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Another eBookWholesaler Publication

The Complete Guide To

Building Your Own Greenhouse

By Max Clarke

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John Reese

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

Page 2 of 123

Please Read This First

This Electronic book is Copyright © 2007 eBookwholesaler. All

rights are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced,

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Disclaimer

The advice contained in this material might not be suitable for

everyone. The author provided the information only as a broad

overview by a lay person about an important subject. The

author used information from sources believed to be reliable

and from his own personal experience, but he neither implies

nor intends any guarantee of accuracy. The results you obtain

will depend largely on your own efforts and other factors

beyond the knowledge and control of the author, publisher

and distributors. No particular result or outcome is promised

or guaranteed in any way. New theories and practices are

constantly being developed in this area.

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

Page 3 of 123

The author, publisher and distributors never give legal,

accounting, medical or any other type of professional advice.

The reader must always seek those services from competent

professionals that can apply the latest technical information

and review their own particular circumstances.

The author, publisher and distributors particularly disclaim any

liability, loss, or risk taken by individuals who directly or

indirectly act on the information contained herein. All readers

must accept full responsibility for their use of this material.

All pictures used in this book are for illustrative purposes only.

No endorsement of the content by any person in the photos is

implied, nor should it be assumed.

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

Page 4 of 123

About the Author

Max Clarke has been a keen amateur gardener for several

years.

He loves building things to help him with his hobby and has

actually made several small greenhouses.

He is grateful to his friends, both amateur gardeners and

commercial growers that have shared some of their

experiences and knowledge to help make his gardening and

his book better.

He says that everyone should invest some time to create and

maintain their own garden even if they only have a small area

available.

A small garden is within almost everyone’s budget and there

are many rewards.

You will only really understand what he means when you start

eating fresh, flavorful and inexpensive fruit and vegetables

that you grew yourself.

But Max also gets great joy by sharing the produce and

flowers that he grows and the knowledge from his years of

experience as a gardener with his friends, family and, now,

with the readers of his first book.

Copyright © 2007 eBookwholesaler All Rights Reserved 4 -

"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

Page 5 of 123

Table of Contents

Please Read This First ........................................................................ 2

Disclaimer ................................................................................................................ 2

About the Author ................................................................................. 4

Table of Contents ................................................................................ 5

1. What is a Greenhouse?................................................................... 8

2. Uses of a Greenhouse................................................................... 12

Innovative Uses of Old Greenhouses Include: .............................................. 13

3. Greenhouse Types and Styles ..................................................... 14

Greenhouses for Your Area.............................................................. 20

How to Choose a Greenhouse ......................................................... 21

Placement of Your Greenhouse........................................................................... 21

Choice of Greenhouse.......................................................................................... 22

Framing Materials ................................................................................................. 24

5. Buying a Greenhouse ................................................................... 26

Greenhouse Interiors ....................................................................................... 27

Ten Steps to Building a Greenhouse............................................... 31

Materials for Building Your Greenhouse:........................................................... 32

Steps for Building Your Greenhouse.................................................................. 33

Do You Need a Customized Greenhouse?...................................... 35

Building Your Own Greenhouse ...................................................... 36

Important Factors .............................................................................. 40

Planning a Greenhouse Business.................................................... 41

Essential Steps in Planning Your Greenhouse Business.............. 43

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

Page 6 of 123

Which Type of Greenhouse?............................................................ 47

Greenhouse Accessories ..................................................................................... 47

Top Greenhouse Kits ........................................................................ 49

Planning Your Greenhouse Location .............................................. 52

The Best Frame for Your Greenhouse............................................. 56

Choose the Covering for Your Greenhouse.................................... 59

Footings, Flooring and Foundations ............................................... 62

The Footings of Your Greenhouse ...................................................................... 63

Flooring of Your Greenhouse .............................................................................. 64

Selecting the Right Lights ................................................................ 66

Light Requirements .............................................................................................. 66

Types of Lights...................................................................................................... 67

Cooling, Ventilation and Your Greenhouse .................................... 70

Cooling and Ventilation of Greenhouses by Plants .......................................... 70

Cooling and Ventilation by Blocking Sunlight ................................................... 72

Ventilation Equipment .......................................................................................... 72

Automated Cooling and Ventilation Techniques ............................................... 75

Understanding Heating Methods, Systems, Sources, and

Distribution ........................................................................................ 77

Heating Systems and Methods ............................................................................ 77

Fuel Sources for Heating Systems...................................................................... 80

Popular Fuels: ................................................................................................... 80

Heat Distribution inside Greenhouse.................................................................. 81

Calculating Energy Requirements for Heating Systems................ 84

Energy Requirements for Your Heating System................................................ 85

Watering Systems and Insulation Techniques ............................... 88

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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Greenhouse Watering Systems ........................................................................... 88

Insulation Techniques in Greenhouses.............................................................. 90

Basic Greenhouse Care .................................................................... 93

Essential Accessories and Equipments for Maintenance ................................ 93

Greenhouse Maintenance Checklist ................................................ 97

Maintenance Checklist for Your Greenhouse .................................................... 98

Getting the Most from Your Cooling and Ventilation Systems ... 101

Maintaining the Heating Systems .................................................. 105

Tips for Maintenance of Heating Systems........................................................ 105

Control Greenhouse Pests and Diseases ..................................... 108

Cleaning Materials and Tools for a Small Greenhouse .............................. 108

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Greenhouse................................................... 109

Greenhouse Accessories Guide .................................................... 112

Know Your Equipment and Supplies............................................. 116

Essential Greenhouse Supplies .................................................................... 116

Cold Frames and Hotbeds .............................................................. 119

Cold Frames......................................................................................................... 119

Hotbeds ................................................................................................................ 121

Facts about Famous Greenhouses................................................ 122

Copyright © 2007 eBookwholesaler All Rights Reserved 7 -

"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

Page 8 of 123

Part-I: Introduction

1. What is a Greenhouse?

A greenhouse is a small house-shaped structure made of

glass or plastic. It is designed to maintain optimum

temperature and moisture inside it to help grow a wider

variety of plants than the local climate will normally support

and to protect them from any extreme weather.

Certain gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, water

vapor, methane and nitrous oxide do not allow heat to escape

back into the atmosphere. This quality makes these gases

popular in commercial greenhouses.

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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Greenhouse with Geraniums (Pelargonium sp)

All greenhouses function on the same principle; they store

heat from the sun. The glass or plastic panels of greenhouse

reduce the amount of heat escaping while allowing light to

penetrate. This increases the temperature within the

greenhouse and keeps your plants warmer in winter.

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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Lettuce seedlings grown in a greenhouse before planting

Greenhouses range from a small structure for keeping in your

terrace garden to as big as a city building. Their glass panels

are grouped according to their transmission rate. The energy

trapped within greenhouses heats up both soil and plants.

They prevent or reduce infrared radiation, convection of gases

and arrest electromagnetic radiation too.

Greenhouses are used for growing vegetables, fruits, flowers,

and even crops like tobacco. You can grow flowers and

vegetables in late winter in greenhouses, then transplant them

outside in early spring.

These houses have meant an increase in artificial pollination

although using bees is preferred when practical.

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You have to maintain specific levels of humidity and heat

within your greenhouses and control any potential influx of

pests and associated diseases.

You can irrigate the plants in greenhouses if the need arises.

The increased temperature is essential if you try growing

summer vegetables in winter.

Greenhouses maybe used to protect plants from blizzards and

dust storms too. Such greenhouse cultivation proves useful in

deserts, Arctic wastelands and other land areas with poor

fertility.

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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2. Uses of a Greenhouse

A greenhouse helps you grow your plants at regulated

temperatures and humidity levels. It is easier to regulate

temperatures within small greenhouses. Greenhouses are not

necessarily hot houses. They allow the required amount of

heat to be present within so that plants do not suffer from

extreme heat or extreme cold. Having a greenhouse need not

be a luxury. With a little persistence and innovation, you can

have a greenhouse anywhere.

Coriander seedlings in a greenhouse

The Main Uses of a Greenhouse are –

• Helping small and tender plants to grow from seeds

earlier than usual

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• Grow plants within indoor environment in winter months

• Helps carry forward garden plants to use as stock in the

next season

• Increases the variety of plants and blooms

• Allows you to experiment with new varieties of flowering

plants and vegetables too

• Helps cultivation of winter vegetables in pots

• Helps maintain a continuous supply of vegetables all

year through

• Helps develop your hobby of growing plants even if

there is a space crunch

Innovative Uses of Old Greenhouses Include:

• Bus-stop for children in a cold winter

• Proves to be a garbage bin without the possibility of

animals or pests creating a nuisance with open garbage

• Useful as a pottery room for children

• Useful as a storehouse for holding skateboards, bikes,

ramps, and other things

• Can be used as a hot water tub for bathing

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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Part-II: Greenhouse Selection

3. Greenhouse Types and Styles

There are many different styles and types of greenhouses.

Greenhouse with Geraniums

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Some of the more popular are:

A Freestanding Greenhouse: This greenhouse has an

independent structure, not attached to your home. It has

independent sidewalls, end walls and a gable roof. You can

make it in any size, shape and style that you like and that can

get planning permission for.

The amount of sunlight penetrating your greenhouse depends

on various factors in its construction. You could an need extra

heating system if the free-standing greenhouse is completely

separate from a heated building.

This freestyle greenhouse spreads over seventeen to eighteen

feet. It can accommodate two walks, two side benches, and a

center bench.

Business and Commerce Use

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An Attached Greenhouse: These greenhouses are connected

directly to your main building. Such greenhouses receive heat

radiated from your home. Additionally, you can arrange for

any necessary heat and light infrastructure from your home

too. Also, be sure to take into consideration any special

building restrictions that exist before constructing an attached

greenhouse.

There are different types of attached greenhouses, including

lean-to, even-span or window-mounted.

Attached, lean-to greenhouses lean against the building.

They are supported because one of the sides is attached to the

house. Lean-to greenhouses may have single or double-row

plant benches with a total width between seven to twelve feet.

There is no absolute restriction on the length; it can be as long

as the building. This type of greenhouse can get its water,

electricity and heat from your home itself.

However, there are a few disadvantages too. These lean-to

greenhouses may be constricted because of limited availability

of space, light, and ventilation.

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A Commercial User

Attached, Even-Span Greenhouses are an almost

independent structure except that one end is attached to the

house.

This type of greenhouse allows greater flexibility in arranging

plants. It can easily accommodate two to three rows of plants.

Attached, even-span greenhouses may be costlier to heat as

they are larger. The exposed area of glass is likely to be

greater.

