If you have some gardening experience with open tillage, raised beds, or pots on your patio, you will be able to apply much of your knowledge to greenhouse gardening with just a bit of variation to gardening under glass. A greenhouse is not in all cases a “hot house,” as it is sometimes called. Some species of plants do best at slightly lower temperatures and with a much higher humidity than is usually maintained in a natural outdoor garden or inside your home. The temperature and humidity levels inside a greenhouse can be regulated fairly easily.
There are a number of reasons why gardeners may choose to garden inside a greenhouse. The most common reason is usually a desire to extend the traditional growing season into the winter months. The use of a greenhouse also enables the gardener to retain plants in the fall and throughout the winter for spring seeding or planting use. When starting new plants from seed, a greenhouse allows you to plant the seedlings sooner than you would if they were sowed directly in the outdoor garden. Starting plants from seed is also a very economical option, as opposed to the expense of purchasing young plants from a nursery. Other common reasons for greenhouse gardening include growing tropical or exotic plants, growing vegetables for winter use, and experimenting with hybridization of plants as a hobby or for home science experiments.
When preparing to set up your greenhouse, you’ll want to consider designing a workflow layout for your new space. For example, there will be days you will just plant seeds and other days you will be transferring seedlings from small beds to larger beds. You may want your potting tables in one specific location, shelves in another, etc. The layout is something you want to think through carefully to insure you are not going to have to remove everything after the first season and rearrange. One way to design a layout is to spend some time doing “play work” in your greenhouse, or simply imaging how your work will be done in the space.
The location you choose for your greenhouse is critical. You do not want a shade tree blocking important sunlight. When planning the location, also keep in mind that a tree that’s small right now will grow much larger over the next five, ten, or fifteen years. You should also think about traffic patterns. Is the greenhouse going to be convenient to access? Is it far enough away from the street and lot lines to satisfy local building codes and neighbors? Also be sure to explore whether your neighborhood has any local covenants that would affect the building of a greenhouse.
Another important part of greenhouse preparation is determining if you want to build the structure yourself or hire outside labor. First, you’ll have to carefully and honestly assess your own abilities and skills to execute a DIY project of this magnitude. What tools will be necessary and do you have access to them and the knowledge to operate them? Are you physically fit to do the job yourself? Will you be able to execute the job in a timetable that meets your own needs and expectations?
If you do decide to hire outside help, be sure to check references carefully. Have they built other greenhouses before? If so, get a list of some projects they’ve completed in your local area and do a drive-by evaluation of their work. Or better yet, stop and knock on the door and inquire with the homeowner about the project. Was it completed in a timely manner and did the contractor stick to the budget? Were there any unexpected delays or costs that came up during construction? Most homeowners that are proud of the end result will be happy to talk to you and show you their new greenhouse. Lastly, you’ll want to find out if the contractor is bonded and insured. The last thing you want is to hire some for a day’s labor and then find yourself with a workers’ compensation claim because they were injured on the job and the firm did not have insurance.
