Building a cold greenhouse for garden plants
In this article we will tell you how to make a cold greenhouse with your own hands. When the cold hits, your precious plants will need reliable protection. So, we are building the first cold greenhouse!
What does a cold greenhouse look like and what is it for?
A cold greenhouse reliably protects landings from the wind and retains heat. Gardeners use it to extend the summer cottage season:
- in the fall to protect the plants for a few more weeks;
- in spring to have a head start and ensure early germination of seeds.
The boxes are also used to acclimatize seedlings that have been grown indoors. So they are not threatened by a sharp change in temperature.
Try planting crops such as radish, lettuce, endive, and leeks right in the greenhouse for early or late harvesting. They can also be grown all summer long until the shelter is removed with the arrival of warm weather.
When deciding on the variety of lettuce to grow, we recommend choosing a winter lettuce.
How to build a cold greenhouse
The frame of the structure can be made of wood or plastic, as well as concrete blocks and bricks. Build a wooden box without a bottom and set it up in a garden on good soil with plenty of sunlight. Most gardeners use wood to build the frame as it is available and easily trimmed to size with hand tools. If you are lucky enough to find a hardwood tree, use it to build it. It is much stronger than soft conifers and will last longer.
Avoid using old wood treated with creosote or another similar substance, especially if the cold greenhouse is located directly on the ground. Wood can be painted with non-toxic paint if it looks dirty from the outside.
Cover the top of the box with glass (perhaps an old storm window) or a frame covered in clear plastic. The lid should be transparent - old windows and shower doors are the most commonly used options. Hinge the roof panel or provide a sliding window so the box can be opened for ventilation on hot days.
If your site has raised beds with high sides, you can place a sheet of glass on top to create a temporary cold greenhouse. Also, temporary shelters can be built by installing old storm windows in a triangle over the rows of plantings.
For those with very little time and skills, there is a simple solution. Cut the bottoms off the plastic milk cans and cover the individual plants with them, digging in the sidewalls with earth. Remove covers for ventilation on warm days.
How to make a warm greenhouse
This type of greenhouse box is the same cold greenhouse, but heated. The method of using horse manure or compost works well and is more economical than electric heating cables.
To build a non-electric warm greenhouse, dig a hole 50-60 cm deep and place fresh manure in it. Stir and moisturize once every 2 days throughout the week until it hardens.Then put a layer of soil on top, about 15 cm thick.
Because the compost and manure decompose, it will generate enough heat to protect the plants from early or late frost.
Cold greenhouses are a great way to keep your plantings safe from the vicissitudes of the weather. Due to the high efficiency and economy of this design, boxes are commonly used by gardeners around the world.