Attached, Window-Mounted Greenhouses may be either a

single unit or arranged in a stack on windows. You can

construct a greenhouse to fit into your window by removing

your regular window with simple tools and fit your greenhouse

into the window space. You can use your imagination to

fabricate your greenhouse in any shape you desire.

Portable Greenhouses: These greenhouses are available in

many different sizes ranging from six feet to fifty feet in length and ten to a hundred feet in width. The largest of these are

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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still often called portable even though they are not portable in

the true sense of the term.

Some of these use polythene sheeting and many have metal

frames.

Commercial greenhouse

There are various portable greenhouse kits available. You can

assemble and re-assemble them to fit changed circumstances.

These portable greenhouses help you enjoy your hobby of

gardening at any place and throughout the year.

When you purchase a portable greenhouse, check if it can

withstand the most extreme temperatures and other weather

conditions you can expect to experience in your area.

Permanent Greenhouses: These greenhouses are the most

expensive greenhouses. They are more durable and can

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions.

Enthusiastic gardeners can assemble a permanent greenhouse

to suit their individual needs and preferences in many shapes

and sizes from a number of self-assembly kits that are

available.

Some of the most popular styles include:

• Lean-to - leaning on to the main building

• Classic A-frame with slanting sides

• Modified A-Frame with gable roofs and straight walls

• Quonset Hut with round walls and hoop style

• Gothic Arch with straight sides and curved roof pointed

on top, and

• Barn-Style greenhouses

Conservatory greenhouse

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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Greenhouses for Your Area

Cool Greenhouses maintain temperatures of about 40

degrees farenheit and require less insulation and specialized

structure than some other types. They are helpful for storing

seedlings and a fairly small number of plants.

Warm Greenhouses have temperature around fifty degrees

farenheit. According to outside weather conditions, these

greenhouses could require additional heating equipment such

as lamps. Houseplants flourish in this type of greenhouses.

Hot Greenhouses have temperatures around seventy

degrees. You need special lamps to maintain these higher

temperature levels within them.

Pit Greenhouses sets the houseplants at ground level. Then, you dig a below ground-level walkway about three feet deep

and line it with plywood. This gives you easy access to your

greenhouse plants.

Solar Greenhouses can be of almost any shape or style.

They must be located to collect the most solar energy

available to provide warmth to your plants at night. You may

need to provide additional heat too.

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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How to Choose a Greenhouse

Your choice of greenhouse depends on your own desires.

Before deciding on any particular greenhouse, analyze the

environment, your budget and the type of plants you want to

grow.

Placement of Your Greenhouse

Greenhouses should be open to sunlight. The presence of

deciduous trees is an asset. These trees provide necessary

shade during summer and remain bare during winter. This

allows all available sunlight to penetrate into your greenhouse

when it is most beneficial.

Greenhouse interior

Protect your greenhouse from extreme weather conditions like

high winds and high variations in temperature. Trees could

prove useful in blocking high winds but will block some

sunlight too.

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The ideal placement of greenhouses should be to receive

sufficient sunlight while remaining safe from high and

devastating winds.

Greenhouses should be at a higher level than surrounding

areas to allow easy drainage of precipitation and groundwater.

Place your greenhouse where you, any visitors or customers

and also vehicles have easy access. This also ensures easy

supply of electricity, water, and heat too.

Choice of Greenhouse

Greenhouses are available in different shapes and sizes. You

have to decide the best size and shape for your situation and

desires. Think carefully what accessories and building

materials are necessary for your greenhouse.

Size: Preferably, choose a greenhouse at least one size larger than you feel currently necessary. This helps you

accommodate more plants in your greenhouse, should the

opportunity to get them arise and also give you scope for

further expansion too.

Portable greenhouses need to be compact while lean-to

greenhouses can be of whatever size would be appropriate to

the site you have available.

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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Hops growing in a commercial greenhouse

Type: Choose between freestanding and lean-to greenhouses.

Freestanding greenhouses are independent structures that

need their own support. Lean-to greenhouses are partly

supported by a building wall and are also usually easier and

less expensive to heat.

Materials: Materials that you use in your greenhouse

determine the effectiveness of the insulation, amount of light

available, and the amount and cost of maintenance required.

Paneling Materials for your greenhouse may include

Polyethylene, Polycarbonate, Glass, PVC or acrylic.

Polyethylene is lightweight and cost-effective. It allows easy transmission of light and remains stable for two to five years.

Normally, there is a UV-resistant coating for extra protection.

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Polycarbonate is very durable and inexpensive. It is a very effective insulator and causes drastic reduction in costs of

insulating a greenhouse against extreme temperatures.

Glass is the most durable of all paneling materials and forms an airtight structure. This helps to prevent high winds from

causing some problems.

Acrylic is a lightweight and inexpensive paneling material.

Combine it with polycarbonate roof paneling to receive greater

insulation and better diffusion of sunlight.

PVC greenhouses are easy to transport and useful for small

areas.

Framing Materials

Framing materials for your greenhouse may include aluminum,

galvanized steel, plastic and wood.

Aluminum is probably the most durable; it does not

deteriorate due to sun exposure or precipitation. It is a good

conductor of heat and cold.

Galvanized Steel is currently inexpensive and provides a

strong structural frame for your greenhouse. It allows greater

sun exposure. However, it could rust with prolonged use.

Wood is very lasting and allows easy mounting of hooks and

other greenhouse fittings. Most wood deteriorates due to

exposure to humidity and insects although cedar and redwood

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cope well and produce a more stable structure because of

their weight.

Plastics are usually relatively inexpensive and easily portable as well as being more energy efficient than metal frames.

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5. Buying a Greenhouse

Greenhouse gardening is gaining popularity because

greenhouses help you to grow your plants throughout the

year.

Empty greenhouse

Before purchasing your greenhouse, check on these factors:

Materials: Normally, greenhouse frames are either wood or

aluminum. Wood requires extra maintenance like coating with

wood preservative or painting. Bubble plastic sheeting can

prove helpful when using wooden frames. Aluminum does not

have any maintenance costs.

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Access: Your greenhouse should have easy access. Sliding

doors are good, providing a simple way to enter and manage

your greenhouse. Doors should have a width of 2' 6".

Siting Your Greenhouse: Siting of your greenhouse should

be to let it receive maximum sunshine for the better part of

the day. Placing your greenhouse close to your house can

ensure easier access in all types of weather.

Choose a greenhouse that can fit close to your house. This

may bring down electricity and watering costs too.

Greenhouse Interiors

Before purchasing your greenhouse, check its interiors. The

paths in it should, ideally, be about two feet six inches in

width. They should be firm to reduce the chances of slipping.

Staging should be at the correct height for you to arrange pots

on shelves with a minimum of bending.

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Greenhouse with Dahlias

Heating: Options for heating your greenhouse could be

through electricity, butane gas or paraffin. The minimum

temperature necessary for your greenhouse is 45-47F. This

helps grow almost all kinds of plants in any season.

The electricity supply should be sufficient to ensure adequate

ventilation and warming of the soil too.

Electric Heaters available in greenhouses could be fans or

tubular types. Fan heaters use more electricity. However, they

encourage greater ventilation, especially in summer.

Paraffin Heaters offer a cheap alternative for heating your greenhouse. They provide a lot of heat but also generate lot of

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

Page 29 of 123

water vapor. This could cause condensation, if the greenhouse

has a polythene cover. If you opt for a paraffin heater, fix it

outside your greenhouse to prevent circulation of its harmful

fumes within the structure.

Ventilation: This is a very important factor to consider when purchasing your greenhouse. Most greenhouses have roof

windows for hot air to escape. Cool air comes in through side

windows or doors. Some greenhouses have automatic

ventilators that open and close according to the temperatures

within.

A thermostatically-controlled extractor fan can prove most

effective to ventilate your greenhouse. These are easily

installed and maintain continuous movement of air, thereby

reducing condensation. But, they are relatively expensive.

Shading: Shading is essential to maintain the necessary

coolness within your greenhouse to prevent excessive heat

entering the greenhouse and maintain the ideal temperature

within it.

Refrain from using shading on cloudy days. Roller blinds could

prove to be the best choice.

If the shades you are considering have a painted finish, check

that they are not likely to have any negative aspects because

of the heat over a period of time.

Watering: Easy watering is the most essential requirement

for your greenhouse. Manual watering with a plastic can that

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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has a long spout can prove easiest and best for a fairly small

greenhouse.

Refrain from powerfully squirting water through hoses as it

could lead to erosion of your expensive compost.

There are various semi-automatic and automatic watering

systems available. They are a significant investment and you

need to discuss the alternatives thoroughly before buying.

Trickle Irrigation supplies water to all plants according to predetermined rates. A capillary set-up allows plants to soak in as much water as they need.

Whatever form of irrigation you choose, ensure that all plants

within your greenhouse are able to receive sufficient water.

Check the system, especially the fine nozzles etc., regularly.

Hygiene: Hygiene is very essential in your greenhouse. Clean all parts of your greenhouse with a disinfectant once a year.

Check all plants for pests and any disease symptoms

regularly.

You might use any of several suggested pest control choices

available across different chemical suppliers but keep in touch

with the latest regulations on user safety and also with-

holding periods for any chemical you apply to edible plants.

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Ten Steps to Building a Greenhouse

Building a greenhouse does not have to cost a fortune.

Planning to minimize your set-up and recurring costs will be

well worthwhile.

Your greenhouse could provide a superb environment with

sufficient and appropriate sunlight for your plants. Early

morning and late evening sunlight is the best. You should

provide shade from the afternoon sun for your plants.

Building a greenhouse

A southeast location should be considered. The east-side

location could receive maximum sunshine from November to

March and this can help plants start with their food production

earlier than usual.

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Greenhouse planning also depends on the type and variety of

plants you want to grow. Site selection for your greenhouse

should include planning to have sufficient drainage to

accommodate the heaviest type of rain to be expected in your

location. If there is insufficient drainage around your

greenhouse, think about placing it on a higher level so that

excessive water can drain away more easily.

Lettuces in a greenhouse

Your greenhouse should also have sufficient space to keep all

accessories and for you or your staff to do your potting and

other gardening work safely and without stress.

Materials for Building Your Greenhouse:

1) Fifteen 5/8" x 6' lengths

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2) Four foot lengths of schedule 40 PVC

3) Seven twenty foot pieces of schedule 40 PVC with a size

3/16 drilled hole at ten feet

4) Eighty pieces of 2 x 4 wood

5) Sixty 2” fence staples

6) Four eight-foot long fence posts

7) UV polyethylene 40” x 24 feet

Creating a beautiful greenhouse

Steps for Building Your Greenhouse

1) Erect the six feet pieces within a distance of four feet in marked area. Allow protrusion of 48” from the ground.

