Why Greenhouses Are Good?

Whether you’re a new gardener or a seasoned grower, you’ll find some compelling reasons to invest in a good greenhouse. The longer you spend gardening, the more inevitable it is that you’ll one day ask yourself: should I buy a greenhouse? There are a number of good reasons for this.

Flexibility: a greenhouse allows us to grow a wider variety of food and flowers, and to experiment with crops we previously considered “too delicate”.

Stability: a greenhouse offers a predictable environment that shelters tender plants from damaging weather extremes.

Self-sufficiency: a greenhouse empowers us to easily save and germinate our own seeds, making it possible to avoid paying for commercial starters.

Greenhouse Panda Black and White Poly Film;

Climate change is here, and the first ripples are touching every aspect of our lives — especially in the garden. Freak weather systems can break plants, wash away your hard-earned soil, and encourage new pests. Changing times call for changing methods: the greenhouse gives your growing things shelter from the storm.

Insulation and design: how's the winter weather?

If you live in a climate where ice and snow are part of your typical winter scene, and you want to grow vegetables year-round, your cover needs to be well-insulated. Multiple-walled polycarbonate is often used for this purpose: the internal air spaces between the layers (either double or triple) provide significant insulating value.

Twin-walled polyethylene is another great option that provides a soft, diffused light, and excellent insulation with more flexibility than rigid polycarbonate. The Solexx line of greenhouses uses twin-walled polyethylene in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Another consideration in cold climates is snow accumulation: check the snow-load rating for the model you’re considering to make sure it won’t risk collapsing after a heavy snowstorm.

Glass Greenhouse     

If, on the other hand, your winters are mild, or if you are simply looking for a “season extender” (a place to germinate and nurture young plants in early spring when outdoor temperatures are still uncertain), serious insulation is not as crucial. Simple tempered glass panels or single-walled polycarbonate may be perfectly adequate. Glass won’t degrade under years of intense sunlight, but glass’s fragility makes it a poor choice for areas with hail storms, or heavy winds causing flying branches or ice.

If you live in a windy area, standard polyethylene film will not be a workable option, but the tougher woven polyethylene could still work. A more substantial material, such as twin-walled polyethylene or polycarbonate, on a rigid frame, will perform better in the wind. To prepare for potential gales, pay extra attention to anchoring your structure to the ground, and always ensure all doors and windows are closed before a storm hits.

If you’re thinking of a glass greenhouse in a cold area, consider using glass with a heat-retaining coating, such as “low-E”, particularly on the north side of the building (it will reduce the solar gain if used on the south faces). Will you be heating your greenhouse? If so, an insulating material is essential, to avoid wasting money and fuel on the heat that flies through your windows almost as fast as your heater can produce it. Twin-walled polyethylene has the highest insulating value of any greenhouse glazing.

If you want to get more information about the greenhouse materials, welcome to contact us today or request a quote.