Do You Need a Greenhouse?
Greenhouses are a versatile solution for those who need a protected, controlled environment to grow flowers and food crops indoors off-season or to raise starter plants and shrubs for resale. Thanks to modern materials and new construction techniques, a diverse range of greenhouses are now available for sale, catering to the needs of all gardening enthusiasts.
It’s become common today to see small greenhouses in residential backyards. Homeowners and gardeners considering a greenhouse have two decisions: Do we need one? If so, with so many market choices, how do you choose which greenhouse to buy?
Greenhouse gardening has become increasingly popular due to three trends affecting gardeners everywhere.
New Materials Have Made Greenhouses Less Expensive and Longer Lasting
Greenhouses have become much more affordable recently because of new materials, which lower the cost and increase the lifespan of modern greenhouses. Manufacturers have responded to these developments by producing a wide variety of new greenhouses of all sizes and styles and at a wide range of costs.
Food Security is Enhanced with a Home Greenhouse
To many people, faith in food security is shaken by each new report of outbreaks of sickness from various produce providers. Also, the cost of food, especially produce, has risen considerably due in part to transport costs, and it’s getting to the point where it may be healthier, less expensive, and more secure to provide food for your family.
Climate Change Brings Uncertainty to Outdoor Growing Conditions
The frequency and strength of seasonal storms are increasing, as predicted by climate scientists. Gardeners worldwide are losing crops and topsoil to unusually strong weather accompanied by heavy rains, which flood ground crops and wash away topsoil where most soil nutrients reside.
In our garden, we recently had a major November storm arrive two months early, breaking many of our tomato plants, knocking over the fall brassicas (cauliflower, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage), soaking the winter squash, which should have been curing in the early autumn sun, and throwing our fall fruit harvest off schedule.
“As gardeners, we now have the added risk of unexpected weather events. Growing our principal crops in a greenhouse, or starting crops early in a small greenhouse, is our best assurance of a fruitful and successful harvest in these uncertain times.”
Benefits and Drawbacks of Greenhouses for Gardening
Besides the trends mentioned above, there are many practical benefits and some drawbacks to using a garden greenhouse to start or grow crops under shelter.
Extends the Growing Season
A greenhouse lets you start seedlings earlier in the season so they’re well developed when the weather outside becomes warm enough to set them out. Greenhouses also enable gardeners to grow crops later in the season and further extend the harvest.
Provides Fresh Vegetables All Year
In warmer climate zones or with insulated or heated models for colder regions, a greenhouse enables you to grow cool and warm weather crops all year.
Protects Germinating Seeds and Seedling Starters from Harsh Weather
Greenhouses protect fragile new sprouts and young seedlings from weather events like late frosts, cool spring weather, heavy rains, wind, and hail.
Protects Seedlings from Soil and Airborne Insect Pests
Hidden pests in the subsoil, such as wireworms, slugs and pill bugs, may emerge at night and damage fragile new sprouts and young seedlings. Airborne pests such as cabbage moths can destroy Brassica sprouts such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and brussel sprouts.
Protects Sprouts and Seedlings from Birds
Bird activity increases during spring, and many bird species will dig and scratch into the upper layer of soil in search of bugs and worms. This disturbs germinating seeds. Emerging sprouts are also susceptible to bird predation.
Plants Can Be Grown in Containers or Directly in the Ground
Greenhouses are commonly used for growing starters in pots for transplanting outdoors or for growing plants to maturity in containers or deep shelves. Plants can also be grown directly in greenhouses’ ground, enabling crops susceptible to airborne diseases, like tomatoes, to grow larger.
Saves Money on Plants
“The controlled environment of a greenhouse results in a high rate of success with seed germination.
This lets you grow as many plants as you like, without having to pay for ‘starters’ at your nursery center.
There are some drawbacks to gardening in greenhouses which can be mitigated by choosing
the right greenhouse and greenhouse accessories for your growing region.”
What are the disadvantages of a Home Greenhouse?
