Greenhouses have been around for a very long time. There was an orangery greenhouse at the palace of Versailles in France. There are records of greenhouses built in Rome by the Emperor Tiberius. Colonial Americans even used them to grow fruit in them as early as the 17th century.
They work by letting the farmer manipulate climates, allowing for growing during conditions that may not be otherwise favorable. For instance, a farmer might want to grow tropical fruit, but lives in a northern climate. He could build a greenhouse and keep his fruit trees warm even during the winter, making his favorite food available year round.
Modern Greenhouses Are Simple
Though early greenhouses were complicated structures, some even including removable roofs, modern technology has evened the playing field with new, portable greenhouses. They can be found at home improvement stores and online varying in size and price. For the more industrious gardener, there are even free instructions available online for making your own greenhouse with some pvc pipes and plastic.
Portable greenhouses come in many different varieties and shapes. The most popular greenhouses are the ones that look like traditional greenhouses with metal framing. They are, however, also available in small sizes that fit just a few racks of plants.
These structures are often used by farmers because they are easy to put up and take down, and are easily moved. They are used for a wide variety of jobs, from protecting perennial plants to growing things like tomatoes in winter months.
Choosing a Portable Greenhouse
When choosing a portable greenhouse, there are a few things to consider.
Obviously, the first of these considerations is size.Portable greenhouses can take up as little space as a bookshelf or be as large as a small storage shed.
You should make sure that you have plenty of room to do your growing. Make sure to carefully measure the area where you choose to place your greenhouse, allowing for walking room and breathing space.
Pay attention to the quality of the portable greenhouses available to you. Always choose an option with tear resistant plastic and make sure that the plastic is treated with a UV inhibitor to prevent your greenhouse from deteriorating due to sunlight.
You should also consider your needs. Do you want a greenhouse to be a more permanent or temporary fixture? If you want to be able to move your greenhouse, make sure that you choose sturdy yet lightweight material. It wouldn’t do for the structure to be too heavy or weak to move. Also, always check your warranty and be aware of the terms.
If you are going to move your greenhouse often you will want to use some type of shelving that has wheels or is otherwise easy to relocate.
Placement of Your Greenhouse
Also, there are a few things you need to think about as far as greenhouse placement. Make sure that you place your greenhouse where it will receive the most sunlight possible. If it is possible, and if you have a longer angle on the roof of your greenhouse, make sure it aligns to face south. This will ensure that you get the most available light with the least amount of reflection.
Once your greenhouse is put together and ready to go, there are a few more things to think about. Most experts agree that commercial potting soil is fine to use in greenhouses. Make sure that your irrigation system is easy to use, even if it is something as simple as running a garden hose inside the structure.
Also, cleaning the walls and surfaces of your greenhouse with white vinegar once a month or so will be instrumental in reducing the amount of insects as well as mold that can grow in damp, warm areas.
A greenhouse allows you to extend your growing season and may, in many cases, mean that you can grow vegetables and flowers all year. By having the option of moving it from one place to another you can make the most of sunlight and shade during every season.
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