Heat-loving garden crops do not develop well in temperate climates. Ripening of fruits occurs later, their productivity is lower. And these are not only exotic plants, but for a long time already familiar tomatoes, peppers, eggplants. Lack of heat also affects the ripening of early varieties of many vegetables.
The way out of the situation has long been found. This is the construction of structures to protect the soil - greenhouses and greenhouses. A special microclimate is created in them, moisture and heat are retained, due to which the vegetation and fruiting period are accelerated.
What is the difference between a greenhouse and a greenhouse
Greenhouses are small structures up to 1.3 meters high. Unlike greenhouses, they do not need additional sources of heat. Heating is due to the natural biological release of heat and energy from the sun. They are not equipped with doors. To access the plants, it is possible to tilt one of the sides - side or top. In this regard, the "Snowdrop" greenhouse is very convenient, reviews of which can often be heard from amateur gardeners. He opens the end part of the covering material, and if necessary - and any of the side parts.
Nowadays, greenhouses use modern materials - spunbond, cellular polycarbonate or polyethylene. Previously, the most common material was glass, which is why installation took a lot of time and labor. If you install the "Snowdrop" greenhouse, you can forget about the terrible and long process of assembling the complex construction of the old type forever.
Greenhouses are more capital constructions. Their height reaches 2.5 meters if the plants are processed manually. If mechanized care and assembly are provided, then they can be even higher, taking into account the size and characteristics of the equipment used. Installation of greenhouses is more complicated. It is necessary to correctly calculate the dimensions and provide for heating equipment.
Types of Greenhouses
Greenhouses vary in several ways:
- By type of covering material: glass, PVC film, polycarbonate, spanbond.
- By type of construction: polygonal or arched, single or gable.
- By size: regular and mini-greenhouses.
The type of frame depends on the choice of covering material. Under glass, wooden frames are usually used, occasionally metal-plastic bags can be found. The remaining materials do not require frame structures; under them, a frame is made of metal pipes, HDPE rods or a wooden crate is made. The size depends on which plants you plan to grow - short or tall. Also, it makes no sense to put a tall greenhouse for seedlings.
Greenhouse "Snowdrop": customer reviews and equipment
The arch type design has proven itself very well. This is a hemisphere - the "Snowdrop" greenhouse. Reviews gardeners can be found on various forums. It is sold in full, nothing extra to buy for installation is not necessary. No special tools or special technical skills are needed.
Buyers on forums often discuss the Snowdrop greenhouse. Reviews are found only positive. Those who installed greenhouses of various designs focus on the ease of installation. They write that, in comparison with how easily the “Snowdrop” greenhouse is going to assemble, no one would like to install the usual model. The greenhouse package includes:
- frame arches - durable and ductile;
- agrotextile covering material;
- legs with which arches are stuck in the ground;
- clips for fastening the covering sheet.
Features and characteristics of the greenhouse
Its main feature is mobility. If you look at the reviews about the “Snowdrop” greenhouse, you can see that this arched structure is not only easy to install, it can be assembled for the winter or installed as needed in another area. When folded, it takes up very little space - it completely folds into a bag-case.
The covering material, agrofibre (spunbond), is designed for heavy loads, its service life is at least 5 years. Judging by the reviews of those who installed the "Snowdrop" greenhouse, a terrible wind can blow at least all night, but the design can withstand the onslaught of bad weather.
Agrofibre is a breathable material. It allows you to provide plants with the necessary microclimate. Humidity does not exceed 75%, which helps to reduce diseases. Indeed, one of the factors in the development of late blight and other fungal lesions is precisely the increased (above 75%) humidity.
Available in several sizes. They are standard in height and width - 80 cm high and 120 wide, but the length can be from two to eight meters. About the two-meter mini-greenhouse "Snowdrop" the reviews of those who used it for seedlings are encouraging. Thanks to the coating of the new generation, heat loss is minimal, which is very important for seedlings and not only. Since agrofibre releases water, plants are not devoid of natural watering, which is also a positive point.
Choosing a place to install
When choosing a place for a greenhouse, it is necessary first of all to provide good, but not excessive illumination. In contrast to the winter greenhouse, the greenhouse is designed for the spring-summer period. Therefore, the best option is a place where the sun shines in the morning. The following points should be taken into account:
- Greenhouse structures are installed so that the opening side has easy access.
- The end faces should be oriented south and north.
Assembly: step by step instructions
Few of those who installed the Snowdrop greenhouse did not like this activity. Judging by the reviews, this is easy to do, as everything is thought out to the smallest detail. After choosing a place for installation, you must perform the following steps:
- Attach the legs to the frame arcs (insert them into the end hole of the arc).
- Stretch the "Snowdrop" along the beds and stick the legs of the arcs into the ground. The soil near the stuck legs needs to be tamped.
- Close and fasten the end faces.
The question is often asked whether it is necessary to do drainage under the "Snowdrop" greenhouse. Reviews indicate that the covering sheet allows moisture to pass through well, and the water evaporates without stagnation. One cannot do without a drainage device only if the bed is located in a lowland or on loamy soils.
Operational Features
Will the "Snowdrop" greenhouse disappoint when used? Customer reviews note several features in operation. In summer, spanbond serves as protection against scorching rays, so it makes no sense to completely remove the "Snowdrop" greenhouse. Reviews indicate that fastening with clips allows you to fix the cover sheet in the right position and easily adjust - raise, lower, completely throw it to the other side.
When the garden season ends, the structure is easy to assemble. According to reviews, the covering fabric is well washed in the washing machine, if necessary. Since the "Snowdrop" takes up little space when folded, there are no problems with its storage in the winter.
Some tips for gardeners
- In one greenhouse, it is undesirable to plant different crops that can be mutually pollinated. If it doesn’t work out differently, then a partition must be placed between them.
- You can not grow cucumbers and tomatoes together. Cucumbers require more moisture, and tomatoes - on the contrary. In addition, tomatoes need to be ventilated more often and not to allow them to overheat.
- For planting in a greenhouse, it is better to buy self-pollinated varieties of vegetables. If ordinary ones have already been planted, it is necessary to conduct forced pollination.