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2) Use the fence staples to nail a 2 x 6 runner on rebar

stakes.

3) Put twenty-foot rebar stakes on PVC pipes. You may

need another person to hold one end while you do the

other end. All drilled holes should be on a line parallel to

the ground.

4) Slide PVC pipes over rebar stakes, making sure there

are no sharp ends or rough pipes.

5) Carefully slide wire through all PVC holes and along the eight PVC pipes forming the roof.

6) You also have to wire together the four-foot PVC pipe

lengths with copper or baling wire. Wrapped wire can

force PVC pipe inward.

7) Use vertical 4x4 foot posts to construct end walls. Check that your end walls are vertically straight.

8) The door should be tight to prevent wind from entering

the greenhouse possibly causing problems.

9) Fix nails on the horizontal posts and push them into the ground.

10)

With help from others, slide the plastic over the

cage and secure the ends by nailing it.

Your greenhouse is ready for setting up the internal climate.

Then, you can add any of your own innovations.

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Do You Need a Customized Greenhouse?

A customized greenhouse is specific to your needs and

specifications. Many people do not like ready-made

greenhouses, as they do not fit into their ideas and choices.

There are other factors that play a role in having a customized

greenhouse. If the available site for your greenhouse is not

even, you need to get a specially adapted greenhouse to fit

the site.

Flowerpots in a greenhouse

Some could need a greenhouse that can be expanded

regularly to accommodate more plants. Of course, if you are

focused on commercial growing, prefabricated greenhouses

would probably be a poor choice.

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Building Your Own Greenhouse

Building your own greenhouse has its advantages. You can

accommodate your preferences of size, shape and fitting out.

You can design the placements of your plants for convenience

and good work-flow.

More flowerpots in a greenhouse

The first consideration is the size of your greenhouse. More

space means that you should be able to arrange all plants as

you want them but it will increase the setting-up and ongoing

maintenance costs.

Your greenhouse should be able to cope with the temperatures

in your area. If you live in a hot, tropical climate, the

greenhouse could require good cooling facilities and you need

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adequate heating systems to keep your plants warm

throughout the cold winter months if you live in a cold climate.

Growing tomatoes in a commercial greenhouse

Maintaining necessary heat and warmth requires adequate

electricity. Check into available electrical voltage, cost per

KWH. Also, look into other options for producing the necessary

warmth, like LP Gas, Natural Gas, Wood, and any other

options that are available economically in your area.

Next, check water quality in the area before starting your

customized greenhouse.

The next step is to make an approximate sketch of your

proposed greenhouse with all imaginable details. Also sketch a

little of the exterior like roads, buildings, gas lines, trees,

electrical poles, hills etc.

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The important part of building your customized greenhouse is

to decide first on the type of crop you plan to grow. You can

also try growing multiple crops and vegetables.

Greenhouse with Garden Balsam

Further customization of your greenhouse to your preferred

style might include vented or ground-to-ground enhancements

or changing the type of covering for your greenhouse to

polycarbonate, double poly, or something else.

Building as big a greenhouse as your goals and resources

permit may be the best option. You will inevitably accumulate

more plants and the list of varieties could also start growing.

The extra space within your greenhouse that you might have

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been unsure that you would need when you started could help

accommodate your growing brood.

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Important Factors

1] Ventilation is a key factor for maintaining your

greenhouse and the health of the plants which it protects.

Sufficient ventilation will help to keep your greenhouse free of

pests and diseases that could harm your plants extensively.

2] Educate yourself about proper disinfecting plans to maintain proper hygiene within your greenhouse.

3] Covering of your greenhouse should, ideally, be glass.

Although it is the best, it is also the most expensive. Plastic

sheets may be used but do not last long. A cheaper alternative

to glass is fiberglass or similar rigid plastics. You can fix the

fiberglass on a straight or curved surface of your greenhouse.

Some fiberglass is UV resistant too.

4] Flooring of your greenhouse could be concrete or even

bare ground. You can make a gravel walkway or think of other

innovative techniques to make the floor of your greenhouse

both serviceable and easy on the eye.

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Planning a Greenhouse Business

A Greenhouse business is similar to any other type of

business and requires a similar amount of commitment, risk-

taking ability and capital.

You need to gather:

1) Finance

2) Experienced staff, full or part-time

3) Materials for constructing your greenhouse

4) Plants

5) Pest control products, and ….

6) Reliable and economical sources of the above

You need to devote sufficient time and effort in caring for your

greenhouse. It’s pretty much a 365 days of the year and all

seven days of the week business too.

Essentially, planning and running your greenhouse business

will demand extensive passion and a strong desire to excel.

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Tomatoes growing In a greenhouse

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Essential Steps in Planning

Your Greenhouse Business

Goal Identification: Starting a greenhouse business could be due to your interest in gardening, but it is impossible to

prosper in business if you do not have a sure and secure

profit-making objective. You must analyze costs very closely.

Also, gain as much knowledge through discussions with others

that are more experienced in the greenhouse industry to find:

The best sources of products, supplies and finance

The most suitable varieties of each type of plant you grow or

sell;

Suitable gross profit margins to help through the lean times.

Those who may help by joining you to save on advertising,

bulk ordering and trading products with you when one of you

has orders which they cannot fill from stock.

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Boxed and suspended flowers in a commercial greenhouse

Market Study: This forms the core of any business. Study

market demand for crops you intend growing. Study your

competitors and identify opportunities which they are not

exploiting. Of course, there may be good, but not obvious

reasons why they do not offer certain varieties which you are

asked for – they may avoid refunds and complaints by not

selling a particular plant because they know it may need

special care that their customers are not able or willing to

give.

Writing a Business Plan: Draft your greenhouse business

plan to carefully review all facets of your business. Don’t try to do this in just one session. You will think of some things once

you’ve stocked your sub-conscious with the facts you’ve

gathered and you will need to review all your assumptions

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when you have discussed your goals with professional advisers

and people that are experienced in the industry.

Site Selection: The minimum area necessary for your

greenhouse is probably at least two acres. If you are planning

a commercial greenhouse, you will need as wide as possible

an expanse of free land.

Carefully check accessibility to the site of your proposed

greenhouse both legally and by carefully checking the whole

area. Check with local government about any proposed

changes or new developments already seeking approval.

Also, look for the best available sources of water, heat,

electricity, labor and ventilation.

Look into environmental feasibility for protection against snow,

hailstorms, rainfall, drainage, strong winds, and how you can

legally dispose of waste materials.

Keep sufficient open space for further expansion in the future.

You should also look into the cost of land for your greenhouse

so that it does not cause a huge debt on your business.

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Greenhouse with Geraniums

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Which Type of Greenhouse?

A freestanding greenhouse often proves to be the best choice

if you plan a greenhouse of less than 10,000 square feet.

This type of greenhouse is one of the easiest types to build

and maintain as it has its own cooling and heating systems.

This is a big factor in non-level sites and areas of heavy

snowfall or rain. Maintenance is easier and cost-effective with

better possibilities for expansion.

A gutter-connected greenhouse is suitable if you have a

cultivatable area of more than 20,000 square feet. This type of

greenhouse usually requires fairly easy installation of the

necessary utilities like centralized heat, increased labor

efficiency, and better possibilities to adapt to the available

environment.

Greenhouse Accessories

Have proper covering for the ground inside the greenhouse,

whether gravel, heavy plastic, concrete or woven cloth. Bare

ground encourages and houses pests and diseases.

Use proper benching for plants with movable aisles at the

proper heights.

Have sufficient storage space within your greenhouse for

storing plants, mixing, transplanting, keeping tools and pots.

Also, look into other administrative requirements like the local

fire code requirements, building codes etc.

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Checking the compliance costs in these areas is an essential

part of your planning for a profitable greenhouse business.

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Top Greenhouse Kits

Greenhouse kits help you set up your greenhouse in less time

and usually require less labor than a set-up from raw

materials.

Popular greenhouse kits include:

Weatherguard Greenhouse 6Hx6W: You can purchase

either the 6.5' H x 6' W x 8' L model or a 12' L model. This

greenhouse kit comes with a galvanized steel frame and

three-layer polyethylene film on the sides. Side vents provide

ventilation while the doors and roof have UV-protection. There

is no need of any foundation and you can hang plants from the

frame. This costs around $217 at time of writing.

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King Canopy 10 x 10 Greenhouse: This greenhouse is

currently available as 10.26'L x 9.30'W x 8'H. It is

recommended for areas that do not have any snowfall; the

galvanized steel frame, with polyethylene or plastic sides, may

not provide sufficient insulation. However, easy installation of

the kit makes it very popular. Ventilation is by unzipping rear

and front panels. Brackets and shelves are available

separately. There is no need for a foundation. It costs around

$199 to $419.

Rion PolyGreenhouse: This greenhouse has 6-mil

polyethylene sheeting rated for 93% light penetration for

three years. The heavy gauge frame of extruded aluminum is

weather resistant. It is easy to assemble this greenhouse with

an easy lock system. This maintains perfect humidity and

temperature levels. Insulation is better through the door and

extraction vents than some others. This greenhouse measures

6x8 or 6x10 and costs around $599.

Flowerhouse FHCV900 Conservatory Greenhouse: This

plastic round-shaped greenhouse, with a height of 10' and

diameter of 9' has a three-year warranty. A galvanized steel

frame with polyethylene sides offers complete protection.

Additionally, a zippered front door and screened side windows

allow easy ventilation. The kit is available with tie-downs, ground stakes and shade cover too. There is easy access for

power and water. It does not require any foundation and is

available in 10' H x 9' W x 9' D size, costing $349.

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Gardman Complete Walk-In Greenhouse: This free-

standing greenhouse has an aluminum frame with galvanized

steel coating, roof venting and twin-wall polycarbonate siding.

It is available in three sizes; 4x6, 6x6, and 6x8 and costs

range from $559.99 to $719.99.

All prices and features may change at any time. Ratings are

the writer’s personal views and not guaranteed in any way.

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Part-III: Basics of Greenhouse Construction

Planning Your Greenhouse Location

Location plays an important role in the maintenance and

upkeep of your greenhouse. Ideally, you should plan carefully

the whole area for locating your greenhouse. This helps in

planning and deciding on other essentials of a greenhouse

business.

