TYPES OF GREENHOUSES
Freestanding Greenhouse:
Freestanding greenhouses come in a variety of styles. Your freestanding greenhouse can be placed wherever your yard has the best light. It can be easily moved. It will provide a great deal of light when placed in the correct location. It will require heating at night because of the amount of exposed surface area. You will generally need a heating and cooling system.
Lean-To Greenhouse:
An attached lean-to design may be placed against your house or other building. A lean-to greenhouse is somewhat limited in size (single or double row plant benches); however, they often can be added to with expansion kits. Because it is often placed against a house, it is usually close to available electricity, water, and heat.
Cold Frame:
Cold frames are like a small, easily portable greenhouse. They are ideal for the gardener who has very little space, but who wants to have an excellent start for seedlings. In addition, there are mini-greenhouses that consist of several shelves that are wrapped with a protective covering, usually plastic. They are ideal for small places and may be placed on a patio, deck, balcony, next to your house, or even in your house.
WHERE TO PLACE YOUR GREENHOUSE
You may place your greenhouse on the lawn, over bare gravel, on a concrete slab, or a brick patio. However, you need to make sure that you have good drainage. A lawn or gravel area is recommended for a portable greenhouse.
The best location for a greenhouse is on the south or southeast side of your house in a sunny location. The second best location is the east side, since it will continue to get sunlight in November and December. After these locations, the next best locations are are southwest and west. We do not recommend that you place your greenhouse on the north side of your house.
Your greenhouse should have at least five to six hours of unobstructed light during the winter.
You should try to avoid placing your greenhouse where it will be exposed to heavy winds. If your location is generally windy, make sure you use long stakes to anchor the greenhouse in addition to those that come with the greenhouse kit.
In order to help you use and maintain your greenhouse and to make the use of your greenhouse the best it can be, we offer a variety of greenhouse kit supplies and accessories that fit the greenhouse you purchase. You should consider the following when choosing your greenhouse supplies and accessories:
Heating:
Your greenhouse may be heated efficiently by gas, oil, coal, or electricity with a space heater, forced air heater, or electric radiant heater. You may combine your heater with other accessories, such as heat mats that may be used under seedlings. We suggest placing the heater in the back of the greenhouse, either at the end of the walkway or under the plant benches or shelving. Leave some space around the heater so that the heat can fully circulate and your plants do not get too warm. You may use a small circulation fan to give you even heating in the greenhouse.
Ventilation:
On bright, sunny days, even during the winter months, your greenhouse can get too warm. You need to make sure that you have ventilation equipment to control humdity and temperature. This should include vents and vent openers. You may also use fans to help maintain uniform temperatures and prevent mildew and plant diseases. Fans can help to reduce heating costs.
Shading:
During the summer months when the sun is the brightest, shade cloths may be used to protect your plants and cool off the greenhouse.
