Greenhouse supplies, Small, and Portable
Greenhouses have been around since the Roman Empire. In 30 A.D. the Romans built the first recorded greenhouse for their emperor Tiberius who was especially fond of cucumbers and demanded them year-round. Greenhouses allow for an extended growing season. Plants can be started earlier in the spring and grow late into the fall. A well-controlled greenhouse can even produce vegetables in the cold winter months.
A greenhouse creates a microenvironment. Within the structure is a complete agricultural system. Irrigation, plant beds, heating and cooling are all contained within. The enclosed structures are also ideal for hydroponic systems.
In 1599 French botanist Jules Charles designed the first modern greenhouse. It was a glass building designed to study plants and their growth cycles. As the popularity spread the French began to use the buildings to grow orange trees indoors and dubbed them orangeries.
It wasn’t until 1948 in America that greenhouses became a viable option for the commercial production of food. This was due to the creation of polyethylene, a thin plastic film that could be used in mass quantities. Currently the largest greenhouse is in the UK, called Project Eden it covers over 720 yards.
Having a scaled down greenhouse in the backyard is great for hobbyists and those looking to produce their own fruits and vegetables. Not much is needed to build a small or portable greenhouse. Greenhouse kits are widely available, but they can also be built with items from any local hardware store.
To start, a base is needed. A good starter size is a six foot by three foot building. A concrete slab can be poured, but a drainage system will need to be installed and concrete can sometimes be slippery. A better option is a framed base of pebble gravel; this allows water to drain and creates traction. Portable greenhouses don’t necessarily need a base; just make sure the structure is secured to the ground properly.
A frame will be the next step. Wooden frames are beautiful but can be expensive. Wood is also easiest to attach the covering material to. Piping such as steel, PVC, and copper can be used. This works best if the cover is polyethylene. Acrylic sheets can be secured to a wooden frame or a square steel frame, but is difficult to secure to piping.
The covering of the greenhouse will obviously need to be a transparent material to allow sunlight and heat through. Glass allows one hundred percent of the light in. Sometimes the glass may even magnify the light which can make the greenhouse harder to cool. Glass is also heavy and breakable so it’s really only an option for a larger, permanent structure.
Acrylic is lighter and less likely to break. It allows less light than glass, but still a sufficient amount. Acrylic can be easily cut and shaped. Some scratching can occur, dulling the surface so it will need to be replaced every five years or so.
Polyethylene film is cheap and easy to install. The film is not durable and can be punctured or torn. This material is a good option for portable, temporary greenhouses. If it is used on a permanent greenhouse the material will likely need to be replaced every year.
Vents should be installed and heating and cooling options should be discussed. Certain plants require certain temperatures. Tropical plants need to be in a hot house with temps between sixty-five and eighty degrees. Most vegetables and garden flowers need a moderate temperature of fifty-six to sixty degrees. Starting seedlings and cool weather plants such as snow peas and spinach grow in temperatures at forty-five degrees.
Some other tips to ensure success include using a shade cover in the hot summer months to help save on cooling. Plants tend to dry out more quickly in greenhouses so make sure plants stay hydrated and cooled. Some plants need insect pollination to produce fruits or vegetables, allow access for those insects. Bumblebees are a great friend to greenhouses.
Having a greenhouse is a rewarding experience, but hard work is involved. Research and diligence will keep the plants happy and keep the produce drawer in the fridge full. Happy growing!
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