Planning Your Greenhouse Location

Direction of Greenhouse: If you plan for an attached or

lean-to greenhouse, it should be on the south side of the

building, preferably on the southeast. This direction helps your

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greenhouse to receive the cool early morning sunlight. It can

start food production early and does not endure as much of

the stronger afternoon sunlight. There is less of a problem of

overheating, too.

Never place your greenhouse in the north. That direction can

suit only those plants that require very little or no light at all.

If you choose a freestanding greenhouse, place it to the north

of deciduous trees like oaks and maple. These trees provide

the required shade during summer afternoons. In winter, they

shed their leaves and the bare trees allow easy penetration of

winter sun all day.

Do not place your greenhouse near shady evergreen trees.

These could be useful in summer but will reduce the sunlight

available in the winter months.

If there is a need, you can use “grow lights” to supplement

available sunlight.

Slope: Although flat and level land is the best for your

greenhouse, south or a south-east facing slope can prove

advantageous too. You can dig around to form a suitable slope

but this will increase your initial costs and set-up time too.

Orientation: Orientation of your greenhouse does not always depend only on the direction. It is also affected by the latitude

where you are located.

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A north-south orientation can help in better distribution of

sunlight. But, in places above forty degrees north latitude, it is best to have an east-west orientation. This orientation allows

the maximum surface area to receive sunlight.

Accessibility of Basic Requirements: Your greenhouse

should have the best possible access to water, gas and an

electricity supply. Using a hosepipe for the water supply can

prove irritating. Use a proper circuit breaker for uninterrupted

supply of electricity for your greenhouse.

Your greenhouse should be arranged to have easy access from

your home.

Drainage: Easy drainage is essential so that water does not stay near your greenhouse. You can set or build your

greenhouse at an elevated point for easy draining of water. A

gravel floor can aid good drainage.

Placement of Greenhouse: You can place your greenhouse

anywhere you want. It could be on a gravel base, lawn,

wooden deck, brick patio, or a concrete slab too. Laying down

landscape cloths on the surface helps to prevents growth of

weeds in your greenhouse.

Type of Plants: The type of plants you intend growing in your greenhouse will define the best location for your greenhouse.

Orchids and African violets need more exposure in the north.

Most other types of plants will probably do better if the

greenhouse is in the southeast.

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Plants requiring northern exposure could incur higher heating

costs for you.

Wind: Your greenhouse needs adequate protection from wind

too. Although ventilation is essential, do not place the

greenhouse where it receives the strongest winds directly.

This might prove disastrous for your plants. Put your

greenhouse where it is best sheltered from strong winds and

windstorms. Base your level of protection on the strength of

the worst winds you get in an average year.

Your greenhouse location should suit both summer and winter

seasons.

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The Best Frame for Your Greenhouse

There are different types and shapes of greenhouse frames.

Consider these for your greenhouse:

Framing Your Greenhouse

Gothic: As the name suggests, this frame has a gothic shape that allows greater headspace near the sidewalls. The ridge

often supports wooden arches.

Quonset: This has a circular frame of galvanized steel. The side height of this frame is low and normally has a plastic

sheet covering. The frame allows easy circulation of electricity

but moving space is restricted due to the shape.

Rigid-frame: This frame has vertical sidewalls. Nailed plywood gussets connect the sidewalls to the rafters, forming

a single rigid frame. There is no need for any columns to

support the roof. This frame supports maximum air circulation

and probably the most spacious interior too.

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Post and Rafter Frame: This frame has a simple

construction of rafters and embedded post. Strong sidewall

posts can withstand strong wind pressures. Spacious sidewalls

allow easy air circulation. This frame requires more wood and

steel than other frames.

A-Frame: This is similar to the post and rafters frame. This frame supports various cross rafters from the ridge to the

outer rafters. This frame is among the easiest to make.

Diagonal bracing wires add to the strength of the A-frames.

Panel Frame: This frame is usually quite expensive as it

involves extensive carpentry work. The panels are plastic. So,

this frame can be easily dismantled during summer months to

increase the lifespan of the plastic. Placing some vents can

improve ventilation extensively.

Pipe Frame: You use a pipe within a greenhouse to let in air.

Greenhouse chambers are made of two layers of 4 to 6 mil

film. Air pressure forces the inner film layers over the circular

pipes. This forms a circular shape on the outside. The top,

outer layer bloats three to four inches from the top frame and

one to two inches from the foundation. Air comes in through a

six-inch plastic tube. A manometer (device that measures gas

and vapor pressures) helps regulate static air pressure within

the film layers.

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Making an ideal choice of framing materials from available

options of wood, aluminum, steel, and PVC can help you get

the durable and economical frame for your greenhouse.

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Choose the Covering for Your Greenhouse

There are many materials available for covering your

greenhouse. Each of these materials has their own advantages

and disadvantages. You can choose the most suitable covering

from these:

Exterior of traditional Greenhouse

Glass: Greenhouses are traditionally covered with glass. This may be as straight, slanted or curved covers. Such glass

coverings help to assure that you get an airtight structure that

lowers heating costs.

Visibility within a glass-covered greenhouse is very high and

maintenance costs are usually low too.

However, glass is very brittle and can break easily. Being very

heavy, it may pose many problems during installation.

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Excessive sun exposure through the glass could cause harm to

your plants.

Plastic: Plastic coverings are becoming very popular. These incur very low building costs; about one tenth of the cost of

glass. Therefore, assessment rates of plastic covered

glasshouses for tax purposes are also low too.

It is easy to heat plastic greenhouses and many plants grow

as well as those in glass greenhouses.

Tomatoes in a greenhouse

Fiberglass: These coverings are very light but very strong.

They offer good resistance to hail. Choose the clearest grade

of fiberglass for your greenhouse, as it allows extensive light

penetration.

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Cheaper and lower quality grades of fiberglass lose their colors

fast and reduce light penetration. It is best not to use colored

fiberglass.

Polyethylene: Polyethylene coverings are very light and allow a lot of light to penetrate inside your greenhouse. These

coverings are useful in all types of weather. But, ultraviolet

rays cause extensive breakdown of polyethylene coverings.

You need to change them annually.

Ultraviolet-inhibited polyethylene has specific inhibitors to

prevent quick break-down.

Special greenhouse panels: These special panels consist of

UV-inhibited corrugated plastic. These strong and durable

panels are very light in weight. The translucent panels allow

soft diffusion of light at around 70% to 75%. They also offer

full protection from snow and winds. These coverings allow

extensive and lush growth of plants in your greenhouses.

Polycarbonate: These coverings are very light and allow

appropriate light diffusion. This reduces plant damage due to

excessive sun exposure. However, visibility within

polycarbonate greenhouses is very low.

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Footings, Flooring and Foundations

Greenhouse structures should be sturdy and a strong

foundation is essential for your greenhouse. The foundation

stores some of the warmth of the sunlight during daylight and

releases it at night.

A greenhouse with a variety of plants

You should consider employing a professional to lay the

foundations of your greenhouse. But, if you want to save

money, exercise all necessary care and equip yourself with the

necessary knowledge about the foundation and flooring of

your greenhouse so you could try to do it yourself.

The foundation for your greenhouse could be brick, wood or

concrete.

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A concrete foundation is durable but may pose problems with

drainage.

If you have a portable greenhouse, choose a gravel mulch

foundation with a dirt floor.

Plan and build a brick foundation with adequate spacing

between bricks. This helps in easing any drainage problems.

Wood could prove to be the most inexpensive of all

foundations. However, you need to re-treat the wood

regularly.

The Footings of Your Greenhouse

Educate yourself on specific building codes before making

footings for your greenhouse. These codes are set up in

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accordance to the weather conditions in your area. Strict

adherence to these codes helps to prevent freezing or cracking

of the foundation of your greenhouse.

Mark chalk lines across the ground area for your greenhouse

and dig trenches according to your local building codes along

the marked chalk lines. Set level concrete footings eight

inches wide into the trench. Your steel rod footings should be

tied horizontally or vertically inside foundation forms before

the pouring of concrete.

Flooring of Your Greenhouse

Ensure the ground area across your flooring to be as level as

possible. Dump in gravel and smooth it.

Next, pour in crushed stone and tar paper. You could use

builder's heavy plastic too. Then, set the mesh and pour in the

concrete.

In hot weather, cover concrete with plastic and sprinkle water

intermittently to help the flooring become strong and sturdy.

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Leave two-inch drainage holes four feet apart in the

foundation. After the footings settle well into the foundation,

remove your forms and fill the foundation with gravel or dirt.

Installing gravel or tile drainage channels with drainage holes

can allow easy drainage within your greenhouse.

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Selecting the Right Lights

Greenhouse cultivation does not depend on natural weather

conditions. It all depends on the artificial environment you

create within your greenhouse. Therefore, your artificial

arrangements should be in accordance with the natural

requirements of plants for healthy growth.

Light Requirements

Sunlight forms the essence for the growth of any plant. All

greenhouses allow easy penetration of sunlight. However,

available sunlight may not be sufficient during the winter

months and on cloudy days. Therefore, you need to arrange

artificial lights.

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Selection of artificial lights depends on:

Your plants’ requirements

The area of your greenhouse

Availability and intensity of sunlight

Many different types of lights are available; fluorescent lamps,

incandescent lamps, mercury vapor lamps, neon lamps,

sodium vapor lamps and others.

Different color combinations of lights exist. Color choices

depend on the requirements of your plants.

Lights could increase the temperature within your greenhouse

if they are in addition to reasonable sunlight. Choosing lights

that emit more light and less heat energy can help to maintain

greenhouse temperatures at appropriate levels.

Types of Lights

Fluorescent lamps: These lamps are most popular for use in

greenhouses. These lamps are available in various colors. The

highest preference is for white fluorescent lamps. These lamps

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provide more light with less heat. High intensity fluorescent

tubes of 1500 ma can deliver a high wattage of around 2000-

foot candles.

Soft lights of this type contain the entire spectrum of sunlight.

Having such lights over seedlings with poor growth can boost

their growth. Restricting use of these lights over smaller areas

can be a good option.

Incandescent lamps: Incandescent lamps are available in

different wattages, ranging from sixty to five hundred watts.

These lights can make the plants think days are longer in your

greenhouse. You can vary foot-candle levels by adjusting the

spacing and mounting height of the lamps over your plants.

High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps: As the name

suggests, these lamps provide high emission of light. These

lights last for a long time; for over five thousand hours.

Efficiency of these lights increases with the addition of sodium

and metal-halides.

Metal Halide Grow Lights: These lights emit the blue and

violet colors of the spectrum. Such light is normally available

during spring. These lights best suit growing plants and

support their early developmental stages to promote stronger

roots, increased resistance to diseases and a more compact

green growth.

