Build A Cheap Greenhouse To Grow Garden Produce

Build a cheap greenhouse to supply you with delicious garden produce all year round. Some products cannot grow outside in adverse climatic conditions, while you can create ideal conditions inside a greenhouse, away from cold, rain, and windy conditions.

Even when it is snowing outside, you may review your options and continue to grow to produce in your greenhouse, by creating ideal conditions for growth, including heaters, fans, and grow lights. The grow lights will supply the lighting conditions plants need for growth. The heaters will help fight cold conditions and the fans will help fight extreme heat conditions.

You can use natural, organic fertilizers to help your herbs, fruit, and vegetable plants grow inside your greenhouse. If you want to continue to cook with fresh garden produce, long after the growing season is over, then it would be an ideal solution to build a cheap greenhouse.

Suitable Size For Your Greenhouse Garden

We’re now hearing about the ‘recession garden’ from government officials, as a remedy to families feeling the pinch at the grocery store as we peruse the expensive products, most often transported hundreds of miles, picked when unripened and lacking both flavor and nutrients.

We all know we should be eating plenty of produce to ensure adequate nutrition, but who can afford it these days? Here, we’ve got an even better idea: build a cheap greenhouse that will pay for itself, affording you and your family organic produce of the freshest and highest nutritive value.

You may have checked into the ready-made greenhouse kits. These kits come with all of the materials necessary to build the greenhouse structure, but these greenhouse kits are pricey. By the time you pay for the greenhouse kit and shipping, it’s almost cheaper to buy the product, if your intent is to grow food.

Building Your Own Greenhouse

A better option is to build a cheap greenhouse yourself, using local materials and the same amount of labor required with the expensive greenhouse kit. DIY sites can provide you with material lists as well as step-by-step instructions on building a cheap greenhouse at a fraction of the price.

The CAD software is another tool you can use to plan and build a cheap greenhouse, getting all of the details in sync before you ever lift a hammer or pay a cent for materials. You can also find books that will give you all the info you need to make your home greenhouse a reality.

Using Basic Carpentry Skills And A Little Planning

OK, let’s see how you can build a cheap greenhouse, with just basic carpentry skills and a little planning. Layout the greenhouse with the beds facing north to south for maximum sun exposure.

A 12 foot wide by 12-foot long greenhouse will accommodate 3 planting beds, 2 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and 12 feet long, with 2 foot wide aisles between each bed, giving you easy access for weeding and harvesting.

Including Shelves And Hanging Baskets

If you plan for shelving and hanging baskets above your beds, you can make the most of your greenhouse growing space, growing smaller plants, such as herbs, radishes, mesclun, lettuce and baby carrots.

You’ll need a cement foundation. Excavate the location to a depth of four inches. Install pier posts with 2×6 redwood posts on 16-inch centers, much as you would for deck support. When the foundation is cured, nail 2×6 redwood boards along the bottom 3 feet of the posts, to be flush with the top of your planting beds inside the greenhouse.

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Heavy Duty Plastic Sheeting

When you build a cheap greenhouse, this doesn’t mean you must sacrifice the quality of the structure. The key is to use durable, but not expensive materials. Next, sandwich ready-made 4×8 lattices, with heavy-duty plastic sheeting, covering both sides of the lattices, between 2×4’s up to the roof level.

The roof can be constructed with simple trusses made of 2×6 redwood and sheeted with corrugated plastic, such as is used for a sun deck.

Planting Beds, Fans And A Heater For Cold Winters

All that’s left is to build planting beds, of 2×4 posts and 2×12 boards for siding, using three L-braces at each corner. You’ll want to install fans at each end and a heating device for cold winter growing conditions. Lay down gravel between the beds if you wish.

So there you have the basic ‘recipe’ to build a cheap greenhouse that produces a harvest of plenty. Greenhouse growing goes one better than that trendy ‘recession garden’. You’ll be producing top quality food all year long!

Growing Your Own Produce All Year Round

This is the advantage of having your own greenhouse. You can grow your own produce all year round. It may be cold, raining and clouds are covering the sun outside, but you are protecting your growing plants, with your heater and grow lights helping to shine a light on your growing plants.

