| Here are some tips to help you build a great | | | | series from the very start. Make your first |
| greenhouse: | | | | house fit in-on paper-with those you will |
| | | | build later, so as to form a complete unit. |
| To build a workable greenhouse, you will need | | | | Many greenhouse operations start on a small |
| a construction plan. Then you can consider | | | | scale but soon need to expand, so select an |
| ways and means. There are several ways to go | | | | adequate site at the start. |
| about building. | | | | |
| | | | What Type of Greenhouse? |
| You can draw up a contract with a | | | | |
| manufacturer of greenhouses to supply all the | | | | There is a type of greenhouse to meet every |
| materials, all the heating and cooling | | | | preference, every gardening need, every |
| equipment, and the masonry. You can even get | | | | budget. I have seen sun porches and chicken |
| him to find you a builder to erect the | | | | houses converted into greenhouses; |
| structure, and also a plumber for the water | | | | greenhouses built as second-story units over |
| and heating installations. | | | | garages; free-standing or detached |
| | | | greenhouses; step-into pit houses, and many |
| Or you can purchase the material you need | | | | kinds of attached-to-dwelling ones. There are |
| (new or used), and have some local labor come | | | | heated, partially heated, and unheated |
| in and build your greenhouse. Or you can do | | | | greenhouses, each successfully designed to |
| it yourself, perhaps with some help from your | | | | suit someone's gardening-for-profit plan. |
| family. | | | | |
| | | | Greenhouse designs are numerous but types |
| If you prefer the prefabricated units, you | | | | fall into these main divisions: span, |
| can erect a greenhouse with little or no | | | | lean-to, uneven or partial span, and the pit |
| extra help. You can glaze it with regulation | | | | house, which may be any of these types but |
| glass panes, Fiberglas, or plastic. Ready and | | | | with a greater portion of the walls below |
| able to supply all this are innumerable | | | | ground level. If you have plenty of room-real |
| firms. As you plan your greenhouse, there are | | | | acreage or a large lot-the free-standing span |
| further decisions you will have to make. | | | | house may be best for you. This type, if |
| | | | properly placed, receives maximum sunlight |
| Where to Place Your Greenhouse | | | | throughout the day in every season. |
| | | | |
| You must decide upon a site, and this | | | | A lean-to, as the name suggests, is erected |
| involves several considerations. You want a | | | | against the side of another building. The |
| location where you can work conveniently and | | | | partial span or uneven type has a greater |
| where there is maximum sunlight. Even though | | | | distance from eaves to gable on one side of |
| you may plan to start with only shade-loving | | | | the house than on the other. In the north, |
| plants, you will probably find that other | | | | the low winter sun comes directly through |
| kinds are profitable, too, and so eventually | | | | such a roof for maximum light. And in the |
| you will want to be able to grow light-loving | | | | summer, when the sun is high, this greenhouse |
| plants. You can always apply shading to make | | | | draws light reflection from both sides. |
| a house darker, but you can't make the sun | | | | |
| come around to a greenhouse that has been | | | | The cost of pit-house construction is low. |
| unwisely located in a shaded place. | | | | Many growers use pit houses only during early |
| | | | spring and into fall. They are left idle |
| Fluorescent and incandescent lighting can be | | | | during the coldest months of the year to |
| used to raise light intensities in winter and | | | | avoid a heating bill. Other growers operate a |
| on dark days, and this is a very practical | | | | pit house economically by having it dug off |
| means of utilizing small problem or | | | | the basement and served by the household |
| special-purpose areas (as discussed later). | | | | heating system. This arrangement affords |
| | | | ample space for potting, household tools, and |
| But you certainly don't want artificial | | | | other necessary equipment. |
| lighting to be your primary light source-not | | | | |
| while sunlight is free! | | | | Before you do anything-even before you start |
| | | | dreaming about building a greenhouse-check |
| Therefore, you want a location with a | | | | with your city engineer or building |
| south-eastern or southern exposure, and the | | | | inspector. It is important to know what the |
| land should be well-drained. Then, for the | | | | building regulations are as to greenhouse |
| sake of customers, you need a location which | | | | placement and construction. In some |
| is easily found, and where parking will be | | | | residential areas, construction of any kind |
| easy. | | | | of commercial structure is prohibited. Find |
| | | | out everything about all relevant laws-and |
| If your eventual aim is expansion-that is, | | | | don't consider yourself "too smart" to need a |
| having a series of greenhouses-plan that | | | | lawyer. |