Wouldn’t it be nice to have a small greenhouse in the yard where you could escape winter, if only temporarily, and enjoy the quiet serenity of tropical plants and beautiful flowers? Well, with so many hobby greenhouses on the market today, growing year round is no longer just for the professional. Trying to decide which structure to purchase can be a bit confusing though. Let’s look together at the different types available today.
There are two basic types of hobby greenhouse, lean-to and freestanding. Lean-to types are attached to your home. This is an advantage because a common wall is shared as well as heat and electric. Care should be taken to make sure the structure is properly attached and sealed to the house. The major disadvantage is at some point during the day, the lean-to will be in shade because of the shared wall. This can affect the plants growth inside.
Gardening Tips: Hobby Greenhouse Structures
Freestanding types can be located anywhere on your property that receives sun all day and where the ground is level. There is a wider selection of style and size options to choose from. There is one negative aspect; heat and electrical lines must be brought out to where the greenhouse is sitting. Freestanding greenhouses lose heat more quickly because it does not have the insulating wall that a lean-to has, but it will receive more sun, as it is open on all sides.
Styles vary between the two, with lean-to’s having the least to choose from. Freestanding greenhouses offer Slant-side, A-frame, Dome, Gable roof, Quonset, and Gothic arch styles, the most popular being the latter three. Both lean-to and freestanding can be purchased as a kit and usually have aluminum framework, which is long lasting and needs little maintenance.
There are a variety of greenhouse-covering materials to choose from. Polyethylene films, reinforced fiberglass panels, double layered acrylic and traditional glass are mostly used, each having advantages and disadvantages. Glass is very strong and transparent but subject to shattering and is very expensive. Polyethylene film is cheaper to use and lends itself to layering (putting one sheet on top of the other and inflating with air creating an insulation barrier), but needs replacing frequently. Fiberglass panels are rigid, durable, and lightweight and retain heat better than glass panels do. I found that the fiberglass turned yellow after a few years and needed to be replaced. Double-layered acrylic panels are made up of two layers of plastic. There is a ribbed spacing between the layers, measuring between a half and one inch. It will remind you of a corrugated box. This layer increases the strength of the walls and increases the heat retention capabilities. It is also aesthetically pleasing.
I mentioned framing before and I would like to go back to that. The covering material used determines which frame to use. Homemade greenhouse frames are usually constructed with treated wood. Greenhouse kits, sold by the manufacturer, are made of aluminum or galvanized metal. Which ever one you choose, make sure that the frame can support the covering material used. The frame must withstand wind, rain, snow, ice and the load exerted on it from hanging baskets.
If building a freestanding or lean-to structure doesn’t appeal to you, try a greenhouse window. The window resembles a box that has glass shelves and venting windowpanes. It gets its heat from the sun and is a good way to try your hand at greenhouse growing without the expense of a structure on the property.
One important note at this time, always check with your town first for any special permits that may be required before you erect your greenhouse.
So here you have the different types of structures, covering materials, and styles to choose from. Confusing yes, but if you know someone who owns a greenhouse, use him or her for information. Some counties own and operate greenhouses to grow all the flowers used in the surrounding town. Pop in one day and talk to the grower. They are a wealth of information and usually willing to share their passion with others. Sometimes bouncing your ideas off of some else will shed more light on the subject.
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