If you are not using chemicals, like chemical fertilizers and any other chemicals on the soil or on your plants, then you are setting up to grow organic produce. Many people these days, like to grow their own produce, in order to grow fresh produce and use it in their meals on the same day. This way all the natural flavors from your greenhouse garden produce will flood your meals, making your meals much more delicious.

A Garden And A Greenhouse In Your Yard

Many people have a garden and a greenhouse in their yard. Your garden may grow produce when the climatic conditions are ideal, while your greenhouse will be able to supply you with produce all year round. Some garden vegetables, may not grow in your garden, once the growing season is over, but you may be able to continue to grow to produce in your greenhouse.

Tools Needed to Build a Greenhouse

When I got ready to build my greenhouse I prepared to tell my wife about all the awesome new power toys…err tools that I would need to construct! But the more I thought it through the more I realized that I didn’t really need any special tools. Well, that’s what building a DIY Cheap Greenhouse is all about. I think a lot of people are probably intimidated by the prospect of building a greenhouse (or even assembling one) and the expense necessary to buy all of the components and tools. Again, rest assured that I used a bare minimum of tools. I decided to layout a post where I could discuss all of the tools I used from start to finish. 1. A shovel – This is pretty basic and most people have one laying around. It helps to have a multipurpose one. So if you buy one avoid one of the thin-bladed digging shovels. Get one with a comfortable handle. I used mine to dig the ground level for the frame. Bestseller No. 1 Round Point Shovel, 48 in.Handle, 16 ga. Janitorial & Cleaning Supplies

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Because of my remote location, I had to rely on battery power but a corded drill will do just fine. The power drill is used many times throughout the project and is indispensable. The first time I used it was when I was drilling pilot holes for my lag bolts to assemble the bottom frame of 4×4′s. I also used it to attach the door hardware. 3. A socket set or wrenches –

Used to secure the lag bolts for the frame. 4. Saw –

I used my battery powered circular saw. I went through several changes but it got the job done. A miter saw (powered or not) or even just a wood saw will work if time is not a concern and money is! I used this to cut all of the framings to length. I also used it for cutting gussets. 5. Measuring tools –

I lumped these into one category. You will need a tape measure (length depends on your project). You will also need a square. It really is best to buy one of the cheap orange ones that double as a protractor. You will need it to square-cut marks AND to make angle marks for rafters. 6. Hammer –

Of course, a hammer is the most necessary tool! I use my old Stanley Anti-vibe. It’s a great hammer. 7. Ladder –

You will need this to attach the rafters and plastic/covering That’s really it. You can buy all of this for about $200 but this is DIY CHEAP Greenhouse. So I have to give you some tips on doing this cheaper than that. The biggest tip is to borrow what you don’t have. I have family members that will loan me tools so that is a good thing (but I had all these already). If you can’t borrow tools then maybe you can rent them. The next tip is that if you don’t have these tools or plan to use hand tools only then you really should plan to buy lumber to dimension. You might have to trim the lumber but if you plan right you can avoid some cuts. Also, please note, you don’t really need electricity. I did this all with no access to plugs (except at home) since my property is remote and we haven’t gotten the utilities turned on yet. But with all that being said, the tools I’m talking about are so necessary for so many homesteading projects that it’s a good idea to buy them now!

This is why it is to your advantage to build a cheap greenhouse

Different Types of Greenhouses

So you want to pamper your plants and put them in a greenhouse. But how do you choose the right one? Which material will best look after your little darlings? We will try to help you make the best choice.

You must first decide the type of greenhouse best suited to your needs :

The cold greenhouse whose temperature can go down to 4°C, suitable for plants with tough, non-porous skin.

The moderate greenhouse, suitable for subtropical species that tolerate the cold.

The hot or tropical greenhouse, where the temperature is between 18°C and 26°C, which allows you to grow many tropical species and other rare plants.

Structure

Once you have decided on the type you want, now think of the choice of materials. Four materials for the structure are available: wood, PVC, aluminum, and steel.

This is the most aesthetic and offers the best insulation. Choose rotproof wood without knots or cracks. Good quality wood will last the longest – avoid softwood, which will quickly deteriorate if not treated regularly. Make sure to insulate the floor of a wooden structure by using bricks – this will prevent the base of the structure from rotting.

PVC is the cheapest material used. It offers good insulation, which limits condensation and saves energy. It also doesn’t require much maintenance. However, it degrades over time. It doesn’t last as long as wood or aluminum and can’t support much weight. It is therefore not suitable for large surfaces.

Aluminum is the most widely used material. It is very resistant, especially to strong winds. It doesn’t need much maintenance, it is light and doesn’t rust. Good quality aluminum greenhouses can last up to a hundred years. However, it doesn’t offer good insulation. To insulate it you should use a system of steel clip fasteners at each angle, along with PVC draft excluders or putty to insulate the joints.

For very big greenhouses, steel is ideally suited. It is flexible and resistant but is rarely used for private greenhouses and should be galvanized to avoid rusting.

Alveolar polycarbonate is lighter and gives more insulation. It also resists hailstones better. However, it isn’t very resistant to strong winds and it must be changed after ten years as it tends to become opaque.

Heating the Greenhouse Heating is necessary for your greenhouse in winter if you wish to keep it frost-free, except of course if you live in certain southern regions. If you have a tropical greenhouse, heating will be useful for most of the year, as this type of greenhouse requires an average temperature of 20°C. Choose your heating system according to the surface of the greenhouse – you don’t heat the 10m² greenhouse in the same way as one measuring 100m². Electric heating Electric radiators are the best suited to small surfaces. However, make sure to use special greenhouse heaters, as these are waterproofed and therefore correspond to this type of usage. These radiators use hot air for heating, but ones that radiate heat using infrared lamps also exist and can be hung from the roof of the greenhouse. This type of heater is used for surfaces of less then 6m² and a portable model also exists. Tubular radiators can be installed along the sides of the greenhouse, but these are bulky and not easy to install. For bigger surfaces, a hot air generator can be useful. The level of air blown out can be adjusted by an atmospheric thermostat and certain models are remotely controlled. These are the top-of-the-range models of electric heating. Petrol heating Used both as a backup heater for small surfaces and for cold greenhouses, this type of heater is easy to install, transportable, and economical. Be careful, however, to use sulfur-free petrol, as the presence of sulfur may be toxic for certain plants. As this type of heater doesn’t have a thermostat, it needs to be closely monitored. Make sure to fill it regularly, though some models can run for 7 days without being refilled. Town gas isn’t used for heating as it is expensive and difficult to install. Gas heating is thus carried out by Propane gas in bottles. Butane is not suitable as it is too sensitive to frost. Recent models are very safe and are leak-proof. Gas heaters are 30% more economical than petrol heaters and some models are equipped with a very useful thermostat, which can be adjusted according to your needs. Gas heaters also offer more autonomy than petrol heaters.

Placing your Greenhouse

So you’ve decided at last! That greenhouse that you’ve wished for so long so that you could pamper your plants and prepare your spring sowing, is finally to be installed in the garden. But be careful, it is essential to install it in the right place, so certain parameters must be considered if you wish to optimize its use and keep it in good condition for as long as possible.

Choosing the Right Place

Choose a sheltered place in the garden with plenty of exposure to the winter sun. Avoid places where the cold accumulates in winter and humid places which will damage greenhouses with wooden structures. A humid place also encourages the growth of mosses and other similar nuisances – these require constant treatment to remove them.

Place the side of the greenhouse, usually the longest side, facing south. It will thus have the best exposition to the sun, which is important in winter when the days are short.

Avoid windy places

The wind is another factor not to be neglected when installing the greenhouse. In some regions, strong winds can break the windows and even remove the openings. To avoid this, install the greenhouse perpendicular to the dominant winds, placing the door at the opposite end to these winds. Windbreakers can be installed for further security. Otherwise, you can place the greenhouse behind a bamboo hedge or behind some shrubs.

These wind-breakers should be placed at a distance four times the length of the height of the greenhouse, providing you have space. Artificial wind-breakers may also be installed -these can be placed immediately. Plastic models, of varying thicknesses, are available. They are an interesting option as they are simple and quick to install and are a good value for money. Remember that a greenhouse exposed to wind loses a lot of heat in winter, which means that you have to heat it more, and this costs money!

Don’t place it near trees

The greenhouse should be placed in a clearing far from trees, as these will create too much shadow. If these trees are deciduous, or worse, resinous, this will create a lot of work for you – the windows will need to be cleaned very often. What a pity – your time would be better spent looking after your plants than cleaning the windows of your greenhouse!

