Year-round greenhouse: detailed description, types

The article presents a year-round greenhouse in detail: a description of the design, types, characteristics, a complete description of the system for maintaining a comfortable microclimate in the greenhouse is given.

Year-round greenhouse: introduction

Year-round greenhouse

Year-round greenhouses are a great option for those who are gardening and farming. Moreover, in general, today they have become incredibly popular also among those people who simply have a personal plot and a country house, and who will probably need to use a year-round greenhouse. in greenhouses, you can grow a wide variety of crops - vegetables, fruits and flowers, as well as prepare seedlings and herbs. In addition, depending on the size of the greenhouse, you can grow something exclusively for personal use, or you can grow crops so that you can sell them in the future.

The gardener is required to correctly design the greenhouse, as well as equip it with all the necessary systems. Thanks to such work, in the future, the gardener will significantly facilitate his work, which is directly related to the care of crops, plants and flowers. In general, thanks to greenhouses, you can create a comfortable microclimate, and significantly increase the chances of survival and subsequent growth of various crops that do not always feel comfortable in open conditions. In this article, we will look at the most different types of year-round greenhouses, and also talk about how to properly design a greenhouse so that it is not only versatile, but also very functional.

Year-round greenhouse: types of greenhouses that are suitable all year round

Year-round greenhouse

Year-round greenhouses are structures that have a high level of thermal insulation. This means that heat is retained in them thanks to a special design. At the same time, plants of different cultures and types, varieties feel great inside the greenhouse - they do not dry out, are well ventilated, thereby increasing the chances of survival and fruiting. Also in the greenhouse, mandatory elements are systems such as heating and watering, lighting and ventilation - in fact, everything that is so necessary for the plant, and that which the gardener cannot always provide due to the fact that these processes take a lot of time and physical strength. But it is thanks to greenhouses that today everything is becoming even easier and more accessible, and this is important.
Greenhouse designs can be very different, it all depends on what crops will be placed in them, and for what purpose the gardener places the greenhouse on his backyard - that is, on the greenhouse functionality.

Thus, greenhouses can be as follows:

- single slope
- gable
- hangar
- block.

The shape of the greenhouse depends on its area and, accordingly, capacity. Also, often the gardener has to calculate so that the greenhouse not only fits perfectly into the backyard, but also that it is well located relative to other buildings.It may be difficult to believe in this, but sometimes you should also calculate with respect to which side of the world the building is located, because a lot can also depend on this - the state of the plants, the level of their growth and further development.

Single-pitched greenhouse for year-round cultivation

Greenhouse for year-round cultivation

Let's start with a description of a lean-to greenhouse. This year-round greenhouse is the simplest in design, and it is intended not for seasonal, but for year-round use. It consists of a blank wall, which is located at the back and faces the southern part, as well as a glazed slope, which faces all other cardinal points (it is recommended that the plants receive enough lighting and sunlight and do not suffer from its lack). The wall, which is located at the back and is deaf, is recommended to be built either of brick or concrete. At the same time, these structures can also retain heat in the greenhouse, which, of course, is an undoubted advantage. Shed greenhouses look very decorative and not at all cumbersome, they can also be built not separately, but made in the form of extensions to the main house or to another outbuilding that is already located on the site. Then the gardener will save not only building material, but also his own time, and this plays a significant role, taking into account the modern rhythm.

As for the frame, it is usually made of wooden beams. The slope can be either straight or slightly curved, everything here depends solely on the wishes of the gardener himself. Instead of glass, you can use polycarbonate or durable reinforced film - it all depends on the budget level.

There are also many advantages that a one-pitched year-round greenhouse has that we cannot just ignore:

- this is a fairly budgetary structure; its construction does not require too much finance
- the greenhouse perfectly retains heat, especially considering that it can be wall-mounted - this is also one of its undoubted advantages
- the main wall of the greenhouse is necessary in order to become an additional heat accumulator, since it is made of heat-insulating materials, and this is important
- due to the fact that the angle of the slope is sharp, snow does not linger on it, it immediately rolls off it, allowing sunlight to penetrate into the greenhouse through glass, polycarbonate or film.

Also, this type of greenhouse has several disadvantages. Firstly, the area of ​​the greenhouse can turn out to be quite small, so that inside it you can grow crops only for personal use. Secondly, in order for the light to perfectly penetrate into the greenhouse, it is necessary to specially equip the racks and terraces, and enough time can be spent on the design, as well as on the implementation of the given idea. Thirdly, it is necessary to maintain the orientation of the greenhouse with a slope towards the sun. If you design the greenhouse incorrectly, turn it incorrectly to the wrong side of the world, then this can lead to the fact that there will be a continuous falling shadow inside the greenhouse and, accordingly, there will be absolutely no sense from it.

