Hobby
greenhouses are structures, cold frames, and miniature structures called
“season extenders” for those with limited space. Many of
them can be placed directly over plants for protection and propagation.
These lightweight, portable structures are often simple and effective
ways to start seeds early, extend the harvest, and even create a more
continuous supply.
Tomatoes, carrots, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, corn and pumpkins are
just a small sampling of what can be grown with the help of hobby greenhouses
and cold frames. You don’t have to be professional to buy, use,
or be successful growing with the help of one of these items. You just
need the resources and time to make the purchase and maintain the routine
that keeps plants alive and flourishing.
Hobby greenhouses can resemble Quonset huts, tents, tunnels, geodesic
domes and other innovative shapes that allow professional and amateur
growers to select from a wide range of options. These impermanent styles
are often made from UV-blocking, transparent material that allows heat
and diffuse light into the space. The more permanent structures are
often made of steel frames covered in shatterproof panels made of resin
or glass.
Ventilation and temperature monitoring are very important elements to
growing inside a greenhouse or greenhouse-type structure.
Your ventilation system should be chosen according to the region in
which you live and the size and design of your structure. Sometimes
just opening the doors in the morning creates enough airflow to ventilate.
If you need to ventilate in a hurry, open any ceiling vents and hose
down the floors and the whole thing will cool down in a hurry. Hosing
down the floors is obviously something that is done in larger, more
permanent structures, but the idea applies at smaller levels.
Electrical access can be handy for attaching fans, heaters, misters
and propagators but it is not generally needed. Also – heating
a greenhouse, large or small, is costly - prohibitively so. And there
are many plants that be grown without heat.
A display house protects plants and seed starts indoor or outdoor. A
clear, vinyl cover keeps humidity in and reduces watering, while adding
warmth when needed. The front zips open and rolls up for ventilation,
or you can remove the entire cover and use it as charming plant stand.
The Lit’l Propagator is a compact 4-foot by 4-foot design and
is one of those hobby greenhouses suitable for balcony plants, rooftop
plots, or a small garden. It is 72 inches tall with adjustable benches
that leave more room for tall plants and can even be completely removed
for more storage – and it’s all covered in shatterproof,
insulated, twin-wall Solexx panels. Solexx panels are sturdy and strong.
The thin-wall panels bring in evenly diffuse sunlight. This insulation
keeps heat costs low-to-non-existent.
SeedHouse is a portable, full-zipper enclosure that creates the perfect
environment for germination, development, and hardening off. It’s
100% waterproof Gro-Tech material protects plants from wind, frost and
snow – screened vents keep out most insects, birds, and pests.
Its open-bottom design means that it can be placed directly over existing
plants, hard surfaces, raised beds, or containers. It comes with a shade
cover, wind stakes, and carry pack.
You can even build your own benches with a DIY bench kit. This sort
of thing should be planned before you buy a structure so you know what
you have room for as far as workspace is concerned.
