How to Start a Greenhouse
A greenhouse helps a gardener extend the growing season for vegetables, flowers and herbs. The greenhouse's control of light and temperature provide an opportunity to try new or challenging crops from seeds or to protect seedlings before transplanting.
Starting a greenhouse is a capital expense and requires a lot of effort for do-it-yourselfers. However, starting a greenhouse is fun and gives you the opportunity to have fresh herbs and vegetables all year or to potentially make money by producing out-of-season crops or specialty herbs and vegetables for sale. Your greenhouse may be freestanding or attached to your residence depending on the size and capability you want.
Decide on the size of your greenhouse before you start based on how many plants you want to grow. Include room for benches and walkways.
- A greenhouse helps a gardener extend the growing season for vegetables, flowers and herbs.
- The greenhouse's control of light and temperature provide an opportunity to try new or challenging crops from seeds or to protect seedlings before transplanting.
Decide on the style for the greenhouse you are starting. As delineated by the University of Alabama extension service, “Greenhouse design styles vary widely and include Quonset, tri-penta, dome, gothic arch, slant-side, A-frame, gable roof, straight-side lean-to, curved-side lean-to, and slant-side lean-to.” The style you choose will often dictate the appropriate covering, which can be flexible materials like polyethylene sheeting, or rigid ones such as glass and plastic.
Select a location for your greenhouse that provides sunshine when your plants are growing. The east side of a building allows morning sun, whereas the southwest or west side has sun later in the day. The north side of a building has the least sun and is not recommended unless you are providing supplemental light using grow lights for your plants. Freestanding greenhouses should have the majority of their windows oriented southeast to northwest.
Level the surface beneath the greenhouse location using a string or leveler. Greenhouses made of glass, fiberglass, or the double-layer rigid-plastic sheet materials should have a concrete foundation according to the University of West Virginia’s extension service, whereas “Quonset greenhouses with pipe frames and a plastic cover use posts driven into the ground (for support).”
- Decide on the style for the greenhouse you are starting.
- Greenhouses made of glass, fiberglass, or the double-layer rigid-plastic sheet materials should have a concrete foundation according to the University of West Virginia’s extension service, whereas “Quonset greenhouses with pipe frames and a plastic cover use posts driven into the ground (for support).”
Choose framing materials. Starting your greenhouse with a manufactured kit provides the materials needed including frames and covers. If building a greenhouse from scratch, select either pressure-treated lumber for wood frames or PCV for Quonset hut styles. Be sure the frame is strong enough to withstand weather and support any objects that will be hung, such as flower baskets or grow lights.
Install flooring that provides good drainage if you are not putting a concrete foundation under the greenhouse. Several inches of pea-gravel work well and help keep down volunteer weeds.
Select a system for temperature control for your greenhouse. Heating is needed in cold weather, cooling in summer heat, and venting to provide air circulation and replace carbon dioxide. Because temperatures can fluctuate a great deal throughout the day, automated temperature control systems should be installed unless you have time to monitor your greenhouse several times a day.
- Starting your greenhouse with a manufactured kit provides the materials needed including frames and covers.
- Install flooring that provides good drainage if you are not putting a concrete foundation under the greenhouse.
Install access to water for your greenhouse plants. Handheld hoses are fine for small greenhouses. Plants in larger, self-standing greenhouses are easier to water with automatic systems.
Tip
When deciding on the size for your greenhouse, do not forget that the space will need to be heated, vented, and perhaps cooled--which will affect your initial and operating costs.
Warning
Check local zoning requirements or homeowner’s association rules before starting your greenhouse.
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References
Tips
- When deciding on the size for your greenhouse, do not forget that the space will need to be heated, vented, and perhaps cooled--which will affect your initial and operating costs.
Warnings
- Check local zoning requirements or homeowner's association rules before starting your greenhouse.
Writer Bio
Barbara Brown has been a freelance writer since 2006. She worked 10 years performing psychological testing before moving into information research. She worked as a knowledge management specialist and project manager in defense and health research. She is studying to be a master gardener and has a master's degree in psychology from Southern Methodist University.
