WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE BOUCHARD
Whether you want to extend your growing season or give your plants a fighting chance against deer, groundhogs, porcupines, and other plant-chomping rascals, a greenhouse is a good option.
You may be thinking that a greenhouse costs a lot of money, and you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. Buying a ready-made structure and having it installed can cost several thousand dollars, depending on size, features, and materials. However, DIY kits, designs, and instructional videos are widely available online to help make your greenhouse dreams a reality for less.
Before you pull out your credit card, here’s what you need to know:
Greenhouses come in a variety of shapes and sizes
By definition, a greenhouse is an enclosed space for the protected cultivation of crops or plants, according to Ankit K. Singh, an assistant professor with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. That means they can be as simple and inexpensive as a rolling rack with shelves covered in zippered plastic or as elaborate as a freestanding glass-and-metal structure wired for electricity with a heating system, lights, and automated climate control and watering systems.
Determine the purpose of the greenhouse
Do you want it for starting seeds? Growing microgreens? Feeding your family of seven? Overwintering a lemon tree? Knowing how you plan to use it will determine its style, size, and features, according to Wendy Crawford, owner of greenhouse manufacturer Maine Garden Products in Howland.
Planning is essential
“It’s easy to look at your backyard and think, ‘I’m going to plop down a greenhouse right there. It’ll look cute, maybe, for my Instagram,’” Singh said. But for a greenhouse to operate effectively, you need a plan.
A greenhouse should receive at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight, so consider whether your yard offers a suitable location. Think about the materials you’ll need. A year-round structure, for example, should be built with sturdy materials to withstand wind and snow loads. If your greenhouse is a permanent structure, it should be placed on level ground and positioned so prevailing winds can aid ventilation.
If you aren’t installing it on a concrete pad, consider adding barriers such as hardware cloth to keep out burrowing animals like groundhogs. Proper ventilation is also critical; without it, conditions inside can quickly become problematic.
Just add water
The planning stage is also the time to be realistic about watering. “If you don’t want to water frequently by hand,” Crawford said, “consider installing a drip irrigation system.” If you plan to include lighting, fans, or heating, now is the time to map out those systems. And don’t forget to check with your municipality to determine whether a permit is required.
Don’t forget to have fun
While a greenhouse can take time and effort to build and maintain, it should also be a place for experimentation and enjoyment, according to both Crawford and Singh.
“For the pure reason of joy,” Singh recommended, “start small and then incrementally build up.”
Beginning with something small, such as a cold frame or hoop house, is better than always wishing you had a greenhouse, according to Crawford. “A greenhouse lends itself to the fun of experimenting with things that might not normally grow in our zone, but can with a greenhouse.”
