Greenhouse: how to arrange inside?

If you think a greenhouse is just a foundation, frame, and covering, you're mistaken. What you imagined is merely a hangar. To create a real greenhouse, you'll need a bit more.

Today, polycarbonate greenhouses are popular, so let's consider the arrangement of a covered garden from the perspective of using such a structure.

Rows

The classic option. But even here, things aren't that simple. The placement of rows matters — it's best to lay them from east to west so they warm up in the sun from early morning until late evening.

The width of the rows should not exceed 90 cm, so you can reach any plant from any side. The number of rows will depend on the width of the structure. Today, the variety of greenhouses from manufacturers is so extensive that it's easy to fit 2-3, or even more rows inside.

A walkway ensures ease of movement between plantings and care. The optimal width is 50 cm. Depending on the number of rows, you can arrange 1, 2, or more walkways. It's best to cover them with non-slip materials: bricks, gravel.

It's important to prevent soil from falling onto the walkways. For this, barriers made of various materials are used. The most optimal option is wood, previously treated against moisture and fungi. Barriers should rise no more than 2-3 cm above the row surface.

Shelving

Used for growing seedlings in pots. At the same yield, such planting occupies significantly less space due to its multi-level arrangement.

There are two types of shelving — wooden (very warm, plants thrive with them, especially heat-loving crops) and metal (lighter, compact, durable, and well-suited to any conditions).

Shelving should not be too high, to avoid blocking sunlight from plants on lower shelves. The ideal height is up to eye level. The width depends on the placement: a central shelf can reach 150 cm, while shelves placed along the perimeter walls should not exceed 95 cm. This distance allows you to easily reach each pot without much effort.

Regardless of how lightweight the structure is, the ground won't be strong enough for it. Therefore, it's necessary to level and pour a concrete floor or cover it with a strong material — bricks, tiles.

Quarantine Room

Required for holding plants before planting them in already seeded rows. The room — a bit exaggerated, more accurately, it's a small corner separated from the rest of the area or an aquarium holding 2-4 pots. In both cases, a hermetically sealed container must be used, and new plants must be kept at a certain distance from healthy plantings.

To construct such a "room," glass is used — an inert material that does not collect any foreign microorganisms and yet does not let them pass.

Ventilation

If you don't want to constantly open and close doors and windows, consider purchasing one of the 3 systems:

• bimetallic;
• electric;
• hydraulic.

The simplest and most compact one is hydraulic: installed directly in the window or door frame and works on the principle of thermal expansion of air.

Heating

Greenhouses made of polycarbonate are primarily heated by sunlight. But if you're growing vegetables in winter, this will be insufficient, so you can additionally install a warm floor.

With shelves, it's even simpler: warm air always rises, and the tiered arrangement allows each pot to warm up.

This is not the only way to arrange a greenhouse. The decision to include or exclude specific equipment should be made after determining what and when you will be growing.