Building your own small greenhouse can be a very enjoyable and educational experience as well as economical especially when you are clever with tolls.
Select a well-drained and level lot or ground for your greenhouse. If you will be using it mainly during the summer for propagation of plants, then you can situate it in a partially shaded area to reduce heat buildup.
The “north side” of your yard, with a big deciduous tree is an ideal location. If there is no partly or moderately shaded area available, you can make use of a white plastic or shade cloth for cover so as to regulate the extent of sunlight that reaches your greenhouse interior.
If you will be using the greenhouse for beginning transplants or that you will be growing plants till they mature, your greenhouse should be put up in an area will it will have the highest sun exposure. Likewise, it must be situated where there is good air drainage; do not construct your greenhouse in low areas which are surrounded by buildings or woods. Consider also convenient water access and electricity.
No matter what kind and greenhouse dimensions you choose, take into consideration the time that you will have for managing the system.
Never be overly ambitious, as there are several new owners of a greenhouse that often realize they can not spend sufficient time as they had believed they would. However, it is not often true that a greenhouse requires continuous attention.
The greenhouse environment may be sustained with very minimal maintenance using automated controls that operates the ventilation, heating, humidity, artificial lighting and watering, should there be no one to look after it. A hobbyist must take into consideration installing automatic control system and begin with plants that are easy to care.
There are many prefabricated greenhouses available in the market that you can purchase, or your greenhouse maybe built out of very simple frames, though make sure that only certified plumbers and electricians must install your automatic systems.
Kits are widely available in various prices, materials and styles, but if you are an eager “do-it-yourselfer”, your small greenhouse may be affordably constructed for a comparatively small amount of cash. Lean-tos type of greenhouse can be built leaning against a garage or a house taking advantage of the existing wall, though one has to consider sitting space.
The major advantage when you choose to purchase a greenhouse kit, many details like how to deal with humidity, ventilation and leakage have been already dealt with and considered in the pattern. Someone who is constructing the greenhouse himself must consider all these so as to avoid problems that can result to untimely failure and plant loss.
Here are tips to help you build and design your own small greenhouse.
1. Begin with an average design using materials that are easily available. Know your preferences. Attractive greenhouses may be constructed using recycled materials such as remilled wood, repurposed doors and window sashes.
2. Adapt to your area’s climate so as to make particular solutions that depends on your climate and location.
3. Plan a design that can use standard material sizes, most of which are available in “multiples of 4”.
4. Take into account your habits in gardening when planning the design. Growing vegetables is very different from growing vegetables.
5. You can set up timers and thermostats to regulate the precise heat or light needed.
6. Design and make a “back up” arrangement just in case of power failure or harsh weather conditions.
7. When you will be using wood, you can build the greenhouse from cedar, redwood or cypress, although regular wood treated and painted will also do. Make sure that you use wood that is pressure treated for framing, as it is an effective and economical.
8. Usually a greenhouse uses “glass-paned”, but polycarbonate plastic, fiberglass, plastic film and acrylic can be also used. Each of these materials has its disadvantages and advantages, so you need to research well to decide on one that is best for you.
9. Although permanent foundations are recommended to support the structure, flooring is really not necessary. Flooring poured with gravel up to a few inches deep will permit ample drainage. A flat stone or concrete walkway between seating will provides steady footing.
10. You greenhouse design should have enough room for tall plants and plants should only use half up to “two-thirds” of your greenhouse area and the rest is reserved for benches and your work area.
Have fun!
Greenhouses are becoming more and more popular to those people with “green thumb.” Even home gardeners are considering having one for their garden for the benefits that it gives. Since full-sized, regular greenhouses can really be expensive and costly to maintain, it may be impractical for these small home gardeners to build one.
But do not fret! It is because there are new portable and mini greenhouses now available for one to purchase and conveniently place in their gardens. These portable greenhouses are ideal for those who want to start their growing season early in the spring and extend it during the fall. These are also best for overwintering crops and are inexpensive too.
Because these greenhouses are portable, they are light in weight and compact for easy setup, taking down and transporting. Most of these portable greenhouse kits can be set up in 30 minutes or even less. And because they are compact, they can easily be stored in any convenient place in the garage or closet when it is not yet time to use them.
What portable greenhouses do?
Portable greenhouses, just like the traditional ones, trap heat coming from the sun during the day through its covering and keep the heat radiated by the soil during the night to keep the surroundings warm enough for the plants. When a portable greenhouse is closed, it also traps in moisture which helps reduce the frequency of watering the plants inside.
A portable greenhouse is ideal for early planting of seeds, protecting the tender plants from the cold climate, starting perennial seeds in summer, fast rooting because of the need to transplant, and growing different kinds of plants that are not commonly grown in the area. This can also be used to overwinter plants especially when heated.
Portable greenhouses becoming popular
Gardeners are being continuously interested in these portable greenhouses and increase in sales of these products is evident. For one, these portables take no time to set up to get them going right away. Taking them down when it is not time to use them is also hassle-free. A greenhouse is not really needed to be up all year round especially for small-time plant growers. Thus, mini and portable greenhouses are ideal for their needs.
For first timers, portable greenhouse is also recommended since this will give them the feel of having a real greenhouse before they consider building a real, full-sized one. And these portables are also inexpensive and less costly to maintain. This allows for them to jump-start their gardening career without having to spend a lot of money to buy all those greenhouse supplies that are required for the big ones. Also, installation is significantly quicker and easier than permanent ones so no additional or advanced tools are required.
These portable greenhouses come in different shapes and sizes. It can be as little as a small tent that fits only 2 plant shelves. There are some that look like portable closets that are around 6 feet tall. And there are also bigger ones as tall as 7 to 8 feet and are designed like a dome. These big ones can fit up to 3 to 4 bigger shelves inside.
Gardening Tips
Weather can really be unpredictable. So when a sudden cold snap occurs, burlap sacks filled with leaves can be thrown over the sash on the frame or covering during the night to prevent too much cold to get inside. Bales of straw or hay may also be stacked against the frame.
For extreme summer sunlight protection, some sort of shading can be used to prevent plant damage. Examples of covering that can be used as a shade are knitted shade covers, old bamboo blinds, and lath.
Plants inside the greenhouse should also be watered as early in the day as possible. This is to allow for quick drying of the soil before it gets dark. Improperly managed drainage and keeping the soil wet can pose problems later on and may not be a good gardening experience for beginners.
Whether you are a novice or is already an experienced gardener, having a portable greenhouse may be beneficial to your gardening needs. Being able to transport your greenhouse in a convenient and more strategic location is always possible with this portable version. Maintaining and taking proper care for this portable greenhouse is also not as costly and demanding than the permanent, full-sized ones.
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