Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening can take place in a traditional outdoor greenhouse, a window greenhouse, or in your basement. Greenhouses come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials…making greenhouses a good fit for nearly any space.

Indoor gardening calls for a special set of indoor gardening supplies.

Winter Nursery Supplies Checklist
Winter nursery supplies differ from summer nursery supplies in many ways. Winter sunlight hours are reduced, and temperatures plummet, making sunlight and warmth two of the most difficult variables to control when growing plants during the winter.  Winter gardening supplies you may need are:

• Grow lights
• Heating system
• Winter work gloves
• Plastic sheeting for protection against strong winds and cooler temperatures
• Timers for grow lights
• Benches and shelving to keep plants up and away from the frigid ground
• Gentle ventilation to inhibit heat loss but encourage air movement
• Cold frames
• Portable or pop-up greenhouses
• Extra thermometers to spot check temperatures near planting areas
• Irrigation supplies to make up reduced water consumption in cooler temperatures
• Guide books for growing winter plants

Specific gardening supplies vary from gardener to gardener, but this list will provide a framework for creating your own winter nursery supplies checklist.

Winter Gardening Tips
Even if you don’t have access to a greenhouse, you can extend your gardening hobby well into the winter months with the use of cold frames and pop-up or portable greenhouses.  These items can be placed directly over plants in your backyard garden, extending your growing season beyond the first frost and even into the weeks of early snowfall.

Experimenting with winter gardening is nearly risk free since your plants would ordinarily die with the coming of the first frost. Trial and error tests that result in the death of a plant are only knowledge gleaning experiences since even a few extra days of extended growing are better than nothing.

Most plants will continue to grow as long as air temperatures remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the soil remains unfrozen. Frequent temperature checks of your cold frames and portable greenhouses will help you better monitor the growing conditions of your winter nursery. A little common sense troubleshooting and imagination will help you become a successful winter gardener.

Winter nursery supplies and gardening supplies can easily be adapted to help you enjoy your love of gardening all year long.

How Hothouse Gardening Works
Hothouse gardening works by the scientific principle commonly referred to as the greenhouse effect. The glass or plastic covering of the greenhouse allows sunlight rays to penetrate the covering, but only certain rays of sunlight are allowed to escape back through the glass or plastic. Long wavelength infrared rays of sunlight are trapped within the hothouse, creating a warmer environment within the hothouse structure.

The temperature in the hothouse is controlled either by a climate control system or, as is more common, a ventilation system. Louvered windows and vents in the ceiling or sides of the hothouse allow heat to escape when the temperature rises. In addition, some hothouse gardeners choose to place shade cloths over the greenhouse during the hottest parts of the day to inhibit sunlight and the resulting warm temperatures. Ventilation also allows fresh air to circulate into the hothouse, which further lowers the temperature.

Timed watering devices, such as sprinklers or misters, administer water to the hothouse plants, creating a moist environment. This humidity is trapped in the hothouse unless ventilation is provided. In this manner, even hand watering creates a relative humidity inside the hothouse.

The Benefits of Hothouse Gardening
Hothouse gardening allows people who live in an otherwise barren region to enjoy the fruits produced in a hothouse environment. Hothouses also allow dedicated gardeners to extend the growing season, with some plants producing fruit well into the winter months.

Hothouse gardening also provides the opportunity to grow exotic or fragile plants in any region. Because the hothouse gardener can strictly control the growing conditions, such as temperature, heat, humidity, water levels, and amount of sunlight, it is possible to grow nearly any crop imaginable with the right knowledge, equipment, and dedication.

Hothouse gardening, also called greenhouse gardening, is becoming an increasingly popular hobby. Gardening lovers around the world sing the praises of hothouse gardening for the many benefits and advantages, the wide range of choices available to the greenhouse gardener, and the spectacular results of hothouse gardening. Even professional commercial growers love hothouses and invest time and money into constructing hothouses for business use. Hothouse gardening benefits gardeners from various backgrounds and is useful in a wide variety of applications.

Portable greenhouses are largely inexpensive, easy to set up, and provide protection from cooler night temperatures and early morning killing frosts. Depending on the type of portable greenhouse you choose, you can move them around the garden, or set up a larger portable in a small corner. This means that you might have to alter your planting plan early in the spring to accommodate the set up of the portable greenhouse in the fall. Plant your tomatoes, beans, and lettuce in one area that can be protected by one, larger portable greenhouse to make the most of your space- and your veggies!

Pop-Up Portable Greenhouses
Pop-up portable greenhouses are great for providing protection for a plant or two. Depending on the size you purchase, you can pop one these greenhouses out in seconds to cover a still blooming tomato plant, or your prize cabbage or head lettuce. You can even set up a whole roll of these pop ups in just a few minutes when an early frost is predicted to help get the most out of your harvest.

