Greenhouse Buyers Guide – Best Tips and Tricks

 

This is a guide on what to consider when thinking about buying a greenhouse or other protected growing structure in glass, polyethylene, or plastic.

Introduction: What is a Greenhouse and How do they Work?

A greenhouse is a covered area that has walls, glass, or plastic to give plants some protection from the climatic conditions outside.

A greenhouse is a place where plants are grown for their flowers or vegetables. Some people have greenhouses in their backyard to grow some of their food. Greenhouses are often used to grow flowers and vegetables in enclosed areas with controlled temperatures.

6 Factors That Affect the Price of a Greenhouse

A greenhouse is a structure that is used for the growing of plants in a controlled environment. However, the price of these greenhouses varies depending on several factors such as location and size.

Many factors will affect the cost of building and operating a greenhouse. A few of them are:

a) The size of the greenhouse: A small greenhouse can be cheaper to build and operate than a large one.

b) Location: If it is located in an area with moderate temperatures, this will decrease the amount required to maintain it.

c) Design: This will also affect how much electricity needs to be consumed by the greenhouse.

d) The quality/brand name of the materials used

e) The type of heating system that is being used

f) How long do you intend to keep it.

How Much Does it Cost to Buy A Garden?

A garden is a wonderful addition to any backyard, but it can come with a hefty price tag. If you’re thinking about purchasing a new garden, here are some things to consider before you spend your hard-earned money on this purchase.

One of the most important aspects in buying a garden is considering how much it will cost to buy and maintain the garden. The cost of buying and maintaining a garden will vary depending on the type and size of garden that you decide to buy and how much time and effort you want to put into helping out in the upkeep process.

When considering whether or not you should buy a new one or not, it’s also important for potential buyers to take into account the time period when they’ll be using their new gardening tools.

Even though there is a lot of information available on the internet about how much it costs to buy a garden, not everyone knows the latest cost of buying a garden today.

A garden can cost anywhere from $5000 to $250,000 depending on its size and location. The average cost is around $10,000 per acre or about $16,000 per hectare.

Which Are the Best Plants To Grow In A Greenhouse
Plant selection is an important decision for anyone who wants to grow plants indoors. Plants need certain things in order to thrive. They require ample time spent with sunlight, water, and nutrients.

There are many plants that are suitable for growing indoors during the winter months. Some plants require less care typically because they are naturally more resilient to cold temperatures

Some of the most popular plants that you can grow in your greenhouse this winter are as follows:

• English Ivy
• Jade Plant
• Goldfish Plant

Which Are Different Types of Greenhouse

Greenhouses are used for many purposes. They are used to grow plants, to make vegetables, fruits, etc. They can also be used as a hobby to enjoy nature and natural beauty.

Types of greenhouse:

– Flowerhouse: Used for growing flowers, plants, and even small trees. It is specially designed for those who love gardening.

– Conservatory: Used for growing plants that require specific amounts of light and moisture.

– Space greenhouses: This type of greenhouse is designed with the goal of capturing an entire ecosystem inside it. The planetarium-style design allows the plants to thrive in a very natural environment so you can simply enjoy them without having to worry about your plants being too well taken care of by you!

– Vertical Greenhouse: A vertical greenhouse is a type of greenhouse that allows for growing plants at different levels so they can be tended to more easily by humans. It is the best way to raise vegetables in places where there is less or no natural light available. These greenhouses are typically open on the top and have slats on the sides, framing out.

Read More: Greenhouse Monthly Jobs Checklist

Top Thing to Consider in Greenhouse Buyers Guide

1. Access

Make sure that the greenhouse is easy to get into and to move around in. Most greenhouses have a built-in threshold on which the door slides; this might be a problem if you use a wheelchair. Look for a greenhouse that is built without a threshold so that you can wheel straight in. The doorway should be at least 850mm (2′ 6″) wide and sliding doors are easier to manage.

2. Siting

Siting the greenhouse is very important. It needs to be in a position that receives maximum sunshine for as much of the day as possible. Ideally, it should be near the house – both for easy access in unpleasant weather and to cut down the cost of laying on electricity and water. Avoid overhanging trees as these will shade the greenhouse.

3. Greenhouse Interior Design

The path inside the greenhouse needs to be 850mm (2′ 6″) wide if you use a wheelchair or walking frame. The path should be level, non-slip, and firm. Make sure you can reach the back of any staging or shelves – this might mean having staging only 600 cm (2′) wide. Also, ensure that the staging is the right height for you.

Your local Garden Centre should have a range of heavy-duty plastic or galvanized staging.

Read More: Easy to Grow Plants and Vegetables with GreenHouse Kits

4. Heating System

The options for heating are butane gas, electricity, paraffin, or none at all. As well as for heating, electricity supply to the greenhouse can be used for automatic ventilation and soil warming. Even without heat, the greenhouse has many uses.

A minimum of 7-8°C (45~47°F) is sufficient to grow many plants overwinter, although the more tropical species will not tolerate this low temperature.

The two popular types of electric heaters are tubular and fan styles. Fan heaters tend to use more electricity but do circulate the air and can be used to help ventilation in the summer. Most manufacturers will offer advice on the size of the heater required for your greenhouse. When choosing an electric heater to ensure that it has a thermostat and has been tested to IP21 which allows it to be used where moisture and splashing may occur. The Powerforce Heater featured in our competition meets this requirement.

