FEATURESTORY
by Eric Vinje
GREENHOUSE GARDENING 101
A Beginners Guide to Greenhouses
I
f you are interested in extending your growing
season, growing year round or growing plants
that don’t normally survive in your area then a
greenhouse might be for you.
Greenhouse Types
A backyard greenhouse kit can provide a stable,
warm environment where plants can be grown all
year. They can also be used to get a jump start on the
growing season, where plants, like tomatoes and pep-
pers, are planted early and later moved out to the gar-
den. Whatever your reason for wanting a greenhouse,
there are several types, styles and costs for almost
anyone who wants to start gardening under glass —
or polycarbonate, for that matter!
Getting Started
The first thing to figure out when buying or
building a greenhouse is how much growing space
you will need. Keep in mind, that a greenhouse is a
long-term investment. Your selection should be large
enough to provide ample room for years to come. In
many instances, greenhouse owners end up wanting
52
more square footage than they originally thought. In
addition, if you plan to grow vegetables, you’ll want
maximum light and plenty of headroom, which is
also good for hanging plants. There are greenhouse
kits available for just about any budget, and most
(even if you aren’t handy with a hammer) can be built
in less than a day.
Attache