High-Pressure Sodium Lights: These lights produce orange and red colors of spectrum that encourages plant growth like

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you see in autumn and early fall. Therefore, this light suits

plants in a mature stage.

You can use a convertible grow light system to alternate

between metal halide lights and high-pressure sodium lights.

You can use metal halide lights for starting seedlings and then

shift to high-pressure sodium lights as they grow into mature

plants.

This can save you money compared to purchasing separate

lighting systems.

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Part-IV: Environmental Systems

Cooling, Ventilation and Your Greenhouse

Greenhouses essentially lock in sunlight to provide a more

suitable environment for plants to grow. But, trapped sunlight

should not exceed required levels. Otherwise, your plants may

wither. Use adequate cooling strategies within your

greenhouse to maintain optimum temperature and humidity

levels.

Cooling and Ventilation of Greenhouses by Plants

Plants have an inbuilt mechanism to cool themselves. They

regulate their temperatures by evaporating water through the

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process of transpiration. Plants can keep themselves cool in

greenhouses if there are many leaf surfaces.

If your greenhouse houses plants with many large leaves, the

atmosphere in the greenhouse can be cooled to a considerable

extent.

To help plants transpire easily and effectively, you should

supply them with lots of water. Irrigate your plants in the

greenhouses extensively and frequently. This neutralizes salt

levels in plant roots so that high salt levels do not interfere

with their intake of water.

Next, provide sufficient ventilation within the greenhouse so

that moist air transpired through leaf surfaces goes out and

cool dry air enters greenhouse. Employing proper air

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circulation techniques can help provide this environment for

your plants.

Cooling and Ventilation by Blocking Sunlight

You can maintain cool temperatures in the greenhouse by

blocking sunlight. Fix retractable or fixed sunshades to restrict

the amount of sunlight entering your greenhouse. Maintain an

adequate supply of sunlight for plants to photosynthesize their

food.

Light requirements of plants depend on the specific species

and the intensity of available light too. If your greenhouse has

many crops with dense foliage, use little restrictive shades so

that these plants and their foliage do not suffer from lack of

adequate sunlight.

Use semi-permanent shade materials like screens and

coatings. These are very flexible in adjusting light

requirements.

Ventilation Equipment

Roof vents help remove hot air from within the greenhouse

and replaces it with cool outside air. Hand-operated roof vents

require regular temperature checks. You have to open and

close vents according to the changes in outside weather. This

is necessary to prevent excessive cooling or heating of air

within the greenhouse.

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Install sidewall or gable exhaust fans underneath curtains to

remove trapped, heated air.

Curtains pulled in an east-west direction prove useful in

regulation of penetrating sunlight. Use curtains of open-weave

materials so that hot air rises through the roof.

Ventilation systems function in relation to the area of your

greenhouse. The height of your greenhouse does not play any

role in effective ventilation. An effective ventilation system

should be able to exhaust eight to ten cubic feet of air per

minute from every square foot of your greenhouse.

Further, ventilation should be uniform all over your

greenhouse. If outside temperatures are very high and dry,

use ventilation systems in combination with the natural

transpiration systems of your plants to maintain necessary

coolness within the greenhouse.

This requires frequent regulation of the air in the greenhouse.

Another way of cooling your greenhouses is through use of

mechanical cooling; refrigeration or air-conditioning. This

technique could prove very costly.

Other cooling techniques include mists, fogs, pads and fan

systems and sprinklers. All these work fine if moisture content

in the air is not perfect.

Mists, fogs, and sprinkler systems can function independently

or synchronize with other mechanical ventilation systems. But,

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you should regulate air and humidity temperatures for these

systems to function smoothly. You can switch them on and off

intermittently.

These systems have their own problems too. Impurities in the

water could lead to clogging and foliage could suffer from

continuous wetting too. You can regulate the even dispersion

of water by regulating the size of particles and avoid chances

of over-wetting.

However, effective cooling depends more on the amount of

evaporation.

Shading equipment includes roll-up screens of aluminum,

wood, vinyl, paint-on materials or plastic shades. These

shadings function with the help of nylon ropes or pulleys. You

can adjust the shade according to outside weather conditions.

You can use shading compounds too. Apply them on the

exterior of the greenhouse glass.

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Plants in a greenhouse

Automated Cooling and Ventilation Techniques

Automated cooling and ventilation systems can offer

systematic and controlled regulation of temperatures within

greenhouses. These automated techniques do not require you

to maintain personal controls. Systems have an in-built

mechanism that manages irrigation levels, operate suitable

shading systems and provide necessary ventilation by

operating relevant cooling.

This occurs by coordinating various pieces of automated

equipment in relation to the varying requirements of your

greenhouse.

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Automated vents have a special thermostat and electric motor

systems that remain open to allow the necessary amount of

cool air. They also allow warm air to flow out similarly.

Maintenance of such moderate temperatures within a

greenhouse promotes healthy growth of plants.

Automated systems function independently and you do not

have to keep changing them according to different seasons.

You can use a single thermostat, or a controller with a

temperature sensor. Sensors should always be in the shade

and located at around plant height. White sensor boxes can

reflect solar heat and give accurate temperature readings.

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Understanding Heating Methods,

Systems, Sources, and Distribution

Heating systems are essential for greenhouses to function

normally. Solar energy is the main source of heat energy

necessary for greenhouses. Nevertheless, you should have

adequate alternative heating systems to maintain systematic

heating all year through.

These heating systems can regulate temperatures within

greenhouses and maintain a conducive environment for plants

to grow and flourish.

Heating Systems and Methods

There are different heating systems for regulating

temperatures within greenhouses. You can use that which best

suits your greenhouse requirements.

Pipe Heating: This has many metallic or plastic pipes

carrying steam or hot water spread across the greenhouse.

These pipes heat the greenhouse through convection and later

radiate heat directly to the leaves. Overhead pipes should be

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closer to plant surface for effective heating without loss

through radiation. Similarly, hot pipes passing near the ground

in the greenhouse can stimulate better circulation of hot air.

Pipes passing through the middle of greenhouse can provide

excellent radiation of heat. Take care to avoid scorching of

plants through heat from the pipes.

Warm Floor Heating: This heating system involves placing

hot water pipes below the concrete of the greenhouse. This

system helps in uniform heating of the entire ground surface

of the greenhouse and uniform distribution and circulation of

heat throughout the plant canopy.

Heating the root system promotes plant growth. But, this

system may be too expensive for many.

Bench Heating: This heating system involves placing hot

pipes on, or under, the benches. This can assure uniform

spreading of the heat across plant roots and improve air

movement extensively. Although this system can reduce the

incidence of root pathogens by warming soil, it can cause

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excessive stress on the plants closest to heaters. Similarly,

plants farthest from heaters may not receive equal benefit.

Air Heating: Overhead heated air directed through fans and

perforated polyethylene tubes can heat greenhouses quickly.

You have to maintain perfect on-and-off timings to regulate

temperature within your greenhouse. This system could prove

expensive.

Central Heating Systems: These heating systems generate

heat from a centralized location, normally a huge boiler. This

heating system proves efficient for huge commercial

greenhouses, although installation and maintenance costs are

expensive. Hot water produced in a boiler, pumps into your

greenhouse at 180° F. This system also requires extensive

plumbing and circulating systems to maintain the necessary

supply of heat. You can use steam centralized heating systems

as they provide heat at 215° F.

Radiant heaters: These heaters have aluminum tubes with

reflectors. Combustion of fuel within the tubes cause

temperatures to rise to around 900° F. Reflectors direct the

infrared radiation downwards to plant surfaces and benches.

These surfaces absorb radiation and heat. These heaters

require low-flow or poly-tube fans to maintain necessary air

circulation.

The number of heating units should be such that there are no

cold spots. Initial costs are high.

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Fuel Sources for Heating Systems

There are different fuel sources for heating systems of

greenhouses. You can choose fuel according to cost,

availability, pollution regulations, storage possibilities, boiler requirements and maintenance requirements.

Popular Fuels:

Natural Gas: This fuel source may be currently one of the

most inexpensive and has low maintenance costs. It offers

clear burning and there is no need for storage tanks.

Propane and Butane: Although similar to natural gas, they

are more expensive and require storage tanks.

Oil: You need storage tanks to keep this fuel source. It

requires regular boiler maintenance as it does not burn

cleanly.

Wood chips or Logs: These fuel sources require huge

storage area and extensive handling with regular boiler

maintenance and cleaning.

Coal: This low-cost fuel requires extensive storage space and generates immense pollution too. You require regular boiler

maintenance.

While using coal, oil, or gas heaters, there should be a

constant supply of fresh air to avoid any build-up of carbon

monoxide. Fans can help to maintain the necessary air

circulation within greenhouses.

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Heat Distribution inside Greenhouse

Even distribution of heat inside a greenhouse is as essential as

generation of heat. Uneven distribution can cause many

problems.

Some of the most important are:

• Irregular growth of plants

• Improper maturation

• Excessive dry regions, and

• Stunted growth of plants

Different heating systems generate and distribute heat in

different ways. Centralized heating systems can be through

hot water or steam. Heat distribution takes place through a

network of aluminum, cast iron, or copper pipes. Steam offers

less resistance and therefore you can use pipes with a smaller

diameter. Steam additionally delivers higher heat than hot

water. Efficient distribution of heat requires proper placement

of pipes. This can increase heating and reduce heat loss.

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Potted plants in a greenhouse

Placing pipes in layers can reduce heating efficiency. Instead,

place pipes singly.

Unit heaters are not very efficient in distributing heat.

Temperature differences occur along the length of a

greenhouse. Temperatures close to the heater are high. Use of

multiple unit heaters across each other can solve this problem.

It helps to maintain uniform heat across the entire length and

breadth of the greenhouse.

Additionally, you can use horizontal airflow fans to promote

movement of air within greenhouses.

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Unit heaters mounted onto greenhouse gables and connected

to polyethylene jet tubes can distribute heat evenly. In cooler

seasons, you can switch off the fuel source and firebox and

use a fan of unit heaters with polyethylene tubes with outside

louvers.

Heating systems placed low in the greenhouse can help to

maintain warmer temperatures. Leaf surface temperature

above dew point can prevent condensation. It helps prevent

various greenhouse diseases.

Other heating systems should be as close to the canopy as

possible. This saves lots of energy too.

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Calculating Energy Requirements

for Heating Systems

Energy requirements for heating greenhouses are not the

same everywhere. It depends on various factors, including:

Size of the greenhouse

Difference in outside temperature and temperature within

greenhouse, and

Single or double layered covering of glasshouse in plastic or

glass.

