Cold Frames & Greenhouses
Building A Cold Frame:
With very little effort you can build a simple cold frame - essentially a low greenhouse with a translucent hinged top. Placed against a south-facing wall and recessed into the ground it allows you to get a jump on spring with the sheltering of young plants before they are transplanted out, or even grow hardy salad greens such as spinach and kale during frosty winter months.
Dig a rectangle about 6 -8 inches deep beside the wall. Using scrap lumber or plywood, build a frame with sides the slope down toward the front; a 6 inch slope is sufficient. Make sure the front is high enough (about 18 inches) to accommodate your shortest plant. Then set the frame againt the wall and spread 3 - 4 inches of gravel in the bottom.
Traditionally, old window sashes formed the tops of cold fames, but you can also use clear plastic, fiberglass, or polyethylene plastic sheeting. In snowy areas, first cover the frame with fine mesh chicken wire or hardware cloth.
Place the young plants or sow the seeds on a bed of good garden soil placed on a gravel base. Additional straw can be placed around the outside of the cold frame for additional warmth. Close the lid for protection from extreme cold, opening it slightly for ventilation when the temperature is above freezing.
 |
Build-A-Ball, Set Of 6
Build-A-Balls Make Fun and Functional Structures With these rubber connectors and some bamboo poles, you can build all kinds of sturdy garden structures in minutes— without tools. They're as much fun as an old-fashioned kid's toy. Fits our #4 and #6 bamboo or any 3/4" pole.
|
 |
Stackable Corner Joints, set of 2
New Corner Joints Create Endless Design Possibilities Use these versatile corners to create everything from multi-level raised beds to angled landscape edging. Use singly for 5-1/2" high beds or edging, or stack two corners for an 11" high bed. Your 2" x 6" lumber slides right in.
|
All About Greenhouses
Traditionally defined as any glass-roofed building or adjoining structure whose purpose is to contain plants, today's greenhouse comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and compositions.
There are several advantages that all-year gardening greenhouses afford:
- Summer and fall crop yields can be stretched one season longer, often through the otherwise dull winter season.
- Gardeners can use their greenhouses to gain a head start on springtime planting
- An opportunity to control the environment. Frosts, blizzards, rainstorms, heatwaves and other weather nuisances can be virtually ignored behind the protection of greenhouse windows and wall. Plus controlling the environment allows gardeners to grow specialty plants such as orchids and bromelaids.
- Further, there is the therapeutic value of home gardening. Tending fresh fruits, vegetables and ornamental flowers throughout the year is a wonderful way to break the tension and stress of a hard day at work.
Attached Greenhouse:
The gardener seeking to minimize construction and maintenance expense, and possibly even capture some heat for the house, may find that an attached greenhouse is more suitable than a freestanding one.
To be most effective, a south wall of the house should be chosen for this type of greenhouse. The spot should not be heavily shaded by trees or other buildings, but it should be protected from strong winds that could chill the greenhouse and possibly weaken it in structure. Supplemental heating can be minimized - or even eliminated - by taking advantage of some features that are being incorporated into the new solar and energy-efficient houses such as the use of multiple-layer glazing, nighttime insulating shutters, curtains, shades, and the addition of thermal mass, such as concrete, stone or brick floors and house walls.
Vents near the floor allow cool house air to enter the greenhouse, where it is warmed and then circulated back into the house by means of another vent near the ceiling of the greenhouse. since warm air naturally rises, no fan is necessary in many instances to move this air. Such venting not only helps to warm the house, but it also permits good air flow throughout the greenhouse, raises the humidity of the house and distribues plant-loving carbon dioxide from the house to the greenhouse, and then returning the oxygen from the plants back in.
Vents to the greenhouse should be closed during the summer months, and vents from the greenhouse to the outdoors should be opened instead so that neither the house nor the greenhouse gets overheated.
Freestanding Greenhouse:
To many people, freestanding greenhouses offer distinct advantages. Although they do raise your heating bill, and they require extra expenditures for wire, pipes, fans, heaters, and the like, the additional growing space over attached greenhouses is ample compensation.
- Location:
Choosing the best greenhouse location is an important step requiring several considerations. Convenience, accessiblity, yard space, and general land conditions are variables to consider.
All greenhouses should be situated so that the maximum dosage of sunlight is utilized, especially in winter when it is most needed. A 3 hour exposure of sunlight is considered the minimum daily requirement for most plants during the winter.
Contrary to popular belief, the precise direction in which a greenhouse faces is usually not a crucial consideration. A more important consideration is the direction of the prevailing winds. Hinged dodors should always swing away from the wind, rather than into it.
- Heating and Cooling:
The key to controlling the climate indoors is regulating the temperature to simulate the outdoors. Heartier plants grow best when temperatures tend toward cool. In excessively warm environments, greenhouse plants grow rapidly, but become vulnerable to mildew and insect infextation.
The proper heating system for your greenhouse depends largely upon the climage and temperature range where you live. Some suggestions for conserving fuel include keeping the greenhouse as airtight as possible; using two outside doors and having one serve as a storm door; using mulch to insulate and retain heat; installing heavy-gauge aluminum foil between the heat source and the outside wall to reflect and retain heat; and planting a windbreak of trees and shrubs nearby to retain heat and protect against wind turbulence.
- Humidity & Ventilation:
The most important companion to any greenhouse heating system is ventilation. Without fans to circulate the air, the greenhouse temperature can vary from 45F on the floor or ground to over 90F near the roof in winter. Summer temperatures would be even more extreme without proper ventilation.