Do-it-yourself gable year-round greenhouse

Year-round greenhouse

The second type of greenhouse is a gable greenhouse. In fact, this is not one year-round greenhouse, but two, which are oriented in two directions of the world - to the south and to the north. It is recommended to install an insulated vestibule on the north side, and there may also be the most ordinary blank wall that will protect the greenhouse from cold winds, drafts or possible frosts. The size of the greenhouse depends on what areas of planting the gardener plans to place inside, as well as on how he sees it in principle.The width can vary from five to twelve meters, sometimes more, the length can also be any length. The slopes have an angle of 25 to 35 degrees, again it all depends on the design and on the project, which is prepared in advance by gardeners and designers.

Despite the fact that the structure seems very simple, it is particularly durable. The frame is recommended to be made on a metal base, and if these are small greenhouses, then a tree will do. The slopes rest against the racks, which are arranged in several rows, which makes the greenhouse even more solid and durable. In order to cover the slopes, you can use fixed glazing or frame glazing. Polycarbonate may also be suitable for these purposes, but its thickness must be at least six centimeters so that it withstands this structure and does not collapse. In the roof, as well as in several places in the wall, it is necessary to make a ventilation system so that the greenhouse does not get stuffy, does not form mustiness and, accordingly, does not develop various bacteria that will provoke diseases.

Gable greenhouses have, of course, their special advantages. Among them stand out such as:

- gable greenhouses are ideal for use in private households, as well as in small farmsteads, as they are quite miniature and compact
- the size of the greenhouse can vary depending on the interests and needs of the grower. In general, it can be 30 square meters, or maybe ten times more - everything is determined by the guidelines and desires of the gardener himself in the construction of this structure
- due to the fact that the greenhouse perfectly combines comfortable width and height, heat loss in such greenhouses is minimized. Here we should say thanks to a convenient and really very versatile design.

Of course, it is worth paying attention to the fact that in gable greenhouses, if it is of a suitable area, then some mechanisms can be organized there, thanks to which the greenhouse can even sometimes transform, change its size, and its purpose. This is, of course, a small drawback. Another disadvantage is that the slope has a very small angle of inclination. Because of this, precipitation in the form of snow can accumulate in it, and therefore the gardener will need to independently clean the greenhouse from snow drifts. In general, such a greenhouse design is in great demand today, and it can be found on the territory of various household plots.

Hangar greenhouse

Year-round greenhouse

The next type is a hangar year-round greenhouse. These are also quite extensive structures that can have a gable or arched type of construction. The width can be up to 25 meters, the dimensions in general depend on the guidelines and goals that gardeners set themselves. At the same time, there are no racks inside the greenhouse itself, so you can use the entire maximum area that is inside the greenhouse. Since there are no racks and supports, it is worth paying special attention to strengthening the roof, so much more professional building material is required. If you make mistakes in the design, then it will simply collapse, which can be dangerous not only for the future harvest, but also for the life of the person himself, if at this moment he is inside the greenhouse itself. If the width of the hangar greenhouse is small, then the angle of inclination can be about thirty degrees. The volume of the greenhouse is still much larger than that of a gable greenhouse or any other subspecies. At the same time, such a greenhouse needs high costs, if we are talking directly about heating, because this is the essence of any greenhouse structure - to create the maximum thermal insulation conditions in which the plant will be comfortable and it will be located in the safest zone.

If you are looking for a shelter for a hangar greenhouse, then polycarbonate or reinforced film is perfect for this. They are not very heavy, but at the same time very durable, they are easy to decorate the greenhouse with.It is best to construct a metal frame, since the metal will be more stable, and if everything is done correctly, then such a greenhouse will last for a very long time.

There are many advantages that a hangar type of greenhouse has. These include the following characteristics:

- plants receive maximum illumination, nothing shades them and nothing prevents them from receiving sunlight and the corresponding energy
- it is possible to maintain and process plants not independently, but thanks to some mechanical devices, which is also a huge plus. A person can save most of his time and physical strength, given that sometimes there can be a lot of work on the site.
- snow melts calmly from arched hangar greenhouses, no intervention from the gardener or any other mechanical efforts is required in order to completely remove all precipitation.

