4 top tips for growing crops in a greenhouse

A greenhouse is an agricultural structure designed to protect plants from adverse external influences and create an optimal microclimate inside. Growing crops in a greenhouse is extremely beneficial for thermophilic plants.

The greenhouse usually serves as a heated protection for early seedlings (such as cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, as well as the first greens, etc.). Comfortable temperatures of warmth and humidity are created inside a well-made greenhouse, there is no wind and cold drafts. The soil is specially prepared, the soil is well heated, loosened and fertilized. This promotes the rapid development of the planted plants.

Before growing plants in a greenhouse, you need to know some of the features of greenhouse cultivation.

Growing crops in a greenhouse: lighting

The illumination in the building should be less than on the street. In plants, an important chemical process is going on all the time: small molecules "fold" into organic chains from which the plant is built. For the process of growth and development, the plant needs energy, which they take from the sun's rays. The plant grows due to photosynthesis, and if there is no photosynthesis, there is no development. Each plant, depending on its structure, has its own need for the amount of light, which can change during the life of the plant.

There are different types of lamps for lighting: incandescent, fluorescent, energy saving, high pressure mercury lamps, high pressure sodium lamps, metal halide, LED. Metal halide lamps are ideal for greenhouses in terms of the color spectrum, but they are not cheap. LED lamps consume little electricity, they can shine in different colors (blue, red, etc.)

Watering plants

Any organism needs water, no living creature can survive without it. Plants "feed" on sunlight, but carbon dioxide and water are also needed to synthesize.

Airing greenhouses

Greenhouse ventilation is a simple but very important procedure. It solves several tasks that are important for the life of a plant: it creates a comfortable air temperature, helps to reduce the number of pests, and helps pollinate plants. If the air supply is difficult in the greenhouse, then the plant loses the ability to photosynthesize, and, accordingly, the ability to grow. Pests are interested in high humidity, dampness and weakened plants. If the structure is ventilated, the circulation of fresh air will force the harmful insects to clear away. Pollination of plants is due to the wind or insects, but the design deprives the plant of both. Ventilation opens up access for airflow and pollinating insects that help the plant to pollinate. If the greenhouse does not have windows or vents for ventilation, you can create air circulation using special fans.

If you are often absent or cannot keep track of the ventilation, and your greenhouse has vents, you can upgrade them. There is a special device for automatic ventilation, which at a certain time will open the vents to the desired height and close.

Growing crops in a greenhouse: how to protect plants from diseases in a greenhouse

In a greenhouse, diseases spread quickly enough.Prepare fresh, unused soil for the greenhouse. Make new beds out of well and properly fertilized soil. Never use fresh manure - it has a detrimental effect on crops growing in greenhouses. Try to thoroughly handle the greenhouse before each new planting, new season. To do this, you need to disinfect the frame and the base of the structure, replace the earth, remove all old plants, be sure to work with the greenhouse covering, pathogens could remain there. Watering the plantings with warm water will increase the resistance of crops to many infectious diseases. Try to monitor the quality of the soil, loosen it, do not dry it out or overmoisten it. Do not use dry fertilizers unless you are experienced or know how to use them. It is more effective to use liquid top dressing. Be careful with your seedlings and seedlings. Even slight damage to the stem can be the cause of the disease. Remember that crop diseases occur much faster in the greenhouse than in the open field. Young plants very often suffer from this. Try to get diseased specimens as soon as possible and take them out of the greenhouse, otherwise they may not only die, but also cause infection of other plants. Every summer resident should think about whether he can do such work, because only if you work every day, a good result is guaranteed.

When buying a greenhouse, you must understand that the plants in it require proper care, which takes a lot of time and effort. If these requirements are not met, it is very likely that the seedlings will die.