Never build a greenhouse too small. In a small area, it is impossible to maintian an even temperature and a healthy atmostpher condition. On sunny days, even in winter, a 4 x 6 ft greenhouse could run over 100F in a matter of minutes and then, at night, when the sun goes down, it would cool off just as fast. Plants will not grow under such conditions without extensive environmental control equipment.
Maintain a relative humidity of approx. 60%. Excessive humidity invites plant diseases and decreased fruit and flower production (unless you are growing tropicals that are used to such conditions).
- Soil:
A loam soil is oftern recommended because of its good drainage and aeration. A mix for bench or potted plants is 2 parts topsoil, 1 part sphagnum peat moss, and 1 part sand or horticultural perlite. Another common soil mixture is 1 part soil, 1 part peat moss, and 1 part vermiculite, coarse sand, or perlite. Whichever mixture is used, always keep it fairly moist in order to sustain the living organisms in the soil.
Pests & Diseases in Greenhouses:
Insects, bacteria, viruses, and fungi which thrive in "hothouse climates" can be battled by following these simple sanitation tips:
- Remove diseased and dead plants; keep them far from the greenhouse.
- Prevent wild weed growth near the greenhouse. Such growth attracts insects and promotes disease.
- Keep the greenhouse neat and free of plant clutter.
- Be certain that new plants introduced into the greenhouse don't harbour new germs and pests.
- Start seed, roots and cuttings in soilless mediums. Sterile perlite, vermiculite and peat moss are recommended for controlling seedling and cutting disease.
- Provide proper greenhouse ventilation.
- Avoid soaking foliage when watering. Also avoid overwatering or overfertilizing greenhouse plants.
The organic greenhouse gardener can turn to several safe insect controls, dusts and sprays for disease outbreaks. Natural Bug Spray Recipes
However, not all greenhouse or garden insects are enemies to the propagation of healthy plants. Ladybugs, praying mantis, lcewings, spiders, and horse hair snakes are among the many winged or crawling "friends" in the garden who eat harmful insects.
If helpful insects are not enough, plant companion herbs in the greenhouse such as tansy, sage, rosemary, mint, basil, parsley, valerian, marigolds, and pyrethrum. Chart of Companion Plants
Related Articles:
Growing plants from seeds
Tomatoes: Grow tomatoes in your garden or on your patio. Includes everything from starting your tomato seedlings through transplanting, growing, pests, diseases, & harvesting.
Salad Greens: how to grow lettuce and mixed greens. Includes some creative recipes & more.
Healthy Garden Soil: composting, layered gardens
Greenhouse kits & Accessories
For details, please click on item name
Water-Filled Protectors Get Your Plants Growing Weeks Earlier
Of all the season-extending products we've used over the years, we've had the best results with water-filled teepees. The principle behind them is ingeniously simple. During the day the water absorbs heat, moderating temperatures inside. At night, the water releases heat, protecting plants against cold and frost. More than once we've found the water frozen in the morning, but the plants inside thriving!
Grow House
If you're an ambitious gardener who needs plenty of greenhouse space, we have a low-cost greenhouse for you — and you don't have to make compromises. The Grow House has many features found in commercial models. Classic "gothic arch" shape means unmatched structural strength. 6-mil polyethylene glazing on all sides captures 95% of available light. Top and bottom vents prevent overheating. Tough UV-protected PVC ribs never rust or rot. Generous 12-ft width accommodates 3 full-size benches with aisles between. Comes in 3 sizes.
Fast Start Bench System
Maximize the growing space of your Fast-Start Greenhouse with our custom bench system. Designed specifically for the Fast Start, it includes the extruded aluminum frame pieces and pre-cut cedar flats to construct built-in benches on each side of the Fast Start. Cedar flats are removable to make room for tall-growing plants.
The Ultimate Cold Frame Protects Against Cold, Wind and Pests
Nearly six feet long, this durable jumbo cold frame encloses over 26 square feet of growing space for hardening off transplants, and features extra headroom for mature plants. Large screen windows zip open in warmer weather, keep out insects, birds and animals. Rugged reinforced polyethylene and tubular metal frame stand up to strong winds. 12 ground stakes included. Perfect for lettuce, broccoli, celery, basil, spinach, and strawberries.
Garden Starter Greenhouse
The Garden Starter is designed and built here at Gardener's Supply. It has a tough, rust and corrosion-free aluminum frame, and rigid polycarbonate double glazing that seals in warmth and moisture. The roomy 8' x 6' interior has over 7' of head room at the peak. Big enough to accommodate benches and shelves full of plants. Large 2'x3' roof vent allows excess heat to escape. Sets up in 8 hours on any level surface.
Please note: This item cannot be shipped outside the continental U.S.
For other shipping options, please call 1-888-833-1412.
Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.
Fast Start Greenhouse
At Last! A Compact Greenhouse That Doesn't Cut Corners
With the Fast-Start Greenhouse you can start seedlings, nurture transplants, and grow vegetables and flowers from spring to fall. It's packed with features you'd expect in larger, more expensive models.
10' x 12' Freestanding Northern Light Greenhouse
Now, with our new BEST model, you can begin gardening the day after you receive your greenhouse. This BEST model includes a 3-tier custom fit North Wall Bench, Vent Screens and our dual-purpose, professional quality ThermaPro Day/Night Curtain. 10-Year Warranty. No-Risk Home Trial. Easy Purchase Plan for Low Monthly Payments. Free Automatic Venting. All you need to add are the seeds and germinating mix!
Just imagine the joy of opening the door to your very own, lush green, sweetly-scented sanctuary; leaving the "real world" and all its pressures behind… whenever you like!
|
|