What is Greenhouse Farming?
The term “greenhouse farming” refers to growing plants or crops in a structure with walls and roofs made primarily of transparent materials. The sun heats the greenhouse inside, making it much warmer than the air outside. This keeps the plants inside safe from bad weather. They are also given a chance to develop year-round under challenging circumstances.
How to Build a Greenhouse
A greenhouse in your backyard allows plants to flourish in a controlled atmosphere. If you want a greenhouse but can’t build a base, you can still get the same benefits for your garden plants from a portable greenhouse. Moving the greenhouse around will also make it easier to switch crops as the seasons change. At the end of a season, use the greenhouse to continue the growth of summer crops and flowers. Then, when the plants are done growing and show no signs of pests or diseases, you can dispose of them in a compost pile.
Use the steps below to build a greenhouse using a greenhouse kit or a do-it-yourself greenhouse:
- This article describes how to build a greenhouse.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model of greenhouse kit.
- If you need help creating a greenhouse, talk to a professional who works with building materials.
What is the Most Efficient Way to Construct a Greenhouse?
Planting trees and shrubs is the most effective way to build a greenhouse. This will not only help retain the sun’s heat but also keep the temperature of the greenhouse at a steady level. So how to make a greenhouse more efficient? A greenhouse can be made more efficient by using reflective materials, such as white paint, to reflect heat into the structure and using materials that absorb and retain heat.
Select a Location
Pick a location with good drainage and all-day sun exposure. Place the greenhouse in a sunny location with a clear sky. In the winter, this will maximize sun exposure. Additionally, the location must always be on a plain surface. Most gardeners also pick a location near a water and power source.
Decide on a Foundation
Although not all greenhouses have foundations, you might want one if your ground is unstable. But first, consider securing it to the greenhouse frame. The first step in creating your greenhouse is to level the ground. Gardeners in cold climates should build their foundations below the frost line and, if desired, protect them. Ground contact-rated wood and poured concrete are options for foundation materials.
Whether you pour concrete or build a wooden foundation, use a tape measure to build the foundation slightly larger than the greenhouse’s base after it is finished. If you don’t use a foundation, use landscaping fabric, bricks, gravel, or other material that drains well for the greenhouse floor.
Build a Frame for a Greenhouse
Wooden greenhouses are attractive, but moisture and high humidity can lead to decay. For the foundation, choose a wood approved for ground contact that is moisture- and rot-resistant, such as cedar. PVC pipes are lightweight, affordable, and simple to use. For little backyard greenhouses, they work well. Polyethylene sheeting is used to cover the majority of PVC greenhouses. To make the frame last longer, choose PVC pipes that are UV-resistant.
Aluminum doesn’t rust and works well as a frame for polycarbonate or glass panels. Use heavy gauge aluminum to build a solid, reliable greenhouse. Galvanized steel will corrode; therefore, a backyard greenhouse cannot typically be built with it. On the other hand, commercial producers frequently employ steel frames and polyethylene greenhouse covers.
Choose a Greenhouse Covering
Glass Panels used in Greenhouses
These can shatter when struck by hail or an errant object. However, the glass will break into smaller, less dangerous pieces if tempered, as opposed to ordinary glass, which shatters into sharp shards. In addition to being more attractive and durable than plastic or polycarbonate sheets, greenhouse glass panels are strong. Several glass panels let in a lot of light. Although they can cost more upfront, they can last for many years. Compared to single-pane glass, double-pane glass is a better insulator.
UV-Resistant Polycarbonate Sheets
Polycarbonate sheets resistant to UV rays are made of strong plastic that is cheaper than glass and lasts longer. Even though it’s not as heavy as glass, it keeps heat in and is a better insulator. However, the polycarbonate plastic used in greenhouses will likely need to be replaced over time because it can become cloudy or yellow and lose its ability to transmit light. The majority of UV-resistant polycarbonate has a five- to ten-year warranty. Some manufacturers offer 15-year warranties.
Plastic Sheeting Greenhouse
Plastic sheeting greenhouse, often known as polyethylene sheeting, is lightweight and reasonably priced. However, it is less substantial than polycarbonate sheets. The sheets should typically be changed once a year. Use two layers of the best greenhouse plastic you can purchase for optimum insulation. Be careful that as layers increase, plants receive less light.
Cooling and Ventilation
One of the top worries most people have before constructing their greenhouses is ventilation, and for a good reason too! Your plants are kept from overheating via greenhouse ventilation and cooling. Mechanical and natural ventilation are used by cooling systems to lower a room’s temperature actively. They might also employ shading to get the same result. It’s critical to use high-quality items to achieve adequate homeostasis. Choosing the right-sized cooling system allows you to have a perfectly chilled growth room.
Environmental Control Systems
Control is everything in greenhouse farming. The goal is to produce an environment better than the outside world to support plant growth. You must retain control to build a valuable and energy-efficient greenhouse. You may adjust the inside to the precise conditions required for growth using thermostats, built-in computers, and other specialized controls. More significantly, they’re simple to use, allowing you to be detailed without worrying about stunting your plants’ growth.