Rigid Construction Portable Greenhouses
Rigid construction portable greenhouses are a little more involved to set up, but are still fairly painless to operate. Many gardeners like to set these easy set greenhouses up in late summer and fill them with their container gardening endeavors. They can be easily moved around the yard to take full advantage of daylight hours, or set up in a corner of the existing garden to provide work space and protection from the elements.

These portables also are quite useful other times of the year as well. If you are expecting a harsh storm with damaging wind and torrential downpours that can knock over newly rooted plants and wash away your rich topsoil, setting up a portable greenhouse can save your garden.

Portable Greenhouses in a Pinch
If you haven’t invested in a portable greenhouse yet, but find yourself in desperate need of one, you can make your own. Opaque plastic milk jugs can be cut and used to cover individual smaller plants in a pinch to provide protection from frost and storms.
Portable greenhouses truly are a gardener’s best friend all year long!

1. Gable Greenhouses: Aesthetically Pleasing Designs
This architectural style often correlates with other Colonial style buildings on a property, providing a continuity of visual form that is pleasing to many greenhouse gardeners and homeowners. Such an attractive flow of design adds value to a property and is readily accepted by zoned communities and picky neighbors alike.

2. Gable Greenhouses: the Perfect Choice for Snowy Regions
The gable greenhouse is ideal for climates that receive a large amount of snow and ice, as the steeply sloped sides of the roof facilitate shedding of heavy snow. Excess snow and ice accumulations can crack or cave in a greenhouse roof. A design free of snow and ice also allows more winter sunlight to penetrate the gable greenhouse’s roof panels, providing extra nourishment for delicate winter plants.

3. Gable Greenhouses: Extra Headroom in Less Space
A gable-style greenhouse is an extremely popular choice for gardeners of above average height. The first steeply sloped angles of the roof provide adequate ceiling height, while the more gently sloping angles provide ample headroom for tall gardeners, even when working near the exterior walls of the greenhouse. This design element takes full advantage of limited greenhouse spaces.
The added height afforded by the gable greenhouse roof gives greenhouse gardeners the option of growing extra tall plants and climbing vines without resorting to excessive pruning. This design also helps create an open-air feeling in a cramped space for gardeners who dislike confined spaces, but must settle for a smaller greenhouse.

4. Gable Greenhouses: Various Options
Gable-style greenhouses come in many varied options, just as other styles of greenhouses. A smaller gable-style greenhouse could cost as little as $600, while a larger gable greenhouse could run in the thousands of dollars. This style of roof design adequately supports both Lexan and glass roofs, and often features fold out vent windows as an option.

Gable greenhouses are the greenhouses of choice for many greenhouse gardeners because of the aesthetic appeal, snow shedding tendencies, extra headroom, reasonable pricing and multiple options. For these reasons and more, a gable greenhouse may be the perfect choice for you.

1) When ordering a greenhouse kit, make “ease of assembly” a priority. Sure, you’ll want to ensure the kit has everything you can afford and desire. But, be sure to get one which is known to be simple to construct. There are many out there, so look around before purchasing. Most easy-to-assemble models will say “requires no need to hire a contractor” or something similar. Unless your technical knowledge of construction is advanced, this is important for you to remember.

2) Don’t get overwhelmed when you first open the greenhouse kit boxes. You’ll see oddly shaped bundles, aluminum bars, nuts, bolts, wire clips and glass holders. You may also see plastic pieces and manuals of instruction. Most manuals look overwhelmingly large, upon first glance. However, if you look closer you’ll likely see they are thick due to the various languages the instructions are offered in.

3) Be sure to follow the manual! While it may be tempting to try to figure out where everything goes without reading the instructions, it’s vital for proper construction to read the manual. Most manuals show drawings and written step-by-step instructions, which can make the task much easier than guessing where things go.

4) Most greenhouse kits require a proper foundation before construction. Many kits can include the base frame for an additional cost. So, be sure you have this in place before starting. Some greenhouse designs require concrete to be poured into the pipes and then leveled.

5) Don’t expect to need many tools. Most greenhouse kits require only the parts included, the base, and basic tools like a screwdriver, electric drill, level, ladder, rubber mallet, tapemeasure and knife.

Remember, if you can follow the instructions within the greenhouse kit manual you’ll be able to properly construct the kit. Be sure to work in the area in which you want to sit the greenhouse because you may not be able to move the building in pieces to the site after you’ve constructed them fully. In addition, asking someone for assistance in the project will make your job much easier and quicker. Set aside a day for the construction, just in case it takes longer than expected. As an extra tip, make sure you the kits has arrived and you have taken inventory before you plan your construction day and invite your ‘help’ over.

