Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
house, make sure you shop around and choose a quality product.
They are often complicated and heavy to construct, so see if the
price includes installation. Since greenhouses are permanent struc-
tures, it may be expensive to build one. Be sure you know what you
are going to use it for and get one that works best for your needs.
Glass lasts longer than plastic, giving a greenhouse a clear advant-
age over cold frames and plastic tunnels. Plastic can easily be torn or
punctured and has a life span of three to four years at the most. A
properly installed and maintained glass greenhouse can last several
decades. Plastic tunnels are often said to be easier to ventilate, but a
glass greenhouse can be equipped with vents that automatically
open and close when the inside temperature reaches a preset num-
ber. This means you don't have to do all the dirty work of checking
the temperature and setting up manual vents yourself.
Some greenhouses are made of fiberglass rather than glass. Fiber-
glass is a strong yet lightweight manmade product that can easily be
cut into shapes to fit your needs. It can be more desirable than glass
because it lasts even longer, but it is often more expensive and can
become scratched if it is not kept clean.
Smoothie Garden Solution
Amending and fertilizing your soil with manure is just as important
in an indoor vegetable garden as it is for your outside garden beds.
Bird and bat guano are the animal manures with the highest nitro-
gen content. The next highest are rabbit, poultry, and sheep
manures. The animal manures with the least nitrogen are cow, pig,
and horse.
It's easier to add artificial heat and light to a permanent green-
house structure than to a plastic tunnel. This allows you to extend
