THE DIRT CHEAP GARDENER
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Greenhouse Gardening - Building Dirt Cheap Greenhouses
Dirt Cheap Greenhouses
Greenhouses are a great way to extend the growing season, increase yields, and allow for all-weather gardening.
There are two basic types of greenhouse, the traditional glass or hard plastic hard-sided greenhouse, and the poly-tunnel.
The traditional greenhouse is usually more asthetically pleasing and is a little better for early spring gardening as it is able to capture more light. It is also easier to regulate the ventilation. It also tends to be more expensive.
The poly-tunnel can be constructed quite inexpensively and is really more of a workhorse in terms of cultivating all season long. It has a few drawbacks to the traditional greenhouse--first, it is probably not going to win any beauty contest in your garden, second, it is more of a challenge to ventilate, additionally it is made of less sturdy materials which will need to be replaced more frequently (although the new plastic is pretty durable and can last for years.)
If you are new to the idea of greenhouses, you can start with something simple and small, like a cold frame, and work your way up. You can build your own with some simple basic materials.
You can begin with a super basic model of some plastic or an old window frame placed over a square layout of straw bales or construct a small wooden frame.
If you don't want to build your own from scratch, there are plenty of kits available for everything from the smallest cold frame to the largest commercial greenhouse.
Green House Tips:
Location
Make sure you locate your greenhouse in a level area that gets full sun. If it can be protected from the prevailing wind, so much the better.
Water
In warm, sunny weather you will need to water everyday.
Ventilation
Make sure it is properly ventilated to prevent mold and algae from developing in your greenhouse.
Build a Greenhouse for under $25
Traditional Greenhouses
