A cold frame greenhouse is a fantastic way to lengthen the gardening season and to provide a protected setting for your plants. These small growing boxes are a great addition to any backyard, even if you have a regular greenhouse. They are an excellent location for your hothouse plants to adjust to the outside environment prior to planting them. Moreover, they’re ideal for starting seedlings in the springtime.
A cold frame greenhouse is essentially a wooden box without a bottom measuring around a foot in height which can be either placed on the ground or sunk in several inches. If you want to sow your plants directly within the structure, then put in about four or five inches of compost and topsoil. It is possible to make it any size you like, but be certain you can get at all the plants inside it. A cold frame depends completely on the sun as its heat source, therefore ensure that you place it in a secluded area that gets lots of sunshine and is protected from the wind.
The most critical aspect of a cold frame is the sloping roof, which is made of transparent or translucent material that allows in warmth from the sun. Discarded windows make great covers, but you can choose any kind of see-through, rigid plastic or film; just make certain that the cover can be adjusted in order to allow proper ventilation.
A hotbed is a kind of cold frame that has a supply of heat within it, which can be a thermostatically controlled electric heating cable, an incandescent light bulb and even manure. Any of those sources of heat will prevent your plants from freezing even if outdoor temperatures drop to approximately 15 degrees F.
You don’t need to construct your own cold frame if you’re not inclined to DIY projects. A cold frame greenhouse is basically a miniature greenhouse, and you can purchase these all ready to go at a number of stores and on the internet. These products are lightweight yet durable, and can be effortlessly relocated as needed. They are likely to be taller than cold frames and are manufactured from translucent plastic which is typically double-walled to provide insulation, and there are hinges on the roof for quick access.
You may wish to use your cold frame greenhouse for getting a head start on hardier annuals and early salad greens. It’s also a great situation to acclimatize seedlings before planting them in the garden. When the weather warms up, you’ll be able to make use of it to root cuttings, to start less sturdy annuals and also to sprout seeds. You can also sow cold-weather crops in your cold frame in the fall so you will be able to enjoy fresh root vegetables and greens through the cold months of winter.
If plan on growing plants inside your home, you’ll need to make sure you have adequate indoor greenhouse lighting for their needs. Click here to find out more about setting up an indoor greenhouse right in your own home.
Tags:
cold frame,
cold frame greenhouse,
Gardening,
greenhouses
March 01 2010 | Gardening | No Comments »
by Virginia Slate
Portable greenhouses can be very beneficial to those who already have large gardens established or for those just beginning to show an interest in growing fruits, plants, and vegetables. These greenhouses often come in kits and can be put together in less than a couple of hours depending on the size of the structure. Portable greenhouse kits can be as large as a regular outdoor shed or as small as a tiny bookcase.
Once your portable greenhouse is assembled you certainly don’t have to keep it in one place. A main benefit of these structures is their flexibility. However, once you have the greenhouse put together some will obviously be easier to move than others. Smaller greenhouse kits will be easy to move but larger portable greenhouses may require a few people if you want to move it from one area of your yard to another after it’s been put together. You’ll definitely want to take this into consideration when deciding what type of portable greenhouse to purchase.
There are also a variety of smaller portable greenhouses that are designed to be kept inside your home. You can use these greenhouse for many purposes, including keeping sensitive plants indoors during cold nights, or protecting them from the long, cold winter. Many gardeners also use indoor greenhouse to start growing seeds which are then planted outside once they grow into seedlings or juvenile plants. You can also use these smaller greenhouses to practice your gardening skills before moving to the great outdoors.
Not sure if gardening is the hobby for you? A portable greenhouse is a great way to get your feet wet and practice planting vegetables and flowers without making a huge commitment in terms of time and money. All you have to do is simply pack up your greenhouse if you decide that you don’t have a green thumb. You can’t do this with a permanent greenhouse building that in addition to costing a lot of money, will become a fixed structure in your yard once it’s been established.
A small portable greenhouse also fits nicely on a small apartment deck or patio and is perfect for those that enjoy gardening but don’t have a lot of extra yard space. Most of these greenhouses come in kits that need to be assembled but are usually very easy to put together. Some are more structurally sound than others and if you plan on keeping your greenhouse outdoors during bad weather you may want to find a way to hold it down so it doesn’t topple over or blow away during a storm.
Some gardeners recommend tying the greenhouse down with additional stakes and ropes or adding weight to the floor with something like a black solar bag filled with sand or water. You can also purchase additional ropes and tie-downs to add a little extra security to your structure.
Before you order your portable greenhouse you want to make sure it meets all your requirements for size, storage, and portability. There’s no use purchasing a kit if it doesn’t fit where you want to put it or doesn’t have enough room for all your plants and flowers. There are many portable greenhouse kits available to choose from so make sure you do your homework before you spend a lot of money.
Tags:
flowers,
fruits,
Gardening,
greenhouses,
herbs,
organic gardening,
plants,
portable greenhouses,
seeds,
vegetables
April 19 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »