Probably, any of our compatriots had to see garden greenhouses and greenhouses. They are installed in dachas and vegetable gardens, thanks to which you can get a crop of climate-demanding crops even in our country, known for its harsh climate. However, choosing a greenhouse is a rather complicated procedure. Therefore, it will be useful to learn more about them so that later you do not have to regret an unsuccessful purchase.
Why do we need a greenhouse?
There are no special questions here - thanks to the simplest garden greenhouse, you can significantly increase the period of plant growth and fruit ripening.
For many regions of our country, this is a very important factor. After all, Russia is famous for its harsh climate. At the beginning, middle or even at the end of May, night frosts may well pass in some parts of the country. During the day, the temperature reaches thirty degrees above zero and even more, people walk in light clothes, plants reach for the sun. But at night a cold wind comes from the north, and the plants that are still cheerful in the evening quickly wither and fall off. Get a harvest from them alreadyfail.
And planting plants in early June, when the threat of frost has clearly passed, is simply pointless. They will not have time to grow and bear fruit now before the first autumn frosts. Partially, the problem is solved by growing seedlings with their subsequent planting in open ground. But it's quite troublesome work.
Fortunately, a good greenhouse in the garden can solve the problem. During the day, it warms up by the sun's rays, collects heat. And it closes at night, so that the cold wind and a sharp drop in temperature can not harm the plants.
What is a greenhouse?
Not every summer resident knows what is the difference between a greenhouse and a greenhouse. Some are sure that these are different names for the same building. However, this is not actually the case at all.
The greenhouse is an insulated building erected over the beds. During the day it heats up, accumulates heat, and at night protects from frost. It can also become a reliable protection against cold wind both day and night. Of course, the greenhouse is used only in the warm season, as it is completely dependent on sunlight and heat.
What is a greenhouse
Greenhouse is a completely different matter. It is an improved version of the greenhouse, as it has its own heating system, and sometimes even lighting. In some cases, the greenhouse has better thermal insulation properties, which can reduce heat loss and, consequently, reduce heating costs. Depending on the type, it can be heated by both electric heaters and water heaters.heating. Of course, the greenhouse makes it possible to grow plants both in the warm season and in the cold. However, in summer it (with the exception of the coldest regions of the country) turns into an ordinary greenhouse, as heating and lighting are usually turned off.
Which option is better? It depends on the owner and his goals. The greenhouse is much cheaper and does not need special care. But the greenhouse is a more efficient way to grow whimsical crops.
What are they like
When deciding to purchase a greenhouse or garden greenhouse, the photos of which are presented in the article, it is very important to decide in advance on the materials used. Today, various options can be used for construction. But three are the most popular: glass, polyethylene and polycarbonate.
Which of these options is better? It is impossible to give an unequivocal answer here: each of them has a number of important advantages that make it the most successful for certain users. Therefore, we will study them in more detail.
A little about glass greenhouses
Of course, glass is the best choice for a greenhouse. At least because it lets in the maximum amount of sunlight. Hence, the plants will grow best. An important advantage is the fact that, with proper assembly, such a greenhouse easily and without harm to itself resists strong gusts of wind. It will not be demolished or torn, as, for example, polyethylene.
Some users appreciate glass greenhouses because of their environmental friendliness. Still, glass can be exposed to sunlight for a long time without being damaged due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation and without releasing harmful substances. Analogues, alas, cannot boast of this. The action of sunlight leads to the fact that they are gradually destroyed and release harmful substances that are partially absorbed by plants. And this worsens the quality of the fruit.
Finally, glass is chemical resistant. That is, when treated with any detergents, it will not be inflicted the slightest harm. This is especially true for greenhouses that are planned to be used for many years.
Unfortunately, glass has a number of important drawbacks. One of them is high cost. Yes, not everyone can afford to buy a ready-made structure or even build a glass garden greenhouse with their own hands.
The next disadvantage is a lot of weight. Because of this, the process of disassembly and assembly is seriously complicated. Therefore, in most cases, the owners try to build stationary glass greenhouses that do not have to be dismantled and reassembled every year. Some are also put off by the fragility of the material. For example, because of the hail, glass may well shatter into fragments that are almost impossible to collect. This means that there is a risk of getting injured while working. Because of this, it is desirable to use small cells - they break less often, and it will be much easier to replace damaged glass with a new one.
A few words about polycarbonate
Today garden greenhouses are quite popularfrom polycarbonate. Which is not surprising - this material has a number of important advantages.