Normally, greenhouse sellers educate you about heating

requirements of your specific greenhouse so that you can

make use of these systems too. You can calculate heat energy

requirements through simple processes.

You must seal all cracks and holes in your greenhouse as soon

as they are located.

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Energy Requirements for Your Heating System

The most important factor is to calculate the temperature

difference between the lowest outside temperature and the

temperature you want to maintain in your greenhouse. If the

coldest temperature outside is around -10 degrees while you

want to maintain sixty degrees within your greenhouse, the

temperature difference is around seventy degrees.

Find the total surface area of the inside of your greenhouse

including roof ends and the sides in square feet. The area

should essentially be of exposed plastic or glass of your

greenhouse.

Find the product of the greenhouse area and the temperature

difference. If the total exposed area of your greenhouse is

3,400 sq. ft. the product would be 238,000.

Your greenhouse could have two layers of glass or plastic or

have a single layer. If it is a single layer, multiply 238,000 by

1.2. If it is a double layer, multiply 238,000 by 0.8. This

product is the required BTU capacity of your heater per hour.

For a double-layered greenhouse, it would amount to maybe

190,400 BTU per hour while it could be around 285,600 BTU

per hour for a single-layered greenhouse.

You can calculate heat energy requirements of your

greenhouse by calculating the total heat loss.

First, determine the total exposed surface area of your

greenhouse covering, be it glass, poly, fiberglass, or other

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material. Also, determine the exposed surface area of other

materials like brick, poured cement, concrete block etc.

Next, determine the maximum difference between the outside

lowest temperature and the optimum temperature necessary

within your greenhouse.

Calculate the conduction heat loss factor for materials used in

your greenhouse.

Using relevant tables, calculate the air filtration heat loss.

According to the volume of greenhouse, calculate the total

heat loss of your greenhouse. You need similar energy to heat

your greenhouse and maintain optimum temperature for the

best possible growth of plants within the greenhouse.

Normally, the heat requirements are less in double-glazed

greenhouses like those of polycarbonate or glass. Similarly,

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the types of crop you want to grow within the greenhouse

affect the heat energy requirements.

Summer crops normally require more heat than winter crops.

While calculating outside temperatures, always keep an extra

margin for seasonal variations from the recorded averages. At

times, it could turn out to be much colder than the average

minimum temperatures you use in your calculations. Procuring

heating equipment with a larger load is advisable to adjust to

odd weather changes.

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Watering Systems and Insulation Techniques

Greenhouse Watering Systems

Water is an essential ingredient for growing plants anywhere,

equally so in your greenhouse. Having a water source close to

your greenhouse can prove beneficial.

Different types of watering systems include:

Capillary Matting: Capillary mats through bottom of trays or pots can supply the water requirements of seedlings across

the floor of your greenhouse. You can use an automated

system for capillary matting or a hand-filled reservoir.

Drip irrigating systems: These provide a continuous water

supply to plants within the greenhouse by flowing down in

drips. This helps conservation of water and supplies the

necessary amount of water to each plant directly.

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Self-Watering Tray Kits: These kits are available in different sizes. They consist of a black plastic water reservoir fitted with an aluminum tray. This creates a raised flat surface for

capillary matting. This system can help water your plants for

around two weeks, depending on the number of plants within

the greenhouse and the type of plants too.

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Watering Cans and Garden Sprayers: You can use plastic watering cans available in different sizes. You can also use

these for spraying fertilizers and chemicals.

Tropf Blumat Drip Irrigation System: This watering system

helps plants to control the amount of water. This can prevent

excessive watering.

Greenhouse Misting Systems: These systems provide a

mist of water over your plants in the greenhouse. Water mists

can help plants absorb water according to their requirements.

Insulation Techniques in Greenhouses

Effective insulation systems are essential to maintain

necessary warmth within greenhouses. They also are excellent

energy savers. They can help you save around thirty percent

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on your heating costs. You can extend greenhouse

productivity periods by around six weeks.

This allows greater flexibility in choosing sowing times and the

type of plants for growing in your greenhouse.

The best way to insulate your greenhouse is to use bubble

wrap. Bubble wrap retains maximum heat for a considerable

period too. Wrapping your greenhouse in bubble wrap could

reduce light levels within the greenhouse. However, such

reduction is minimal and does not cause any worry.

Use UV-stabilized and tri-laminated bubble insulation. UV

treatments prevent your bubble wrap from becoming hard and

brittle. Therefore, you can use it year after year during the

cold winter months. Additionally, tri-laminated bubble wrap

retains more heat of the day and provides better insulation.

Fixing bubble wrap around your greenhouse is not a big job.

Aluminum framed greenhouses have glazing bars with a

channel down the center. This has many cropped bolts in

addition to spacers, alliplugs and corner adapters.

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These accessories help secure bubble wrap to your

greenhouse easily. Spacers create a gap of 25mm between

glass and material. This helps keep warmth in during cold

days.

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Part-V: Upholding Your Greenhouse

Basic Greenhouse Care

Essential Accessories and Equipments for Maintenance

Regular daily maintenance of your greenhouse can help you

have a clean and attractive greenhouse. It does not take much

time if you fit it in within your daily routine.

Simple accessories that will help in your maintenance work on

a small greenhouse might include:

• Mist sprayer

• Watering can

• Canes

• Shade nets

• Trowel or hand fork

• Pesticides

• Washing-up Gloves

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• Garden Disinfectant

• Scrubbing Brush

• Old toothbrush for scrubbing corners

• Clean Bucket and Water

You should keep your greenhouse neat and tidy. This ensures

the greenhouse to be free of pests and associated diseases. It

also ensures a good and healthy environment for your plants

to grow and flourish.

Diseases often develop in greenhouses due to the hot and

humid conditions within.

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Follow these essential maintenance tips to ensure a clean and

healthy greenhouse:

• Water all plants regularly

• Do not allow compost to dry and harden

• Take off weeds around plants and plant beds. Weeds

grow very fast. Therefore, weeding is essential every

few days.

• Place canes for plants that require support to grow well.

You can tie emerging shoots together loosely. This

prevents shoots from mingling with plants in other pots

and creating a jumble.

• Pruning is essential in summer to remove dried twigs

and flowers. Prick out and take off drying plants when

required.

• Fix shade nets to safeguard plants from scorching

sunlight. Alternatively, you can spray shading washes on

outside of greenhouses during summer and wash them

off in autumn.

• Never water plants in mid-afternoon when the sun is

hottest as it scorches plant leaves.

• Some plants require humid conditions. Splash the floor

with water through a handheld mist sprayer during the

summer to create humid conditions.

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• Pests like mealy bugs, red spider mites and aphids and

diseases like mildew and botrytis thrive in humid

conditions. Refrain from making your greenhouse too

humid to protect your plants from such diseases.

• Sterilize flats and pots with disinfectants before re-using

them.

• Annual thorough cleaning of your greenhouse is

essential. Take out all your plants from the greenhouse

and clean the shelves, benches, and walkways of your

greenhouse thoroughly. Use a spray hose to take away

dirt and debris and wash down surfaces. Next, apply a

disinfectant. Allow the disinfectant to soak in. Rearrange

the greenhouse the next day.

• Remove stubborn algae spots from greenhouse glass

with disinfectant or a household bleach.

• Use lubricants on metal frames, vents and door hinges.

This prevents rusting and jamming of doors and vents.

• Take away insulation in the summer and preserve them

well for use during winter.

• Keep all greenhouse tools in their proper places.

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Greenhouse Maintenance Checklist

Maintenance is of key importance in any greenhouse.

Without adequate and proper maintenance, it is not possible

to have the necessary environment for optimum growth and

development of plants. Maintenance of your greenhouse

requires you to write out a detailed plan and adhere to it

religiously. Efficient maintenance includes regularly inspecting

all components of your greenhouse. You can hire maintenance

specialists if you lack any necessary specialized equipment

and expertise.

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Maintenance Checklist for Your Greenhouse

Fiberglass Covering: Repair all cracks and holes, change

damaged and darkened panels, clean all sides of dirt and

algae and make glass clear for proper light penetration. You

can fix a polyethylene inner layer when required too.

Glass Covering: Fix new panes in place of damaged ones and

adjust panes if they are out of place. Scrape and paint all bars

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and seal panes where necessary. Clean glass pane sides of all

dirt and algae and make all panes free of shading compound

when no longer required, to allow maximum light penetration.

You can use a double layer inflated film inside the glass if the

expected light intensity does not seem likely to cause any

problems.

Double Poly Covering: Clean all inflation fans and put in new poly to replace old, discolored and damaged poly. Repair all

holes by fixing the poly tape. Use dry inflation air to remove

condensation between poly layers.

Vent System: Check vents for free movement and operation.

Adjust vents to reduce all cracks on matting surface. Repair

loose vents.

Plastic Seals: Remove all dirt and algae from plastic sealing and replace dirty and worn-out plastic films. Seal all joints to

prevent wind penetration.

Doors: Check all door closures and springs. Seal door moldings and frames, and weather-strip them.

Thermal Blankets: Check that the opening system operates through a complete cycle. Check that all seals, wires and

pulleys are tight. Repair all holes, lubricate them and tighten

all loose drive-shaft couplings. Remove all dirt and algae and

check lubrication of motor and gears.

Standby Generator: Clean all parts of your battery and

check it’s working. Drain generator fuel tanks and refill them

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too. Check for any leaks in fuel tanks. Ensure all lubricants are

at the correct levels. Check all wires (for any looseness) and

switches and ensure the alarm system is functioning properly.

Service the cooling system of your generator.

Heater: Use the correct fuel and maintain an adequate supply of fuel throughout the heating season. Check fuel pressure

and burner nozzles. Clean burner nozzles. Adjust and clean all

pilot lights and make sure outside air is available to burners.

Check all fuel lines for any leaks, cracks, carbon and dirt build-

up. Ensure good quality water is available for the heaters.

Clean fan motors and lubricate them. Check the condition of

the wiring and heat exchangers for any build-up of dirt, carbon

and fix cracks.

Boilers: Check for any mechanical damage in the boiler and

pipes. Adjust air-fuel ratio and check if all relief valves are

working properly without any signs of leakage. Clean blower

fan blades and repair all cracks, patches. Clean the fireside

and waterside tubes thoroughly. Lubricate all bearings and

maintain accurate water treatment records. Replace all

inoperative and leaking valves. Check all back-up boilers

which should function just like the main boiler. Ensure good

quality water is available for the boiler so that it has a long

life.

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Getting the Most from Your

Cooling and Ventilation Systems

Cooling and ventilation systems are essential to maintain

optimum temperature and humidity levels within greenhouses.