A Heating System
Every greenhouse construction should include heating to create a healthy environment. Heating systems use your ventilation system to distribute warmed air throughout the space. Heating is directly related to the type of growth, from convection tubing and hot water to propane, natural gas, and oil heaters. So, the best way to choose a heating system for your greenhouse building is to think about its use.
How to Build a Glass Greenhouse
The most common variety of greenhouses is glass ones. Create or use a building plan. When working with glass, use caution. Use gloves that are cut-resistant and have eye protection.
- It is usually recommended to build wall frames for a glass greenhouse on the ground or another flat surface and raise them into place.
- To build a simple greenhouse, build an A-frame roof with rafters.
- Your greenhouse glass may need to be completely modified or cut to meet security requirements. Use tempered or security glass that will not break into jagged pieces for safety. Do not utilize tempered or security glass designed to ensure sunlight stays out.
- Once the assembly is complete, install the glass panels.
Advantages of Greenhouses
Increase in Crop Yields
The ability to boost food yields significantly is a considerable benefit of greenhouse farming. Indoor farming, conversely, protects the plants and ensures that the humidity and temperature levels are just right. As a result, the plants will grow more quickly and yield bigger agricultural yields. So what are the benefits of greenhouse farming design? In recent years, greenhouse farming has become more popular because it can increase crop yields and protect the environment less than traditional farming.
Production of Crops all Year Long
The year-round cultivation of plants, including vegetables, fruits, and other crops, is also possible with the use of greenhouses. This increases production and gives people in the area a more comprehensive range of fruits and vegetables. So, growing plants all year, especially in developing countries, could help feed a lot of people who would otherwise go hungry.
Ability to Grow Exotic Plants
Because greenhouse conditions can be tailored to suit all kinds of different plants, it is possible to cultivate a wide variety of exotic plants that would never survive outside in the fields. So, if they want, farmers can change traditional local plants into more exotic ones.
Pest Control
Pest control is important when growing plants because pests can harm the yield and the plant’s growth. If the pest infestation is severe enough, plants may potentially perish.
Pest control in a field is challenging because the field is constantly exposed to the weather, and pests can quickly move from one plant to another.
Protection from Animals and Invasive Plant Species
Growing plants in greenhouses is also an excellent way to protect them from plants and animals that try to take over. Because they are not in danger of being eaten by animals, these plants can flourish in the best possible conditions. Also, invasive species that might compete with them and take away their space, sunlight, and food stay the same way they usually live. As a result, plants grown indoors are often warmer, and the yields are typically higher than if the plants were exposed to the outside.
Profit Maximization
Profits can be maximized because the use of greenhouses can boost crop yields. As a result, farmers earn more money when they produce more crops. This is a very simplistic argument. The reality may be much more nuanced since greenhouse farming may be more expensive than outside farming. But many greenhouse farmers still make a decent living because they know how to make the most of their productivity and income.
Disadvantages of Greenhouse Farming
Expert Needed to Set up a Greenhouse
Most of the time, especially with large greenhouses, you will require assistance from a professional who properly sets up your greenhouse. This means building the greenhouse and ensuring the humidity, temperature, and light are right. Finding experts in this area of expertise might be challenging, particularly if you want to make greenhouse farming a full-time endeavor.
Significant Maintenance Efforts are Necessary
Additionally, there are significant maintenance requirements and expenses for greenhouses. There needs to be a lot of monitoring because the conditions inside the greenhouse must stay the same over time. Also, the plants would die immediately if the greenhouse heating or lighting equipment broke. This means that it needs to be fixed right away.
As a result, keeping greenhouses at their ideal conditions can be time-consuming and costly over time.
Considerable Upfront Costs
Get estimates for the price of installing and maintaining greenhouses as well. Depending on the size and number of plants you want to grow, the start-up and ongoing costs are high. Once you have the quotes, you can decide if a greenhouse is a good idea.
Greenhouse Farming is a Long-term Project
Because the initial investment costs are significant and you will also need to put in a lot of work, greenhouse farming should be a long-term endeavor if you intend to take it seriously as a business. Therefore, to avoid adverse financial effects, be sure that growing plants is your passion and that you do all the math before starting this business.
Greenhouses can be Space-Consuming
Depending on what you want to grow and whether or not you wish to sell the plants, you may need a lot of lands to build a greenhouse. Commercial farmers often use large greenhouses to get the most income out of their greenhouse farming business.
So, bear in mind that you would need to purchase or rent substantial land to take greenhouse farming seriously as a business. However, you may also use a small greenhouse and place it in your garden to grow plants for fun.
High Operational Costs
Additionally, the operation of greenhouses entails high heating and electrical costs. Because of this, farming in greenhouses is frequently more expensive than farming in open fields. From a financial point of view, it might be better to farm outside instead, especially in countries where heating and electricity costs are high.
Conclusion
In conclusion, greenhouse farming is a growing trend that involves making a greenhouse for plants from clear, transparent materials. This type of farming is known to be efficient. Moreover, it can be done in various ways, including using greenhouses made of plastic or glass.