For example, it has a relatively small weight and quite affordable cost. Because of this, many summer residents prefer it. It is also quite durable - it will not tear due to the wind, like polyethylene, and will easily withstand the impact of large hailstones, unlike glass.
Some experts appreciate it for its ability to quickly warm up and let heat into the greenhouse. But here you have to be careful. This is a plus in cold weather. But in the summer - a minus. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the greenhouse so that it is not too hot inside. If the temperature exceeds 50 degrees Celsius, many plants may die.
But garden greenhouses made of polycarbonate also have disadvantages. One of them is low chemical resistance. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, it gradually dries up, and its strength decreases - the material becomes brittle. In addition, if chemicals get on polycarbonate when spraying plants, very unpleasant consequences can take place.
We are considering a film greenhouse
Another fairly popular option. The main advantage of polyethylene is low cost and lightness. The installation process is very simple - you just need to install the frame and cover it with a film that heats up well and slowly gives off heat on a cold night. It is very easy to clean for the winter - the film is removed and rolled up, and the frame is disassembled and stored in a suitable place.
The main disadvantage is the short service life. Usually one roll cannot be used for more than two years. It is stretchable, easily torn and pierced. In addition, due to its low weight, it may well be carried away by strong gusts of wind along with the frame. Therefore, you need to take care of a good fixation.
Choose the appropriate shape
Before you build a garden greenhouse - collapsible or stationary - you need to decide on a suitable shape. Most often, in summer cottages and gardens, you can see three options for greenhouses.
Rectangular with a gable roof - an attractive and very practical option. Easily warmed by the sun's rays from all sides. However, the design is quite difficult to manufacture and has a high cost, which deters potential owners.
An interesting option is a wall-mounted greenhouse. It is usually erected on the south side of the house and rests on one side of its wall. This saves material and time for construction. In addition, the greenhouse is reliably protected from the cold north wind. If the site is very small, then there is an additional important plus - space is saved. The disadvantage is that high humidity adversely affects the building material of the wall. In addition, the snow that came off the roof in winter may well break the frame of the greenhouse if it was not removed in time.
Finally, the arch shape. It is usually built from polycarbonate or polyethylene. No sharp cornerssaves material. And in general, it is quite simple to assemble - a lightweight frame is sheathed or covered with the chosen material, and you can start planting plants.
Fixed or collapsible?
Another difficult choice facing the summer resident. And again, both options have certain advantages that may be important for one owner and unnecessary for another.
To begin with, a collapsible greenhouse requires more maintenance. Which is understandable - with the advent of spring, you need to spend a whole day, or even several, to build a structure. Moreover, you often have to work on frozen ground, and this further complicates the process. In the fall, the same work will have to be repeated in reverse order. But you can be sure that nothing will happen to the structure in winter - it will be stored in a suitable, safe place.
But a stationary one is easier to maintain and saves a lot of time. At the beginning of the season, check its reliability and strength, if necessary, replace damaged parts - and that's it! In addition, the greenhouse actively gains heat during the day and slowly releases it at night. Therefore, the ground under it warms up faster than around. But leaving a stationary greenhouse on the site in winter, especially if the owners leave the country, is not the best solution. He may well become a victim of both the elements and just hooligans.
Choose a place to install
In general, there are not so many requirements for the place where the greenhouse will stand. First of all, you need to ensure that it is protected from the wind - especially the cold north. Even if inthere are no gaps in the structure, due to strong airflow, the temperature inside is significantly reduced. When building stationary greenhouses, some owners even specially plant bushes or low trees from the north, protecting it from the wind.
Also, it should be as well lit as possible. Therefore, during installation, the greenhouse is oriented to the cardinal points - from east to west, so that the lighting area is maximum.
Of course, here you need to take into account the features of the site, but in general, compliance with these two rules is highly desirable.
How to care for a greenhouse
Now it will be useful to tell you how to care for a greenhouse or greenhouse in the garden.
Finishing the season, you need to process all parts, especially wood, with a solution of potassium permanganate. Thanks to this, all infections that can cause a lot of problems for the next year die. Some owners prefer to fumigate the greenhouse from the inside with a sulfur checker - also a very good, effective and at the same time easy method. The main thing is to ventilate the room well after fumigation so that the smoke does not soak into the soil.
It is advisable to treat the wooden parts of the frame regularly - varnish or paint. Otherwise, high humidity in the greenhouse can lead to the appearance of fungus and even rot, which will reduce the strength of the supporting structure.
Conclusion
We hope that every summer resident and gardener who is seriously thinking about buying or building a greenhouse on his own has received enough food for thought. Now he will surely be able to decide what material, shape and arrangementgreenhouse are the best choice for him.
