Heat-loving horticultural crops do not thrive in temperate climates. Fruit ripening occurs later, their yield is lower. And these are not only exotic plants, but already familiar tomatoes, peppers, eggplants. The lack of heat also affects the ripening time of early varieties of many vegetables.
The way out of the situation has long been found. This is the construction of structures for soil protection - greenhouses and hotbeds. They create a special microclimate, retain moisture and heat, thereby accelerating the growing season and the fruiting period.
What is the difference between a greenhouse and a greenhouse
Greenhouses are small structures up to 1.3 meters high. Unlike greenhouses, they do not require additional heat sources. Heating occurs due to the natural biological release of heat and solar energy. They are not equipped with doors. For access to plants, it is possible to fold down one of the sides - side or top. The Snowdrop greenhouse is very convenient in this regard, reviews of which can often be heard from amateur gardeners. It opens the end part of the covering material, and, if necessary, any ofside pieces.
Now modern materials are used in greenhouses - spunbond, cellular polycarbonate or polyethylene. Previously, the most common material was glass, which is why installation took a lot of time and labor. If you install a snowdrop greenhouse, you can forget the terrible and long process of assembling a complex structure of the old type forever.
Greenhouses are more capital structures. Their height reaches 2.5 meters if the plants are processed by hand. If mechanized maintenance and assembly are provided, then they can be even higher, taking into account the size and characteristics of the equipment used. Installation of greenhouses is more complicated. It is necessary to correctly calculate the dimensions and provide for heating equipment.
Types of greenhouses
Greenhouses differ in several ways:
- By type of covering material: glass, PVC film, polycarbonate, spunbond.
- By construction type: polygonal or arched, single or gable.
- By size: regular and mini-greenhouses.
The type of frame also depends on the choice of covering material. Under glass, wooden frames are usually used, and occasionally metal-plastic bags can be found. The remaining materials do not require frame structures, a frame is constructed under them from metal pipes, HDPE rods, or a wooden crate is made. The size depends on which plants you plan to grow - undersized or tall. It also makes no sense to put a tall greenhouse forseedlings.
Greenhouse "Snowdrop": customer reviews and equipment
The arch type design has proven itself very well. This is a hemisphere - a greenhouse "Snowdrop". Reviews of gardeners can be found on various forums. It is sold as a complete set, you do not need to buy anything extra for installation. No special tools or special technical skills are needed.
Buyers on the forums often discuss the Snowdrop greenhouse. Reviews are only positive. Those who have installed greenhouses of various designs focus on ease of installation. They write that, compared to how easily the Snowdrop greenhouse is assembled, no one would like to install a regular model. Greenhouse package includes:
- frame arcs - strong and ductile;
- covering material from agrotextile;
- legs with which the arcs are stuck into the ground;
- clips for attaching the covering sheet.
Features and characteristics of the greenhouse
Its main feature is mobility. If you look at the reviews about the Snowdrop greenhouse, you can see that this arched structure is not only easy to install, it can be assembled for the winter or installed as needed on another site. When folded, it takes up very little space - it folds completely into a bag-case.
Covering material, agrofibre (spunbond), designed for heavy loads, its service life is at least 5 years. Judging by the reviewsthose who installed the Snowdrop greenhouse, a terrible wind can blow even all night, but the design withstands the onslaught of bad weather.
Agrofibre is a breathable material. It allows you to provide plants with the necessary microclimate. Humidity does not exceed 75%, which helps to reduce diseases. Indeed, one of the factors in the development of late blight and other fungal infections is precisely increased (above 75%) humidity.
Available in several sizes. They are standard in height and width - 80 cm high and 120 wide, but the length can be from two to eight meters. About the two-meter mini-greenhouse "Snowdrop" reviews of those who used it for seedlings are approving. Thanks to the new generation coating, heat loss is minimal, which is very important for seedlings and not only. Since the agrofibre lets water in, the plants are not deprived of natural watering, which is also a positive thing.
Choosing a location for installation
When choosing a place for a greenhouse, it is necessary first of all to provide good, but not excessive illumination. Unlike a winter greenhouse, a greenhouse is designed for the spring-summer period. Therefore, the best option is a place where the sun shines in the morning. The following points should also be taken into account:
- Greenhouse structures are installed so that there is easy access to the opening side.
- End sides should face south and north.
Assembly: step by step instructions
Few of those who installed a greenhouse"Snowdrop", did not like this activity. Judging by the reviews, this is easy to do, as everything is thought out to the smallest detail. After choosing a location for installation, you need to do the following:
- Attach the legs to the frame arcs (put them into the end hole of the arc).
- Stretch the "Snowdrop" along the beds and stick the legs of the arcs into the ground. The soil near the stuck legs needs to be compacted.
- Close and secure end sides.
The question is often asked whether it is necessary to make drainage under the "Snowdrop" greenhouse. Reviews indicate that the covering sheet is well-permeable to moisture, and water evaporates without stagnation. You can’t do without a drainage device only if the bed is located in a lowland or on loamy soils.
Features of operation
Won't the "Snowdrop" greenhouse disappoint when used? Customer reviews note several features in operation. In summer, spunbond serves as protection against scorching rays, so it makes no sense to completely remove the Snowdrop greenhouse. Reviews indicate that fastening with clips allows you to fix the covering sheet in the desired position and is easy to adjust - raise, lower, completely flip to the other side.
When the gardening season ends, the construction is easy to assemble. According to reviews, the covering fabric is well washed in the washing machine, if necessary. Since the "Snowdrop" takes up little space when folded, there are problems with its storagedoes not occur in winter.
A few tips for gardeners
- In one greenhouse it is undesirable to plant different crops that can mutually pollinate. If it doesn’t work out otherwise, then you need to put a partition between them.
- You can't grow cucumbers and tomatoes together. Cucumbers require more moisture, while tomatoes do the opposite. In addition, tomatoes need to be ventilated more often and not allowed to overheat.
- For planting in a greenhouse, it is better to buy self-pollinated varieties of vegetables. If you have already planted ordinary ones, you need to carry out forced pollination.
