Greenhouse is a perfect addition to any garden. Although its primarily function is to extend the growing season and protect crops year round, there are many ways how to use a greenhouse structure. If you are completely new to ‘greenhousing’, you can be overwhelmed my the amount of greenhouse types on the market.
The main points to remember are that there are commercial, hobby and mini greenhouses. The later is usually referred to structures where you can propagate plants and also known as windowsill greenhouses. However, there are mini greenhouses with enough space to grow plants in.
What is a hobby greenhouse?
A structure that is relatively small in size where you can grow bedding plants, transplant cuttings and sow seeds is called a hobby greenhouse. In comparison to commercial structures, hobby greenhouse is smaller, the most common size is 6 ft wide by 8 ft long.
Also, most of the time hobby greenhouse is not automated, so it utilizes natural ventilation, energy and light of the sun. In this post we will talk about the must have hobby greenhouse supplies. You can get an idea of what you need inside prior to buying or building a greenhouse.
What is a commercial greenhouse?
A large in size and highly automated construction which you can use to propagate plants, grow a variety of vegetables, fruits and flowers for profit is called a commercial greenhouse. It can have an automated heating system, air circulation system and different types of sensors that monitor the environment inside greenhouse.
What do you need inside a greenhouse?
1. Benches and Shelves
Most of the time people grow plants in raised beds or place pots directly on the ground in a greenhouse. However, shelves and benches help to organize and utilize the space efficiently. Also, if you plant crops on a counter-level surface, it is easier to take care of them. Especially for someone who is struggling from a back pain.
2. Work station
Work station also known as work bench is a must have in any greenhouse. It provides space for potting, preparing seed flats and transplanting. If you purchase a two tier work station you can store garden tools and potting soil on the bottom shelf. Work bench helps to keep greenhouse organized and neat.
3. Propagator
Although you can directly sow seeds in a greenhouse, seeds of common plants like Cucumber and Tomato need a temperature of 60-75°F. It is quite expensive to heat the whole greenhouse structure and in most cases not necessary.
That is why it is handy to have propagator to sow seeds and propagate cuttings. A propagator is a plastic or aluminum container with a glass or plastic cover. You can choose from electric and paraffin options.
4. Seed-staring trays
Seed-staring trays are must have in any greenhouse. These are perfect for sowing seeds. Look for trays that have holes or cracks at the base for drainage. If you decided to purchase propagator, choose seed-starting trays that will fit in it.
Alternatively, you can cover the trays with plastic film or plastic lid and place them on a shelf in a greenhouse. It can be a good idea to dedicate one shelf for propagation. Insulate it with bubble wrap and use heating mat or cables underneath the tray to maintain optimal temperature.
5. Containers for plants
You should always have a variety of containers in your greenhouse. Sort them by size and use. Keep tubs and pots together on one shelf and dedicate smaller shelf for peat pellets and polythene sleeve pots. Don’t solely rely on clay pots. Although clay pots are less likely to topple over, they can break if dropped.
Invest in plastic pots of different sizes. They are less likely to break if dropped. Also, you need to water them less often. You can find plastic pots in decorative forms too. Keep a few tubs handy. These large containers are perfect for shrubs or a collection of smaller plants.
6. Growing Media and Fertilizer
Garden soil which you take straight from the garden is not suitable for filling pots. Stock on potting mix, it is usually a soilless medium that is based on peat. Apart from potting mix you should always have a bag of compost.
Store them in the original packaging. If the bag is open, keep it in a closed container. You can buy a storage tote with lid or use a spare bin. That way you will protect it from pests and diseases so you can use it again.
7. Disinfectant Spray
Keep a full bottle of disinfectant in your greenhouse at all times. You should use it on a routine basis. Use it to disinfect staging, benches, shelves, garden tools, pots, seed trays, capillary matting. You can also add it to water to clean greenhouse glazing and frame.
8. Watering Equipment
It is very time consuming and tiresome to carry cans of water from the kitchen to greenhouse each day in summer. So it is a good idea to connect a hose pipe to an external water supply and bring it inside greenhouse. If you have a big greenhouse it makes sense to set up an automated watering system.
On the other hand, you can build a simple guttering system to collect rainwater from greenhouse frame into water barrels. That way you can fill up the watering cans with rainwater and use it for plants. Moreover, you can connect a hose pipe or link the watering system to water barrel.
9. Garden Tools
Dedicate a shelf for essential gardening tools. A hand trowel for digging, a hand rake for loosening soil, a spade for transplanting, a weeder for weeding, a pruner for trimming and shaping of flowers, a cultivator for aerating soil.
A good pair of gloves and waterproof apron with multiple pockets so you can put your tools there. You can either purchase these tools separately or if you are completely new to gardening, you can buy a garden tool set. It contains 12 aluminum gardening tools and comes with apron and gloves.
10. Ventilators
Ventilation helps to reduce air humidity and controls temperature. As a minimum you need one roof vent and one side vent. Ideally, you should have ventilators on both sides of the greenhouse structure. There are two types of ventilation, you can read more about it in this post.
An automatic vent opener can ease your life meaning that you don’t need to go out daily to open and close the vents by hand. Also, it is very important to ventilate a greenhouse in winter. It reduces air humidity which provokes gray mold and other diseases.
11. Thermometer and Hygrometer
Many growers think that a thermometer to monitor temperature fluctuations in a greenhouse is enough. Although max/min thermometer is vital, you also need to place hygrometer to take humidity readings. With these basic sensors you can monitor the environment for your plants.
Place a digital thermometer close to the plants but air should circulate freely around the thermometer. It should be close to eye-level at the north side of the greenhouse. You can have a look at the guide on best greenhouse thermometers and hygrometers.
12. Support Wires
The most popular vegetables and fruits to grow in a greenhouse such as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Grapevines and Peaches are tall plants. They all grow to considerable height and have weak stems. So these plants need some sort of support.
The basic example of support system is the wooden stake or bamboo cane. In a hobby greenhouse it is enough to insert 3 to 4 canes around the plant stem and enclose them with string or raffia ribbon. Here is a good option of 2 foot long bamboo stakes.