The wind may also cause branches to fall which will break the windows, and the roots of the trees may cause problems by lifting the structure of the greenhouse. This is why you shouldn’t place it near trees.

So follow the above advice and your greenhouse will be placed in good conditions and will give you long hours of pleasure for a long time.

Ventilating the Greenhouse

The temperature and the rate of humidity of a greenhouse depend on its ventilation. This complex process involves the exchange of heat between the inside and the outside of the greenhouse. Controlling this is essential if your greenhouse is to function properly, as ventilation determines the temperature, the humidity rate, and the concentrations of gas like CO² in the greenhouse.

The health of your plants depends on good ventilation (breathing, photosynthesis, transpiration). Ventilation also provides good sanitary conditions for them.

Two types of ventilation exist natural or artificial ventilation.

Natural ventilation

This is the most economical system for regulating the microclimate in the greenhouse. It consists of openings built into the structure of the greenhouse. These openings should represent 20% of the ground surface and have an opening angle big enough to let the air circulate properly. It is recommended to have openings in the roof facing north, as these will allow the air to mix correctly in the greenhouse.

Openings on the sides at the level of the plants are also important, as these increase the efficiency of the roof openings and help modulate the ventilation. This gives the best ventilation, creating a self-regulating internal circuit of air: the cool air sucked in by the side openings is heated up in the interior of the greenhouse, before rising and exiting through the roof openings.

In spring and in summer, you can obviously open the doors as well, thus bringing down the temperature inside the greenhouse.

Artificial Ventilation

This type requires a specific electrical installation in the greenhouse: electric boxes with protected circuits, starters, lines, electrical channels, etc.. Having installed these, you can then set up your ventilator. The most common types are helicoidal ventilators with shutters, which work like air extractors.

These extractors change the air inside the greenhouse and remove the CO², thus rebalancing the general climate inside.

Their outflow can be programmed, most ventilators having three or four levels of ventilation. They should be installed at the end opposite to the dominant winds.

This type of installation may be used as a back-up to the natural ventilation of the greenhouse. It is useful for ventilating places that contain plants with specific needs, guaranteeing ventilation at particular moments when conditions aren’t suited to their development (when heavy snow or strong winds prevent the openings being opened, for example).

Greenhouse Plans: A Great Way to Make Your Own Greenhouse

If you have a garden, you must already know the things that you must do to make your plants healthy. You must have been scheduling your time to water, prune, and put mulch in your garden. But during cold seasons, mulches maybe not enough to make your plants stay to grow and healthy. You need to have a greenhouse in order to make your plants healthier even in these rough climates. If you cannot afford contractors that would build you one, you can always get greenhouse plans. Greenhouse plans are construction plans to build greenhouses. You can easily look for these on the internet or purchase it with starting kits. You just need to follow what the plan says to build your own greenhouse. With these, you don’t need to spend more money on hiring other people to help you. When you are building greenhouses, it is important to follow the measurements of the required materials. If you are only acquiring one of these greenhouse plans , then you must have to accurately measure every glass and steel, PVC or wood so it will fit perfectly and will not form holes that could damage your plants. A safer way to do it is to start small. It will not be that roomy, but it will be your initial test to see if it is working especially if you are a first-timer. You must also consider the natural lighting in the greenhouse. If a structure or tree blocks the light, your plants will not receive any sufficient light in order to grow. You must also take into consideration the lighting in the afternoon because too much heat will also damage these plants. Therefore, you must place your greenhouse where there are sufficient lighting and shade for the afternoon. You must also follow the ventilation and drainage system of these greenhouse plans. Remember that these plans are made to make an effective greenhouse. You can install fans and an underground pipe for the greenhouse. You can also install a running faucet or well so you can easily have a water supply for the plants. Lastly, check your greenhouse plans for alternative automation systems. If you always go out, then you must consider installing automatic watering and heating systems for your plants. There are some greenhouse plans that are only made for manual purposes. If you are looking for these online, grab as many as you can and pick the most efficient one. Getting greenhouse plans are easy, implementing these are hard. It takes trial and error to make the right one, but when you already have gained building experience you will eventually doing one with ease. Who knows, you might also make your own greenhouse plans to sell.





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