Choosing Plants

When you’re interested in growing winter crops in your greenhouse, choosing the right type of plant to work with is essential. Reading about the various winter varieties is important if you want your garden to thrive. Be sure you’re growing your plants at the appropriate temperature by using an inexpensive gardening thermometer. Many times if your local gardening center doesn’t offer plants during the winter you can order them via seed catalog companies. The seed catalogs should tell you exactly where each plant will thrive, and during which seasons. Thus, the choices of what to plant become easier.

Vegetables to try in cold-weather greenhouses:
Lettuce
Kale
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Beets
Fava Beans
Garlic
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Radish
Parsley
Spinach

Flowers to try in cold-weather greenhouses:
Christmas Cactus
Freesia
Impatiens
Amaryllis
Azalea
Pansy
Primrose
Sweet Pea
Snapdragon

Winter Crop Needs

Various plants will have different requirements and needs when grown in the winter months or in a cold-weather greenhouse. As a general rule, you’ll need to reduce the amount of water you provide during warmer seasonal growing. Most often, the first inch of soil should be dry before you give the plants water again. During the cold months, plants will grow slower and require less fertilizer, as well. In fact, many plants will survive and grow well without fertilizer is you provide organic content in the gardening soil. Remember, though the weather temperatures are cooler in winter months, there will still need to be some sort of ventilation possible for your plants. Plants require fresh carbon dioxide and gas exchange for them to be able to photosynthesize properly.
Planting and tending to winter crops during the dreary cold months can be a great way to stay active and happy during the harsh winter weather. Not only can winter crops provide entertainment for a gardener, but they can also provide delicious vegetables throughout the winter months when grocery vegetables are at their highest prices. So, essentially gardening in the winter can save your family money! Just be sure you think fully about what you’re going to plant and how you’ll tend to them before jumping into this gardening task.

Greenhouses offer protection to crops from either too much heat or too much cold. They also shield plants from dust storms or blizzards, and help to minimize the damage done by the inevitable presence of pests.

Tips for effective greenhouse management:

1. Before you choose a greenhouse, make sure to decide what you want to grow. This will help you determine if you need a season extender or an insulated greenhouse that you can grow in all year.

2. Fill your greenhouse with the sort of flowers that will survive the climate of your region.

3. Use heaters inside your greenhouse so that you can plant those things you would not be able to otherwise grow.

4. Before selecting or purchasing a greenhouse kit, consider the numerous factors that will enable you to make the best choice possible.

5. If you are unsure of where to start, use the examples of others. Look around your own neighborhood or go online to find visuals that will assist in an informed decision.

Building your greenhouse

The typical height of a greenhouse ceiling is about 8 feet. This makes it easy to construct, but still allows ample headroom for the gardener. Ready-to-build greenhouse kits are growing increasingly popular because they offer a wide range of both size and style.

Portable Greenhouse

Portable greenhouses sometimes incorporate a zipper design. This means that they can be joined together by employing a unique interlocking zipper-system. The system creates an extension to the greenhouse; a sort of annex to allow even more gardening. Portable greenhouses can be a great start or a needed addition, depending on where you are in your greenhouse experience.

Getting your greenhouse up and running is the first step in greenhouse management.

Greenhouse History

Greenhouses have a long and interesting history. Back in 1664, John Evelyn proposed a structure that would protect plants from frost, dew, birds, and animals, yet still allow the plants to get the important light that they so desperately need to grow. Since then, people have been building and enjoying greenhouses, and have used them to grow all varieties of vegetables, flowers, and other plants.

Benefits of Mini Greenhouses

One of the best things that a mini greenhouse can do for you is provide unlimited access to fresh vegetables. In a mini greenhouse, you can increase your growing season, reduce damage by animals or the weather, and have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your pantry.

Control your own growing climate

A mini greenhouse lets you regulate the amount of light, temperature and moisture your plants get. You are able to control the climate in which your plants grow. You can design the environment in your mini greenhouse in such a way to maximize positive growing conditions.

Variety

In addition, a greenhouse lets you grow what you want. You can grow alpine plants, bedding plants, or perhaps exotic flowers. With a careful amount of planning, you can grow just about anything, even some plants that aren’t usually native to your climate.

Convenience and Comfort

A mini greenhouse is also more convenient than a traditional garden. It is less demanding, physically, to grow plants in a mini greenhouse than it is in a garden. There is less bending and stooping on the ground with a mini greenhouse. Because of this, a mini greenhouse is ideal for those with physical challenges or for the elderly.

Mini greenhouses come in a variety of shapes, sizes and types. There are small freestanding greenhouses that use just a few square feet of space. These can even be used in confined places, such as on a balcony or on a rooftop. There are more traditional mini greenhouses that are the size of a small shed that fit nicely in just about any backyard.

If you want to reap the benefits of greenhouse gardening, consider a mini greenhouse for the most convenient and versatile way to get started.