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The following tips can help you get the best from your systems

and ensure their sustained performance:

Excessive Ventilation: Refrain from over-ventilating your

greenhouse, especially in summer months. Hot air from

outside could prove too much for your plants. They may die if

you do not employ suitable humidifying techniques. Over-use

of the ventilation systems may harm them.

Retractable Shade Curtains: These curtains function

according to specific light levels. During cloudy days, curtains

could have excessive movement due to unexpected changes of

light and shade. This can cause a breakdown of these

systems. Fix a specific time-delay so that there is no excessive

pressure on your curtains. If your plants are extremely

sensitive to sunshine, use external shading compounds or

fixed curtains.

Pad and Fan Temperature Gradients: Air temperature at

the pads is always cooler than near exhaust outlets,

irrespective of the length or size of your greenhouse. Place fog

or mist lines at right angles at two thirds and one-thirds of

your greenhouse to get the maximum benefit.

Ventilation with Shade Systems: Place shade curtains in

such a way that they allow extensive air exchange. Keeping

little gaps between shade curtains is a good idea.

Mineral Residues: Cooling water may contain minerals like

iron and bicarbonates. Similarly, roof sprinklers and mist

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systems could also leave deposits that could pose problems

with pad and fan systems and the functioning of the electronic

humidity sensors. Regularly clean off residues.

Maintain Proper Air Balance: Do not operate evaporative

systems continuously. This could cause lack of sufficient dry

air. Stop evaporative cooling early in the day. This can ease

problems of excess humidity and wet foliage.

Roof Sprinklers: These may be best in greenhouses with low

evaporative cooling requirements and natural ventilation

systems. Limit roof vent opening angles so that they do not

drip on to your plants within your greenhouses. Mineral

deposits through such sprinklers could stain greenhouse

coverings.

Humidity and Temperature Sensors: Place the sensors

midway between inlet pads and the fan exhaust. Do not place

them in the direct path of fog or mist nozzles. This helps in

efficient circulation of air within your greenhouse and

maintains proper humidity and temperature levels.

Dust Cleaning: Dust accumulation on fan blades and shutters reduces their efficiency by more than thirty to fifty percent.

This restricts free movement of the blades too. This could

cause irregular and insufficient ventilation within the

greenhouse, leading to accumulation of stagnant air in specific

pockets. This, in turn, also increases heating costs.

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Lubrication: Lubricate all fan bearings, shutters, motors and all free-moving parts of your greenhouse equipment.

Inspection of Ventilation Systems: Check all electrical

cords in your greenhouse. Replace any splits and cracks in

electrical wiring immediately with approved insulated wires.

Check rotation of fan wheels. Improper installation could

cause reverse movement of fans. This restricts fan movements

and results in inefficient circulation of air within the

greenhouse.

Humidistat and Thermostats: Check functioning of these

systems in accordance with environmental conditions. Remove

any dust accumulation from sensing elements of the controls

of these systems before re-calibrating them. These should

always be at plant height to provide the best environmental

control.

Pads and Frames: Check these to ensure their perfect

condition. Seal all cracks around the pads to prevent entrance

of air from places other than cooling pads.

Restricting Growth of Algae: Use fungicides in the water

supply to reduce growth of algae and possible accumulation of

it on cooling pads. Algae can destroy cooling pads and

increase airflow.

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Maintaining the Heating Systems

Heating systems in greenhouses are most often hot water

heaters, unit space heaters or steam heaters.

Unit space heaters normally use oil or gas as fuel. Hot

water and steam heaters use boilers to produce heat. Fans help to distribute heat uniformly throughout the greenhouse.

Tips for Maintenance of Heating Systems

Ensure good air circulation through installation of auxiliary

fans, if needed.

Your vent stack of fossil-fueled unit heaters should extend to

more than four feet above any nearby house ridge or

obstruction.

Restrict exposure of the thermostat to any heat source

through a protective shield. Use the fan to aid thorough air

movement and maintain proper air temperatures at bed

levels.

Ideally, place thermostats near plant level.

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Check and clean fan blades, burner nozzles and oil fan motors

according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Check all pipes of hot water or steam heating systems for any

possible leaks.

Check the capacity of your boiler or furnace before extending

bench hot water lines or increasing the number of hot water

units. The boiler needs to have sufficient capacity to handle

the additional load.

Keep all hot water pipes clean, without any accumulation of

dust. Dust accumulation definitely retards efficiency.

Check the movement and efficiency of fan blades in the unit's

hot water system. Lubricate them regularly and check

orientation of each of them to assure systematic and thorough

heat and air distribution within the greenhouse. In some

cases, fans could be belt or pulley driven. Check these

systems to ensure smooth functioning.

It is best not to use fossil fuel heaters without vents. If it is

necessary to use such heaters, provide extensive mechanical

or natural ventilation. This helps to remove all by-products of

combustion and assures a healthy environment for plants to

grow.

In poly tube heat distribution systems, check the length of the

tubes, spacing, and location of tube openings in accordance

with your plants’ heating system. Perfect configuration of the

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heating system is essential for efficient heating of the

greenhouse.

Ensure all boiler components are in perfect condition before

the start of the heating season. Also, contact your fuel dealer

before the season starts to check costs and assure continuous

supply of fuel.

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Control Greenhouse Pests and Diseases

Humid conditions in greenhouses can be a breeding ground

for various pests and diseases that will prove harmful to your

growing plants and seedlings. Maintain a clean, regularly

disinfected greenhouse to curtail such problems. Clean your

greenhouse in either late winter or early spring.

Cleaning Materials and Tools for a Small Greenhouse

• Washing up Gloves

• Brush or Mop

• Wire Wool

• Scrubbing Brush

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• Domestic Cleaner

• Disinfectant

• Fungicides and Insecticide with necessary biological

controls

• Non-Drying Glue

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Greenhouse

First, empty greenhouses of all pots, plants and other

accessories.

Then, clean greenhouses of any weeds, dead plants and

rotting leaves.

Wash all accessible glass with warm soapy water.

Clean all pots with disinfectant.

Use fresh compost in pots for sowing seeds and seedlings. Use

a covered watering can with copper-based fungicide in the

water to water your seedlings.

Hang yellow sticky traps near plant tops in your greenhouse.

These prevent build-up of different flying pests like the white

fly.

Vine weevils often attack the roots of plants in pots. Check for

these pests while re-potting your plants. Applying non-drying

glue as a band across pots can stop any influx of adult

weevils. You can also use soil drenches, composts and other

biological controls as protection against adult weevils.

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Allow as much air circulation as possible within your

greenhouse. Keep open roof vents and windows to prevent air

stagnation. Powdery Mildew and Grey Mold are common

diseases in greenhouses with stagnant air. Fan heaters

blowing in cool air can act as a good remedy.

Spider mite populations thrive in a hot and dry climate. In the

summer, greenhouses present this sort of atmosphere that

allows spider mites to multiply rapidly. These appear as yellow

and brown specks with fine webs on the leaves of your plants.

Move out as many plants as possible from the greenhouse

during such weather. Use handheld mist sprayers to increase

humidity levels within the greenhouse. You might use

systemic insecticide spray too.

Grow different crops and plants every year in your greenhouse

to prevent growth and spread of soil pests and diseases.

Cover potted plants with sand or grit to prevent an influx of

sciarid fly or fungus fly. This greenhouse pest eats off the

plant stems just above ground. Grease a yellow card and hang

it near the plants.

Botrytis is the most common greenhouse disease causing

brown spots and patches of gray mold over the plants. The

best way to control this pest is to increase air circulation and

avoid planting seedlings in pots kept in damp and shady parts

of the greenhouse.

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Mildews affect young shoots, like those of rose, fruits,

poppies, begonias etc., in your greenhouse. Remove and burn

affected leaves. Increase air circulation within the greenhouse

and, if the problem is very severe, spray dispersible sulfur or

copper fungicide.

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Part-VI: Greenhouse Accessories

Greenhouse Accessories Guide

Numerous greenhouse accessories may be helpful to maintain

an efficient, productive greenhouse.

These accessories play an equally important role in growing

plants in greenhouses.

Wireless Thermometer: This is a digital thermometer that

helps you find the temperature within your greenhouse

without you actually moving out of your house.

Budding/Grafting Knife: These knives have special hand-

made blades that help you cut and graft your plants with

precision.

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Cleaner: Cleaners with no toxic properties are the best for cleaning your greenhouse. They prevent spreading of any

poisonous fumes within the greenhouse.

Greenhouse Shade Netting: This provides temporary or

permanent protection to your plants and crops within the

greenhouse. The netting has strong tying points with eyelets

woven into their seams.

Traditional Wooden Riddle: This common greenhouse tool can help you clean gravel for paths, remove stones from soil,

provide fine layered soil for sowing seeds and do similar work

in your greenhouses.

Warming Pads: These pads help in quick germination of

seeds within the greenhouse. Space crunch is common in

greenhouses. These pads speed up the germination process

and offer more free space.

Garden Track: This accessory consists of heavy-duty plastic tiles linked with clips. Join these to form wide outdoor

walkways. Making many pathways within greenhouse does not

take much time.

Magic Seeder: This accessory helps you dispense seeds in

plug trays and pots easily. All you need is little bit of thumb

pressure for accurate planting.

Aluminum Staging Foot Plates: Use these plates in

greenhouses with soft floors. These prevent seed tray rack

legs from sinking into the ground.

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Small Fixing Support: These small supports help you tie

growing vines and similar creepers. These supports have

cropped bolts to help easy fixing.

Glazing Spring Clips: These steel wire clips are W-shaped.

They help to hold glass in aluminum greenhouse frames.

'S' Hooks: These hooks provide necessary support for

hanging baskets within greenhouses.

Aluminum Lap Strips: You can bend these strips in any

shape you want. They are very useful within greenhouses.

Greenhouse Door Wheels: These wheels are best for use in

a greenhouse with sliding doors. You can change the wheels to

suit your preferences.

Greenhouse Fix Clips: These clips prove useful in many

ways in your greenhouse. You only need to insert the clip in

the bolt slot within the glazing bar and twist it to make it

secure. These are easy to use and can help fix insulation and

shading in aluminum greenhouses. You can use spacers with

the fix clips to create small gaps of about an inch between

lining material and greenhouse glass.

Greenhouse Seed Tray Racks: These racks help you grow

numerous seedlings within a minimum space. They can prove

very useful in crowded greenhouses. Normally, these trays

hold four full-size seed trays on each tier.

