Overview of greenhouse types
A greenhouse is essentially an enclosed space that is heated and illuminated by the sun. Shortwave solar radiation penetrates a layer of glass or other transparent or semi-transparent material and heats surfaces such as the ground and plants inside a greenhouse. By their very nature, greenhouses also allow you to control variables such as temperature, humidity, and light. How the greenhouse performs these tasks is up to you. The shape, size and location of the greenhouse is your choice and should be chosen based on available space, budget, maintenance hours, electricity and water access.
Since everyone has their own space and budget constraints, this article will provide a broader definition of a greenhouse, so the information will be useful to almost everyone. When choosing the best type of greenhouse, consider location, access to land, resources and utilities, and of course, the overall purpose and seasonality of the greenhouse. Below we will look at some of the different types of greenhouses that are most popular.
A free-standing conventional greenhouse
This is the model most people imagine when they think of a greenhouse. This is the most common design, where the supporting structure is made of wooden or metal poles, and glass or transparent polycarbonate is used as a covering material. Although they can be assembled by hand, they are usually labor intensive. Ready-made greenhouses can be purchased as kits of various sizes or you can use the services of professional installers.
A greenhouse of the usual type can be built anywhere.
Kits are available in a variety of sizes, from small-scale for hobby use (about 2x4m.) to industrial sizes that can be easily integrated with heating and ventilation systems. This is suitable if you are sure that your greenhouse will be a permanent structure and you have a large enough budget to cover the construction costs. This is especially true if you need to build a foundation and add amenities such as ventilation systems, lighting, water access and electricity. Freestanding structures generally provide more even light distribution and fewer shadowing problems, but may be less energy efficient than wall-mounted greenhouses due to the large wall area that can radiate heat.
Tunnel greenhouse
For those looking for a less permanent, less expensive option, hoops are worth considering. The main structural difference is that they are made of plastic sheets. They require less heating or ventilation and are much more economical. This type of greenhouse is easier to manufacture and adapt to the required dimensions. Such greenhouses can also be purchased as sets. You can install them yourself or use professional greenhouse installation services.
A tunnel greenhouse made of hoops.
Unlike a greenhouse, where the growing environment can be controlled, high tunnel greenhouses usually rely on passive heating, cooling and humidity control. In addition, plants are more often grown in existing soil rather than in beds, which are more commonly used in other types of greenhouses.
Wall greenhouse
For gardens with very limited space and/or no outdoor space, a wall greenhouse can be a good option. This type of greenhouse is designed so that at least one side is connected to the existing building, preferably a south-facing wall. However, depending on the location of the greenhouse, depending on the structure to which it is attached, attached greenhouses may have shadows from the adjacent structure.
The wall greenhouse faces south.
The size of attached greenhouses is determined by the length and height of the wall they are attached to, so they tend to be smaller than freestanding greenhouses. The narrower construction of these greenhouses can make it difficult to easily accommodate all the desired crops, but a big plus is that the existing building's utilities, such as electricity and water, can be used in the greenhouse, so this solution can be even more cost-effective.
Warmth
This is definitely not a standard greenhouse, but a great first project alternative for those who want to start exploring greenhouse concepts but don't yet have the budget or ability to install a larger greenhouse. Used to extend the garden season, heather is the easiest (and by far the cheapest) option.
A wooden greenhouse with an opening lid.
A greenhouse is a glass or plastic structural cover for your garden that protects seeds, seedlings and plants from too low temperatures, wind, snow and rain. Greenhouses can be semi-permanent and built in one place or transported as needed in the garden.