Paraffin heaters are a very good source of heat and are relatively cheap to use. However, they do produce a lot of water vapor and condensation can be a problem, especially under polythene. They can also smoke unless the wick is kept trim and well adjusted. The heater should always be filled outside the greenhouse as spilled paraffin contaminates the soil and gives off harmful fumes.

Gas heaters are also readily available and should be chosen to suit the size of your greenhouse.

5. Greenhouse Ventilation System

Most greenhouses will have roof windows for ventilation. Warm air rises and escapes through these vents and cooler air is drawn in from the door or side windows. Several firms market a. a simple expanding tube which can be fitted to the roof ventilators to open and shut automatically, depending on the temperature. A pole with a hook on the end can put manually operated ventilators within reach.

The most effective type of ventilator is the thermostatically controlled extractor fan. These are easy to install and cheap to run, providing a continuous movement of air and reducing condensation. They are normally fitted to the gable end of the greenhouse. For polythene tunnels, ventilation is usually provided by opening the end doors.

6. Shading

Shading has the dual functions of at least limiting the sun’s rays – thus avoiding scorching to leaves, fruit, etc – and of preventing too much radiant heat from building up, so keeping the professional-quality greenhouse to a reasonable temperature.

Some shading can also be used to insulate the house and thereby keep in the heat at night. As shading reduces the amount of light in the greenhouse it should not be used on dull days. ‘Paint on’ shading powder, which is mixed with water and painted on the outside of the glass, remains until wiped off (usually in autumn).

If you prefer this method, be aware of the limitations posed by the lower light levels. All forms of shading should only be used on the south side of the greenhouse. Roller blinds can be fitted either to the inside or outside of the house and rolled down when required. However, these are expensive.

7. Watering

Correct watering of plants is one of the most difficult things to achieve in a greenhouse. If you lack strength or mobility in your arms but need to water manually, choose a light plastic greenhouse can with a long spout. Alternatively, tying the end of a hose to a cane or broom handle, or using a lance attachment, will extend the reach.

Never try squirting the water by pinching the end of the hose, as this can lead to inconsistent watering and severe erosion of compost from the pots. It also tends to knock over dry (and therefore light) pots. Lances with control triggers are useful to avoid splashes that can spread fungal and bacterial spores.

There are many self-watering systems now available that are either completely automatic or semi-automatic.

Perhaps the most efficient form of watering is by a capillary method where the pots and seed trays stand on special matting or a sand bed and take up only the water they need. A seep hose laid along the mats or sand bed takes most of the work out of watering.

Trickle irrigation is another method of supplying water directly to the plant or pot at a predetermined rate. A popular form is the spaghetti tubing system in which one supply pipe has a large number of individual smaller tubes leading off it so that each pot receives a constant dripped supply. These are known as micro-irrigation and can be bought quite inexpensively from garden centers.

Whatever method you use for watering, remember that the plants nearest the windows will dry out faster than those near the center of the professional-quality greenhouse. They are also the pots that are most difficult to reach and so might become neglected during hand watering.

8. Hygiene Process

Good hygiene is vital in the greenhouse, to avoid the build-up of diseases and the overwintering of pests. All areas of the greenhouse should be thoroughly cleaned with a disinfectant at least once a year. Care should be taken to get the disinfectant into all the cracks and crevices, used pots and seed trays, etc, where all the nasties try to hide.

Regular checking of the condition of plants will ensure that you find pests and diseases early and can then take action to prevent damage. There is a whole range of organic and inorganic controls available for the greenhouse. Take care in following the manufacturers’ instructions at all times. Any good-sized garden center will have a selection of products, so try your local one first.

If you don’t have sufficient space in your garden for a professional-quality greenhouse, you might wish to consider frames or cloches.

9. Frames

Frames are used for increasing the growing season and for hardening off plants. They usually comprise a frame of either wood or plastic, with a top that rises or slides up to provide access and ventilation. Lean-to frames are available, as are frames that have a sloping front with sliding doors, making access easier. Frames can use laminated glass for safety or rigid plastic with an aluminum frame. Ensure that frames are stable and will not move in high winds.

Read More: Easy to Grow Plants and Vegetables with GreenHouse Kits

For many people, frames may be inaccessible at ground level; in this instance, a frame could be raised up on a suitable and stable base. Accessories for frames can include heating and mist watering.

10. Cloches

Cloches come in a variety of shapes and sizes – to protect individual plants or rows of plants from harsh weather, to extend the growing season, and to keep out pests.

When choosing a cloche consider whether or not it is self-assembly, easy to store, lightweight (and if so, will it be likely to blow around if not well anchored) and that it has ventilation. Some cloches take the form of glass tents which, it may be decided, present too great a safety hazard.

11. Greenhouse Additional accessories

Staging, heating, automatic vent openers, shading, and lighting are additional items that may be required at some point. Greenhouse accessories are usually readily available from all good garden centers. To search for a Greenhouse gardens nursery recommend these products on amazon:

Best 04 Greenhouse Kits for Buyer’s Guide

1. Rion EcoGrow 2 Twin Wall Greenhouse, 6′ x 10′

2. Palram Balance Hobby Greenhouse, 8′ x 12′, Green

3. Palram Bella Hobby Greenhouse, 8′ x 20′, Silver with Twin Wall Glazing

4. Palram HG5812 Essence Hobby Greenhouse, 8′ x 12′ x 8′, Silver

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