Getting Started with Greenhouse Gardening

Is a Greenhouse right for you?

Thinking about growing year round? Or maybe extend your gardening season? Interested in growing plants that normally don’t survive in your neck of the woods? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then a greenhouse might be for you.

A backyard greenhouse kit can provide a stable, warm environment where plants can be grown all year. They can also be used to get a jump start on the growing season, where plants, like tomatoes and peppers, are planted early and later moved out to the garden. Whatever your reason for wanting a greenhouse, there are several types, styles and costs for almost anyone who wants to start gardening!

 

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 Selecting Your Type of Greenhouse

1. The first thing to figure out when buying or building a greenhouse is how much growing space you will need. Keep in mind, that a greenhouse is a long-term investment. Your selection should be large enough to provide ample room for years to come. In many instances, greenhouse owners end up wanting more square footage than they originally thought. In addition, if you plan to grow vegetables, you’ll want maximum light and plenty of headroom, which is also good for hanging plants.

2. After deciding if building or buy a greenhouses suite your lifestyle best, next consider if a lean-to greenhouse or a freestanding will fit your needs!

 Attached. The big advantage with an attached or lean-to greenhouse is that you don’t need to build all four walls. Plus, you’ll have at least one sturdy, weight-bearing wall in place (usually your house or garage), so the three greenhouse sides can be built lighter. These structures are often less expensive than other greenhouse models and are good for growing herbs, seedlings, and some vegetables in places where space is at a premium. The disadvantage is, of course, that sunlight will be limited to only three sides.

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Freestanding. Freestanding greenhouses, of course, stand alone, which lets you place them wherever you want on your property (as long as the site is level and receives plenty of light). While initially more expensive than an attached greenhouse, they provide a lower cost per plant, since so many more plants can be grown in them.

In most areas across the country, a freestanding greenhouse will allow you to start plants much earlier in the growing season (January or February) and then, at first sign of frost, you can bring your plants in again to extend the growing season through October or November.

Freestanding greenhouses have the added advantage of being a sanctuary away from home. A relaxing place that you can go to get away for awhile. A place where no phones exist and you are surrounded only by the beauty of the flowers and plants that you are growing.

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Selecting your Greenhouse Location

Electricity and Water: The closer to the house or garden your greenhouse is located, the more you are likely to use it. Also, consider access to electricity and water — both of which you’ll probably need.

Sun: Look for a level area with maximum exposure to the sun. If possible, find a location where the greenhouse will be getting at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day during the winter. By orienting the greenhouse east to west, the largest side will get full southern sun exposure. If you don’t have an area with enough sun, grow lights can be added to compensate.

Type of Surface: A greenhouse can be placed on almost any surface, but there should be adequate drainage. To create an ideal surface, lay a layer of landscape cloth over the area to be used — this will keep the weeds out, but allow for drainage — and cover the cloth with 3 inches of 1/4-inch gravel.

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 Add Some Accessories

In addition to the frame of the greenhouse, there are many accessories that can go inside such as adding shelving, a mist system, a heating system, fans, a tool rack, hand tools, a potting bench and the list goes on.

Whether starting your own greenhouse is simply a new hobby, or a lifestyle change to become more self-sufficient there are countless possibilities depending on your commitment and budget. What’s stopping you from trying? Give greenhouse gardening a try!


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