10 Helpful Things to Consider Before You Build a Greenhouse

There are some important things you should keep in mind when it comes to building a greenhouse. In addition to deciding on the type of building you want to use, there are a number of important considerations to keep in mind when you create your starter or ideal greenhouse:

1. Make sure that the greenhouse is as high as it can be. A greenhouse that is higher provides more volume to help buffer the outside temperatures. If you increase the height of your greenhouse by just two feet, you can increase the volume by around twenty percent. The surface area, which is the part of the greenhouse that makes you vulnerable to heating loss, will only go up by around eight percent. A tall greenhouse offers very few direct shadows, keeping frame members further from your precious plants.

2. You will also want to insure that you have adequate drainage for your greenhouse gardening. One way to do this is to utilize gravel to help raise the floor of your greenhouse above the surrounding terrain. This will help the water table lower quickly after it rains, and will keep the floor of your greenhouse much drier overall.

3. An irrigation system can be a huge time saver for your greenhouse. There are nozzles and drippers available for just about any kind of crop, and choosing the right one for your greenhouse is a huge time saver.

4. Be certain that you have sufficient electrical service to your greenhouse. If you have too little voltage, you might be in a pinch once you begin gardening. As your greenhouse grows and you add more equipment, you will need that extra electricity.

5. Be ready to monitor levels of pH, EC and moisture. Using meters that will monitor these conditions can give you some indication of the changing needs of your plants. These monitors are relatively inexpensive, and give you a much more accurate reading than just a visual inspection.

6. Make provisions to keep out pests. Use things like insect screens, tight vents and tight doors to keep the little critters out of your greenhouse.

7. Use solid-state temp controllers. You will want to choose electronic thermostats over mechanical ones, as they will give you much more precise control.

8. Plan to expand. Create an overall plan for your greenhouse that covers the next several years. Make sure your existing structures and facilities will allow you to have expansion.

9. Use quality equipment to save time and energy. Labor is your number one production cost when greenhouse gardening, so using things like container-fillers, carts and conveyors can really speed up your processes.

10. Use a quality air circulation system, which is important for leaf moisture removal, carbon dioxide enhancement, and uniform temperatures.

With a little care and planning, building a greenhouse can be a rewarding experience for years to come.

The Advantages of Glass Greenhouses

The main advantage to owning a glass greenhouse is visual appeal. Glass greenhouses have a distinctly Victorian feel. The combination of sun reflecting off glass and green sprouts inside makes any greenhouse gardener smile. For gardeners that take pride in the appearance of their homes, glass is the desired material for a greenhouse.

Glass greenhouses also add to the value of a property. Because they are more expensive and considered to be a permanent structure, the cost of constructing a glass greenhouse is justified by the increased resale value of the gardener’s home. Some gardeners even take advantage of the beauty of glass to add etchings or leaded glass accents to further accentuate their greenhouses. This adds a unique aspect of personalization for the gardener with an artistic flare.

Mold, mildew, algae, and bacteria are a constant concern for greenhouse gardeners. Many prefer glass to synthetic materials because they are easy to disinfect. A simple bleach and water solution is often all that is necessary for sanitary cleaning.

Traditional glass is easy to break, but most greenhouse manufacturer’s offer tempered glass as an upgrade. A tempered glass greenhouse withstands the rigors of life with Mother Nature. These types of panels can take a few blows from tree limbs during a storm, and can even hold up to a baseball or two if you’re lucky.

You can choose form single layer, double or triple paned glass to improve insulation and ventilation control. Better temperature control can help you produce more crops with less energy consumptions. Glass does not diffuse light. This makes it ideal for areas with heavy cloud cover throughout the day.

Disadvantages of Glass Greenhouses

Along with the advantages listed above, there are disadvantages to consider as well.

Because glass is often considered more of a showpiece, it takes much more maintenance than a translucent greenhouse. The glass shows dust and dirt and will need to be cleaned often. You can’t just rinse it off with a hose and mop; it has to be carefully dried to prevent streaks.

Glass if one of the worst offenders for plant sunburn. Because there is no light diffusion, plants get direct, intense light and can easily burn, read more about light diffusion. You will also not be able to utilize all the greenhouse space in a glass greenhouse due to shadows.

Glass greenhouses pose two other disadvantages for your plants. In the winter you will spend much more money trying to heat a glass greenhouse than a twin-walled plastic counterpart. Compare insulation values here. On the other end of the spectrum, glass greenhouse get very hot on sunny days, imagine sitting in your car on a sunny day. Because there is no diffusion, the heat is very intense. Glass greenhouses need to have very good ventilation.

Glass greenhouses are popular despite the added cost for many reasons. In conclusion, glass greenhouses add beauty and property value to your home. They tend to be more ‘fancy over function’. If you are looking for the appeal of glass, this will be a good choice for you. If you want a greenhouse that has the best qualities for growing your plants, look into the other covering options.