strong stems,
and helps fight diseases. Sources of Potassium include:
• Manure
• Greensand
• Wood Ashes
• Compost - Phosphorus
Phosphorous makes for strong root systems and bright
flowers. Sources of Phosphorous include:
• Activated Sludge
• Cottonseed Meal
• Bone Meal
• Bloodmeal
• Rock Phosphate - Trace Elements
Other Trace Elements that your plants need include:
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Sulfur
• Zinc
Sources of these include:
• Oyster Shell Flour
• Seaweed
• Compost
GROWING TIPS
This last set of tips will give you some
ideas to help your plants grow healthy and
strong. - Watering
Be sure to water your greenhouse plants with room
temperature water, so you don’t injure your plants. If
you’re using tap water, let it stand for a day to get of the
chlorine. - Herbs
Herbs are great in greenhouses because many of them can
repel insects. Herbs also naturally inhibit microorganisms
that are good for us. - Egg Shells
To give your plants a boost, put some crushed egg shells
around them, on the soil. Another tip: dried coffee
grounds add acid to the ground. - Transplanting
If you transplant young plants, keep in mind that young
plants can experience transplant shock. This can set your
young plants back considerably. To avoid this, do your
transplanting on a sunny afternoon. Keep them covered in
your greenhouse, and uncover them a little more each day.
Protect them from the cold every night until they gradually
adapt. - Rinsing
Make sure anything edible from your greenhouse is properly
cleaned before you eat them. A great way to do this is to
put chicken wire over a bottomless wooden box. As you
rinse the vegetables with your garden hose, the dirt and
bugs will stay outdoors.
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