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Greenhouse Gardening Article
Greenhouse Starter Kits
from: Lawn and Garden MagicA greenhouse kit is a great way for both amateur and professional gardeners to enjoy year round gardening. Greenhouses are garden structures designed to cultivate plants by harnessing the heat generated by the electromagnetic radiation coming from the sun. The heat is retained within the structure’s walls and roof to heat the plants and the soil inside it.
Greenhouses are used quite effectively to farm various plants including flowers, fruits and even vegetables within its controlled environment. Humidity, condensation and light are the key factors that contribute to a greenhouses' effectiveness.
These structures are generally freestanding, but other designs may also be joined to the house or built in a lean-to manner.
The size of greenhouses often vary depending on the purpose of the structure. Miniature greenhouses may simply be a window extension that can be used for growing herbs. On the other hand, massive greenhouses can be as wide as a city block and are usually for business purposes.
There was a day when greenhouses were usually custom-built and came with a huge price tag attached to them. But these days greenhouse kits have become readily available and affordable for the enjoyment of every amateur or professional gardener alike.
Things to Consider When Before Buying a Greenhouse Kit
Ready-to-build greenhouse kits have become quite popular because they offer an extensive selection of sizes and styles. These kits give a gardener the opportunity to adapt the structure to the design of their garden in order to fit and match. However, before choosing and buying a greenhouse kit, it's important to consider several factors so you will be able to select the ideal kit.
It's important to take into account the type of plants to be grown within the structure as well as the type of gardening that will be done as well as the climate of the region where the greenhouse structure will be assembled.
For example, a gardener interested in planting within a wintry climate should consider a greenhouse kit that has a securely sealed double-walled area. On the other hand, a gardener who wants to start seed planting should consider getting a greenhouse kit constructed with plastic frames and sidings.
Greenhouse Kit Details
Greenhouse kits come in many different sizes ranging from 6 feet by 8 feet to 16 feet by 24 feet. The styles of greenhouse kits also vary to represent classic conservatory designs that are marked by the usual type of gable roof with straight eaves. Victorian style greenhouse kits are also available. This style features either a rustic look with wooden frames or a gothic vaulted roof with curved eaves.
In most cases, the frame of greenhouse kits are made of either plastic, aluminum, galvanized steel, cedar or redwood. However, many people favor plastic greenhouse kits because they are more affordable and also provide the smallest amount of heat loss compared to other kits.
In traditional custom-made greenhouses the siding is built with either a double or triple wall of glass in order to keep the heat trapped inside. Greenhouse kits use mainly plastics that provide excellent insulation and they are also unbreakable. Common plastics used are polyethylene, polycarbonate and fiberglass.
Greenhouse kits are relatively easy to put together as the parts are already pre-drilled and pre-cut. There are even greenhouse kits available that use a snap-together frame for easier assembly. A reasonably priced greenhouse kit might include aluminum or galvanized steel frames, a see-through plastic cover that has a door incorporated into it.
The door may be either a zippered side-flap or a roll-up, depending on the design of the greenhouse kit. The typical ceiling height of a greenhouse kit is about 8 feet to allow for the headroom of the gardener. There are times, however, when a greenhouse kit may not include certain items such as shelving, flooring or anchor system.
Some greenhouse kits provide the owner with information on how to lay down a foundation for the hothouse using any of these weather resistant materials like wood, poured concrete or even concrete patio stones. The purpose of a level-flooring surface is to provide good drainage as well as prevent as much wind damage to the structure as possible. Reasonably priced floor-framing kits are readily available at gardening stores that also sell greenhouse kits.
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