1 : a structure enclosed (as by glass) and used for the cultivation or protection of tender plants. 2 : a clear plastic shell (such as a canopy) covering a section of an airplane also : a compartment (as for a bombardier) enclosed by such a shell. greenhouse.

A greenhouse is a structure whrein you grow plants. A nursery is place wherein you grow plants. Nurseries may contain greenhouses.

A greenhouse (also called a glass-house or hothouse) is a building where plants such as flowers and vegetables are grown. Greenhouses warm up during the day via penetration of the sun’s rays which heat the plants, soil and structure.

A greenhouse is simply a building in which plants are grown. These buildings can be merely small structures, or they can also be quite large in size. Initially, greenhouses were more common on the grounds of the wealthy, but they soon also branched out to universities.

The Disadvantages of a Greenhouse: Can be expensive to heat. Requires constant monitoring, maintenance and care. Could increase electrical and water bills. May detract from aesthetic appeal of a garden.

The purpose of a greenhouse is to magnify the light of the sun while protecting plants from freezing temperatures.

Greenhouse farming 101: Advantages & disadvantages

• The advantages of greenhouse farming.
• Extend the growing season. When you develop your own greenhouse, your plants will no longer depend on weather conditions or patterns.
• A wider variety.
• Diminish threats to crops.
• The disadvantage of greenhouse farming.
• Operating expenses.
• The lack of pollination.

You don’t need a greenhouse to grow your own fruit and veg, but it certainly helps. Having a greenhouse allows you to grow more crops for longer. You’ll be able to start fruit and veg off earlier in the season and extend harvest time with longer cropping.

The Essentials for Beginners – Greenhouse Gardening 101

• Be seed smart.
• Get a listing of what you’d wish to plant.
• Invest in containers.
• Get sterile soil to prevent plant diseases and pest infestation.
• Add fertilizer to your soil.
• Always water your plants as recommended for each individual plant.

To give your plants and seedlings the best chance, you should set your greenhouse up somewhere that gets lots of sunshine, plenty of natural daylight and that is protected from harsh winds and frost pockets.

10 things to include in your greenhouse

1. A mix of pots. Having pots in a range of sizes readily available will let you do everything from seed-starting to growing specimen plants.
2. Seed-starting trays.
3. Potting mixes and fertilizers.
4. Garden tools.
5. Labels and markers.
6. Sprays.
7. Benches and shelves.
8. A place to work.

Keep these seven helpful tips in mind as you begin your exciting foray into greenhouse gardening.

1. Get a Thermometer.
2. Keep the Greenhouse Neat and Tidy.
3. Determine Your Plants’ Space Needs.
4. Start with Seeds Rather Than Seedlings or Cuttings.
5. Start with Easy-to-Grow Plants.
6. Take Steps to Keep Pests Away.

One of the easiest and least expensive options for warming greenhouses in the winter is to create a thermal mass or heat sink. These are objects that absorb heat during the day and release it during the chilly nighttime hours. It will raise the temperature by a degree or two and it can make all the difference.

Open all doors and vents on sunny days. These can be left open at night if the temperature remains high. In changeable weather, vents and doors often have to be left partially open to limit sudden increases in temperature. Larger greenhouses may, at high cost, be fitted with automated ventilation and shading.

For the majority of us, that is 2 feet into a raised bed from the side. That means that you should make no bed wider than 2 feet if you have one access side, or 4 feet if you can reach from either side. Once things are planted and you need to reach around, you’ll be very happy you stuck to this limit.

A 4’x4′ raised bed can accommodate 4 or 5 tomato plants. For USDA zones with longer growing seasons, & for indeterminate tomato varieties, only 2 or 3 tomato plants might fit in a 4’x’4′ raised bed.

The best bet for flooring is a combination of pea gravel and flooring designed specifically for greenhouses. The pea gravel will allow for good drainage, while the flooring will help to block out weeds.

How much soil? For a 4×8–foot raised bed with a 10” height, about 1 cubic yard of soil is needed. For a 4×8-foot raised bed with a 6” height, using Mel’s Mix: about 5 cubic feet each of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite is needed.

Fill the entirety of the bed with standard garden soil, leaving about one-inch between the top of the soil and the lip of the bed. You can buy garden soil in bags, but if you have access to a truck or trailer, we recommend going the local route and buying in bulk.

Topsoil is stripped from the top layer of soil during construction projects. Garden soil is topsoil enriched with compost and organic matter to make it better suited to actual plant growth.

The most popular height for raised beds is 11″. (This is the height of two standard “2 x 6″ boards, which actually measure 1.5″ x 5.5”.) This height provides sufficient drainage for most crops. For best results, there should be another 12″ or more of good soil below the bed.

Plants in raised beds can suffer more quickly and more severely from drought due to improved drainage, so keep an eye on watering needs. Modern wood treatments do not contain potentially harmful heavy metals, so are safe to use. If in doubt, line the inside of the bed with polythene.

Building raised beds is well worth the effort. Raised beds allow you to overcome problems such as poor, rocky soil, waterlogged areas and people walking through your gardens. While raised beds drain better than in-ground beds, adding rocks to the bottom of the bed improves drainage even further.

If you are creating raised garden beds, you can prevent weeds from growing into your raised bed by first putting down cardboard. But once you do have your cardboard down under the garden bed, just fill it with your raised bed soil and you should have limited weeds coming from below.

Regular watering softens the cardboard and by the time the plants have grown to almost full size the roots can easily penetrate deeper through the cardboard into the soil underneath. Because the plants are in soft compost and mulch they sprout so much easier and before you know it they are looking fantastic.

Cardboard really comes in handy here—it’s a compost pile’s best friend! Whether you have a compost pile or a bin, cardboard is perfect brown material. Just break it down into manageable pieces and throw it in with the other stuff. As it decomposes, it will add nutrients your plants will love.

Other garden waste products can make for a good base layer as well. Grass clippings, dry leaves or leaf mold, trimmings from other plants, and the like can fill in the bottom of your bed. These will break down quickly into the soil, building up the soil’s organic content.