SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Gardening
Everyday
Gardening Tips & Advice
Greenhouse
Gardening Basics
Greenhouses come in a wide variety of different
styles and types. Each is suited to a special need or want
and degree of seriousness for greenhouse gardening. For the
beginning greenhouse gardener there are smaller versions available
that come in the form of portable greenhouses, a hobby greenhouse,
or mini greenhouses. There is also the option to build your
greenhouse from scratch with a foundation.
What
exactly is a greenhouse? A greenhouse is a structure
that creates a protected environment for plants to grow in,
thus extending the productive lives of plants. Greenhouse gardening
is a fun and functional way to garden all year around. You
can pick tomatoes in the winter. Grow herbs and vegetables
and start seedlings and cuttings. Some of the reasons to start
a greenhouse:
- Carrying over garden plants to be used as “parent “ plants
next season
- Getting an early start for tender plants started from seed
- Increasing the possibilities of a greater variety and continuous
supply
- Easier culture of small vegetables for winter use
- To propagate and experiment with various plants as a hobby
- Develop new varieties of plants
As with most projects, begin your greenhouse gardening with
a plan. You want to consider the type of greenhouse you want
(a cold house or a heated greenhouse) and the construction
and type of foundation that is required. What type of equipment
you will need, covering for your greenhouse, and what type
of watering, humidity control, heating, and air circulation
systems that will be best suited for your needs.
A
cold house is the most uncomplicated of greenhouses. This
type of greenhouse is not equipped with any artificial means
of heat therefore the growing season is shortened when the
outside temperature drops below freezing. Frost sensitive plants
will not grow between late fall and the middle of spring unless
you provide heat, which of course would not then be a cold
house. A cold house does lengthen the growing season from that
of gardening outdoors by trapping the heat from the sun throughout
the day. In addition, it provides a cozy respite for you to
enjoy your gardening away from the elements of wind and rain;
it also protects plants from these same elements too. Monitoring
the temperature of your greenhouse is very important. If the temperature inside your greenhouse becomes too hot,
your plants will wilt and die. On the other hand, lower temperatures
can decrease the vigor and growth of your plants. Try to develop
a daily schedule that maintains the best possible temperature.
It does not take much to destroy all the work you put into
your greenhouse; one hour of intense heat is all it takes.
It is better to leave your greenhouse open, and have it a bit
cool, than to have your plants die from the heat. For the first
few days, check the temperature of your greenhouse several
times. If you necessary, open the doors more and/or provide
more vents to maintain desired temperature control. During
the late afternoon or early evening, when the temperature has
cooled, close up your greenhouse. This is a great time to water
your plants and flats if they require it.
If you begin greenhouse gardening with a cold house, once
you install a heater you will then be able to enjoy a true
greenhouse. When you do this, you will transform your love
of gardening into a year-round hobby. To grow greenhouse plants
throughout the winter the minimum temperature is 45 degrees.
Unlike gardening outside where the rain waters the plants,
it does not rain inside a greenhouse. Watering greenhouse plants
is not simply taking a hose and saturating the soil. Within
the soil, there are small open-air pores that roots depend
on for providing them with nutritious gases. When you water
your plants, these small pores fill up with water; which then
causes suffocation for the plants roots. When the roots suffocate,
the plants wither and it is very common for most gardeners
when they see this to water the plants further thus causing
further suffocation. Remember the watering needs inside a greenhouse
are different because the environment is enclosed a majority
of the time and a fair amount of moisture becomes trapped lessening
the amount of water required. A good rule for watering is to
check the soil and if it is dry then add water. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
> Home
> Gardening
Articles: Main Page
|