As an experienced home gardener, let me tell you that greenhouses can bring joy and sorrow. Do not get me wrong, they can be an amazing tool for getting just a little more growing season out of things and protection from the weather, but you should understand both sides before making a purchase.
Greenhouse Installation Cost Considerations
For many people, that money represents a huge obstacle. Greenhouse installation isn’t exactly low budget – you pay a premium not only for the building itself but also to maintain and run its utilities. It is akin to attaching an extra room in your house, which you need to feed and clean daily. Water also costs more since greenhouse plants are usually thirstier than their outdoor counterparts.
Space Considerations
Another thought derives from space. Greenhouses are space hogs out in your yard, and they’re not always the most aesthetically pleasing addition to it. You really must like the act of gardening to release that much land!
Playing Cupid for Your Plants
Greenhouses are good for protecting plants but also ideal homes for pests and diseases to flourish if you allow them. And as you’re washing away invaders, you could see yourself playing plant matchmaker simultaneously. Most crops rely on pollinators, which will not find their way into a greenhouse by chance.
Plants Can Overheat and Lose Vigor
It is nearly as challenging to manage temperature control. In the dead of summer, a greenhouse can become an oven in short order; you need to continue venting and cooling. You have to balance the conditions just right
An unvented greenhouse can get too hot in summer and cause plants to wilt or die. Most greenhouses provide ventilation, but manual vents may sometimes be left closed. Automatic vents are a great solution and are available as accessories in most greenhouse designs.
Watering Needs to be Monitored
Since seasonal rains will not reach your greenhouse plants, you must pay attention to soil moisture levels. Plants grown in containers have the benefit of being well-drained but have the liability of drying out faster than plants grown outdoors in the ground. Automatic watering systems are available as greenhouse accessories that can address watering needs.
How much Do you Love Gardening?
On the subject of keeping on top of things, greenhouses are very time-consuming. We had to water, clean and check for bugs. This is hardly a set-it-and-forget-it kind of thing.
Year after year, the greenhouse can make it a bit tricky to rotate crops as needed. This can lead to a surplus of zucchinis, which, let’s face it, is a problem many of us would love to have! Just remember to keep your planning in check to avoid a zucchini overload.
After looking at Both sides…
Despite the challenges, I love my greenhouse. It is my happy place. A greenhouse offers significant benefits to gardeners. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy homegrown tomatoes under cover at Christmas? However, it’s crucial to thoroughly evaluate your circumstances and budget before committing. Remember, informed decisions lead to successful gardening!
Conclusion
You see, after years in my greenhouse, I have learned no journey is ever really finished. Think of it as simply closing one door and opening another in your gardening journey. Once you have overcome the primary difficulties of operating and caring for your greenhouse, you will be ready to explore some cooler options.
In other words, think of it as a step up to your gardening finesse. You can get more creative with techniques and strategies in your greenhouse environment. That could mean attempting hydroponics or aquaponics, even working on breeding your own strains of plant. Before you know it, you’ve turned your greenhouse into a horticultural lab.
Plus, planning will look completely different as well. You are not restricted to any out of doors seasons, so your increasing schedules can be mapped out for the 12 months around. It allows us to implement succession planting and gets the most out of our space in ways we never could do previously.
Over time, you will undoubtedly want to delve deeper into sustainability. Be it the installation of solar panels to support your greenhouse systems or rainwater collection for irrigation. Companion planting and integrated pest management have become more advanced in this controlled situation.
Every season in the greenhouse is a learning experience, and each aspect informs your plans for next year. You certainly will be examining it, and improving the setup whenever needed, like adjusting your air system or trying different grow media.
A note of caution: a greenhouse is not a stationary place but one that grows and changes with you. It is not just the plants you are growing but also how YOU grow and develop as a gardener. Therefore, although there are obstacles to utilizing greenhouse gardening, the growth is probably worth it; your garden will be bigger with more plants, and so, in a very literal sense – you may grow as well. Happy greenhouse gardening!
