Glass greenhouses are time-tested, reliable and aesthetically attractive option for creating garden crops ideal conditions for growth and development. The cost of the structure and its installation depends on the materials used, the size and whether the owner of the site will buy a greenhouse or make it himself.
Historical data on greenhouses
The history of growing vegetables using artificial agricultural techniques dates back to very distant times. Ancient Roman gardeners carried out plantings in the sun during the day and cleaned them at night in warm rooms, built peculiar greenhouses, covering the beds with a layer of manure, under which heat was preserved.
Over time, the same ancient Romans came up with the idea to protect the plantings with fences covered with thin plates of mica that let in sunlight. These structures can be considered a prototype of modern greenhouses.
The first glass greenhouses appeared in Europe in the middle of the 16th century. They were mainly used for breeding flowers and exotic plants. Glass was very expensive, so ordinary people could not afford such a luxury for growing vegetables.
The invention of the method of creating flat glass in Germany in the 17th century led to the development of the construction of greenhouses. Nevertheless, wealthy citizens enjoyed the privilege of having glass greenhouses. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, when the mass rental of flat glass began and its price fell sharply, everyone had the opportunity to build glass greenhouses.
Glass greenhouses appeared in Russia under Peter 1 and were also a rarity, since their construction was too expensive. In the 30s of the last century, the massive construction of greenhouses began on a national scale. Soviet greenhouse plants supplied fresh produce to the whole country.
Advantages and disadvantages possessed by glass greenhouses
Glass has certain positive qualities that determine its use in the manufacture of greenhouses:
- High transparency allows sunlight to freely enter the greenhouse.
- The ability to transmit ultraviolet rays gives plants the opportunity to get the elements necessary for growth.
- Environmental friendliness and chemical inertness of the glass provide a healthy atmosphere in the greenhouse. It does not emit harmful substances when heated and does not react to the action of chemicals and the influence of an aggressive environment.
- The glass surface is not subject to aging and abrasive influences, therefore, for a long time retains an attractive appearance.
- The glass structure does not change under the influence of high and low temperatures. The shape and dimensions remain unchanged, which saves the structure from deformation.
- Does not require complicated care. To keep the glass clean, just wash it with water and wipe it with a dry cloth.
- It is steady against atmospheric precipitation and does not bend under the weight of snow.
- A broken item is easy to replace.
The disadvantages of glass include a large weight, brittleness, high thermal conductivity, high price compared to other materials used to cover greenhouses. Even with these obvious disadvantages of the greenhouse (customer reviews confirm this) they do not lose popularity. According to those who have long used a glass greenhouse on their site, the costs pay off in a couple of years, since vegetables grow and develop in them much better. The structures are strong, and damaged elements can be easily and quickly replaced without violating the microclimate in the greenhouse.
Features of greenhouse technology
Any greenhouse, regardless of the materials used, is a solid frame covered with sheets of transparent material. The frame is made of aluminum or steel profile or from wooden beams. For glass greenhouses, aluminum or wood is usually used to reduce the total weight of the structure, since the glass itself is quite heavy.
For the same reason, a solid, reliable foundation is required to install a glass greenhouse. For greenhouses, a monolithic strip or block concrete foundation is usually used. It should be laid to the depth of freezing of the soil, but not less than 80 cm.
Typically, glass greenhouses are made with a gable or gable sloping roof. Here the gardener himself can make a choice. In order for the glass roof of the greenhouse to serve for a long time, 4-6 mm thick glass is used for its manufacture. Thicker can crack, as the temperature difference inside and outside can be very large.
Glass greenhouses - a worthy choice
Glass greenhouses today do not lose their popularity, although other materials have appeared that have similar characteristics and higher technical and physical properties.
Despite the fact that there are a huge number of different models of greenhouses on sale from different materials and different price categories, real connoisseurs and experts prefer reliable, durable and attractive glass structures. The price of a greenhouse frame for glass depends on the size of the structure, the materials used and the presence of additional elements. On average, it ranges from 20,000 to 150,000 rubles. The cost of sheet glass with a thickness of 4 mm is from 150 rubles / m². Despite the high cost of the greenhouse, reviews of finished structures available on the market are mostly positive. It is worth listening to novice gardeners.
Experienced growers usually choose glass greenhouses, the price of which is quite high, knowing that the quality and reliability of the structure will ultimately pay off all the costs.