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Cropped Head Bolts & Nuts: These bolts are rectangular in shape and fit into slots of the aluminum glazing bars. They help you fix things without having to dismantle anything first.

Greenhouse Shelving: These aluminum shelves create extra

space within the greenhouse. These are available with suitable

brackets and bolts. They can hold numerous extra structures

within your greenhouse to add options and save space.

Greenhouse Propagators: These offer the necessary

amount of heat for every part of the plants within

greenhouses, especially to ensure healthy growth of plant

roots. Use propagators that best suit your requirements.

Garden Netting: There are different types of garden netting available for use in greenhouses. These include insect mesh,

butterfly netting, anti-bird netting, windbreak netting,

greenhouse shading and others. They offer protection for your

plants within your greenhouse.

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Know Your Equipment and Supplies

Greenhouse gardening is becoming very popular. You can

have a greenhouse on a commercial level or have it as your

hobby. Certain essential equipment and supplies are

necessary in any greenhouse to help the plants in the

greenhouse to grow healthily. Greenhouses are like chambers.

You regulate light and temperature within your greenhouse to

promote optimum growth of the plants.

Essential Greenhouse Supplies

Fog System and Watering System: Water is essential for

all plants in the greenhouse. According to the type of plants,

they may require daily watering or watering on alternate days.

You should have a proper watering system - a can for a small

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greenhouse, ranging up through a capillary system, dripping

system, etc., to provide the necessary water to your plants.

Fog systems help maintain essential humidity levels in

greenhouses.

Heating System: Although the glass panes on greenhouses

bring in essential heat, it may not be sufficient during the cold

winter months and at night. You need a heater to regulate

temperatures within your greenhouse. You can use a fuel

heater or electric heater according to your choice, depending

on costs and other factors.

Ventilation: This is very essential to aid proper air circulation within the greenhouse. Heaters release fumes and you need to

push out this air.

Greenhouse thermometers: Help to detect the prevalent

temperature within your greenhouse. You can then act

according to temperature readings on your thermometers.

Lighting Arrangements: Light is essential for proper growth of plants within your greenhouse. Normal sunlight may suffice

for your plants’ requirements. You can have additional lighting

arrangements with fluorescent bulbs and other lamps for

cloudy days and the winter months.

Shading Equipment: However, excessive light can prove

harmful too. Therefore, you require special shading materials

like shading compounds, blinds or plastic curtains to filter any

unwanted light from entering your greenhouse.

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Flooring and Benches: Use a functional, non-skid flooring

for your greenhouse with gravel. Non-skidding surfaces can

prevent accidents during watering. Additionally, place benches

within the greenhouse for you to rest and take in the beauty

of your greenhouse while caring for it.

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Cold Frames and Hotbeds

Cold Frames

Cold frames are boxes without bottoms, but they have

removable tops. These prove helpful in protecting plants from

the extremities of weather; cold temperatures and harsh

winds. Cold frames use sunlight to heat soil within the box

during daytime. This heat radiates back to the plants at night

and keeps them warm.

You do not usually need any artificial manure or fertilizers

within cold frames.

Cold frames help you start your growing season early. You can

grow seasonal vegetables and flowers within these cold

frames. Such protected growth lets you transplant your plants

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"Building Your Own Greenhouse" by Max Clarke

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early too. These cold frames provide the ideal environment by

allowing you to save your seedlings from the winter frost. The

setting is similar to that within a portable greenhouse.

Anthurium and other plants in a greenhouse

There are different types of cold frames available, like Juliana

Cold Frames, Halls Cold Frame Kits and others.

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These kits are available in two models. The single cold frame

has two sliding and hinged vents with polypropylene glazing.

The double cold frame has polypropylene glazing with four

hinged and sliding vents.

Hotbeds

A bed of soil within a plastic or glass frame constitutes a

hotbed. Steam, electricity, manure or hot water pipes heat the

bed of soil. Hotbeds prove useful for growing seedlings and

small plants early and easily too. You can sow seeds of flowers

and vegetables long before you could sow them in the outside

weather.

Hotbeds prove to be a good initial sowing ground for

propagating growth of your seedlings. The hotbed should

normally be on well-drained soil. In some places, you need a

three-inch gravel base underneath the prepared soil mixture

of hotbeds.

If you use electricity for heating hotbeds, lay cables at the

bottom of the bed or on a bed of sand and cover it with

gravel. There should be a covering of two inches of sand over

the cable. If you intend sowing seeds directly into the hotbed

and not in pots, use wire screening mesh covering of inch-

wide overheating tape to prevent any damage from cutting

tools.

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Facts about Famous Greenhouses

1) Greenhouses have different names across different

countries. The British prefer calling greenhouses

“conservatories” as they conserve plants. The French

call their greenhouses “orangeries” as they prevent

oranges from freezing.

2) Leamington in Ontario houses the largest greenhouse

complex in the world. More than two hundred acres of

land is under glass for commercial cultivation of

tomatoes.

3) The concept of the modern greenhouse started in Italy

in the sixteenth century. It then spread to Netherlands

and England. Samuel Cocking built the first greenhouse

in Japan in 1880. David Chelf from the University of

California in Berkeley designed the first air-supported

and wind-assisted greenhouse.

4) The Palace of Versailles houses a huge greenhouse with

a length of five hundred feet that is forty-two feet in

width and has a height of forty-five feet.

5) The New York Crystal Palace, London's Crystal Palace,

Kew Gardens in England, and Munich’s Glaspalast are

among the different greenhouses that have been used

for horticultural and non-horticultural exhibitions.

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Another eBookWholesaler Publication

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Document Outline

- Recommended Resources

- Please Read This First

- Disclaimer

- About the Author

- Table of Contents

- 1. What is a Greenhouse?

- 2. Uses of a Greenhouse

- Innovative Uses of Old Greenhouses Include:

- 3. Greenhouse Types and Styles

- Greenhouses for Your Area

- How to Choose a Greenhouse

- Placement of Your Greenhouse

- Choice of Greenhouse

- Framing Materials

- 5. Buying a Greenhouse

- Greenhouse Interiors

- Ten Steps to Building a Greenhouse

- Materials for Building Your Greenhouse:

- Steps for Building Your Greenhouse

- Do You Need a Customized Greenhouse?

- Building Your Own Greenhouse

- Important Factors

- Planning a Greenhouse Business

- Essential Steps in Planning Your Greenhouse Business

- Which Type of Greenhouse?

- Greenhouse Accessories

- Top Greenhouse Kits

- Planning Your Greenhouse Location

- The Best Frame for Your Greenhouse

- Choose the Covering for Your Greenhouse

- Footings, Flooring and Foundations

- The Footings of Your Greenhouse

- Flooring of Your Greenhouse

- Selecting the Right Lights

- Light Requirements

- Types of Lights

- Cooling, Ventilation and Your Greenhouse

- Cooling and Ventilation of Greenhouses by Plants

- Cooling and Ventilation by Blocking Sunlight

- Ventilation Equipment

- Automated Cooling and Ventilation Techniques

- Understanding Heating Methods, Systems, Sources, and Distribution

- Heating Systems and Methods

- Fuel Sources for Heating Systems

- Popular Fuels:

- Heat Distribution inside Greenhouse

- Calculating Energy Requirements for Heating Systems

- Energy Requirements for Your Heating System

- Watering Systems and Insulation Techniques

- Greenhouse Watering Systems

- Insulation Techniques in Greenhouses

- Basic Greenhouse Care

- Essential Accessories and Equipments for Maintenance

- Greenhouse Maintenance Checklist

- Maintenance Checklist for Your Greenhouse

- Getting the Most from Your Cooling and Ventilation Systems

- Maintaining the Heating Systems

- Tips for Maintenance of Heating Systems

- Control Greenhouse Pests and Diseases

- Cleaning Materials and Tools for a Small Greenhouse

- Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Greenhouse

- Greenhouse Accessories Guide

- Know Your Equipment and Supplies

- Essential Greenhouse Supplies

- Cold Frames and Hotbeds

- Cold Frames

- Hotbeds

- Facts about Famous Greenhouses

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Table of Contents

Please Read This First ........................................................................ 2

About the Author ................................................................................. 4

Table of Contents ................................................................................ 5

1. What is a Greenhouse?................................................................... 8

2. Uses of a Greenhouse................................................................... 12

Innovative Uses of Old Greenhouses Include: .............................................. 13

3. Greenhouse Types and Styles ..................................................... 14

Greenhouses for Your Area.............................................................. 20

How to Choose a Greenhouse ......................................................... 21

Choice of Greenhouse................................................................................

Framing Materials ..................................................................................

5. Buying a Greenhouse ................................................................... 26

Greenhouse Interiors ..............................................................................

Ten Steps to Building a Greenhouse............................................... 31

Materials for Building Your Greenhouse:........................................................... 3

Steps for Building Your Greenhouse..................................................................

Do You Need a Customized Greenhouse?...................................... 35

Building Your Own Greenhouse ...................................................... 36

Important Factors .............................................................................. 40

Planning a Greenhouse Business.................................................... 41

Essential Steps in Planning Your Greenhouse Business.............. 43

Which Type of Greenhouse?............................................................ 47

Top Greenhouse Kits ........................................................................ 49

Planning Your Greenhouse Location .............................................. 52

The Best Frame for Your Greenhouse............................................. 56

Choose the Covering for Your Greenhouse.................................... 59

Footings, Flooring and Foundations ............................................... 62

The Footings of Your Greenhouse ....................................................................

Flooring of Your Greenhouse ........................................................................

Selecting the Right Lights ................................................................ 66

Types of Lights.....................................................................................

Cooling, Ventilation and Your Greenhouse .................................... 70

Cooling and Ventilation by Blocking Sunlight ................................................... 72

Automated Cooling and Ventilation Techniques ............................................... 75

Understanding Heating Methods, Systems, Sources, and

Fuel Sources for Heating Systems....................................................................

Heat Distribution inside Greenhouse.................................................................

Calculating Energy Requirements for Heating Systems................ 84

Energy Requirements for Your Heating System................................................ 85

Watering Systems and Insulation Techniques ............................... 88

Insulation Techniques in Greenhouses.............................................................. 9

Basic Greenhouse Care .................................................................... 93

Greenhouse Maintenance Checklist ................................................ 97

Maintenance Checklist for Your Greenhouse .................................................... 98

Getting the Most from Your Cooling and Ventilation Systems ... 101

Maintaining the Heating Systems .................................................. 105

Control Greenhouse Pests and Diseases ..................................... 108

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Greenhouse................................................... 109

Greenhouse Accessories Guide .................................................... 112

Know Your Equipment and Supplies............................................. 116