Also, of course, there are some disadvantages that we cannot but mention. First, a fairly large amount of financial resources can be spent on heating a greenhouse. Secondly, it should be borne in mind that due to the large areas of the greenhouse, ventilation can be difficult, and because of this, harmful microorganisms and bacteria can develop inside the greenhouse. The third disadvantage is that the reinforced structure requires large financial costs on the part of the gardener. The construction of a greenhouse is a very responsible process, and in order for the result to be truly effective, all the rules must be followed in order to get a large, light and functioning structure in accordance with the goals.

Block greenhouse

Year-round greenhouse

A blocky year-round greenhouse is built as gable or arched structures located nearby, which are in contact with each other on the sides. At the junction, it is necessary to make several support posts that can replace the wall. As a result, you can reduce the financial costs of building a greenhouse, but at the same time make a very effective and functional structure that will serve for a long time if you assemble it correctly. The roof can also consist not of one, but of several sections. Several gutters are also made in it in order to drain water, which can accumulate during heavy rainfall.

The sizes of greenhouses, their length can be absolutely any, while it all depends on how much planting the gardener will carry out in the greenhouse, and for what purposes they do it - for personal cultivation of crops, or for a more extensive industrial production of goods. You can cover the greenhouse with good old and well-known polycarbonate or glass. Film or any other agronomic material can also be used - it all depends on the degree of material security of the gardener and on what materials will be most available to him in a particular period of time.

Block greenhouses have a number of advantages over any other type of greenhouse. These benefits include the following:

- the design turns out to be the most financially economical when compared with any other types of greenhouse buildings
- at the same time, it is a very durable greenhouse that reliably protects plants from increased wind and drafts, but at the same time warms them up to the most comfortable temperatures. In addition, the greenhouse is very resistant to snow loads, it is not afraid of any precipitation.
- all parts of the greenhouse are well lit, which is also an undoubted advantage of this design in comparison with other types of greenhouses
- inside it is very easy to place an irrigation and heating system, and you can additionally install another lighting system so that the plants are illuminated not only during the day under natural rays, but also at night
- if you make vents in the greenhouses, then everything inside will be perfectly ventilated through them. Also, the vents can be placed not in the walls, but on the slopes of the greenhouse roof.

There are also disadvantages to this design. Due to the fact that inside it is necessary to make a large number of technological paths that are necessary for the gardener, there are not so many useful areas in the greenhouse, which should be paid attention to when designing. The second drawback is that in some places the roof will deepen, snow or any other precipitation may accumulate there, and they will need to be removed from there on their own. It will be possible to install heating, but this will require additional funding for this building, which is worth paying attention to. In general, such greenhouses are mostly used for growing plants on an industrial scale, and therefore they are rarely installed on private land. In addition, it is simply economically unprofitable for a gardener for private growing of plants to install a block-type greenhouse on the site, so he needs to choose from the other types of greenhouses mentioned above.

Methods for growing plants in greenhouses

There are several main ways to grow plants that are located in greenhouse conditions. The first one is in the ground, and the second one is on separately built racks.

Rack growing of crops is generally used most often in order to grow crops with a small root system, as well as seedlings in order to subsequently plant them in open ground. Crops with a small root system include early greens and strawberries, flowers and champignon mushrooms. But the shelving method of growing has its own drawback - due to the fact that each planting needs a large space, the useful area of ​​the greenhouse itself is reduced - it can be reduced as much as 55%, and this is really a huge indicator, and how many plantings could be made on this area?

Most crops respond well to soil cultivation. At the same time, the plants are much easier to care for, and the area used becomes even larger. Accordingly, you can plant more plants that will perfectly take root in a given area, which is a definite plus. In greenhouses, you can combine both shelving and soil cultivation methods, while it is recommended to place seedlings and green crops on shelves, but other vegetable crops will perfectly take root in the soil, receiving all the necessary nutrients and components from it. Thus, the most important thing is to wisely approach the layout of your greenhouse, and then, even in small greenhouses, you can compactly and conveniently arrange a variety of crops.

System for maintaining a comfortable microclimate in the greenhouse

Of course, the main goal of a greenhouse is to create the most comfortable microclimate for plants. But this requires a lot of planning and effort on the part of the gardener himself, who decided to build a year-round greenhouse on his site. In such greenhouses, plants can grow during the fall and winter, and therefore some climatic conditions must be maintained that can save the life of the plant.

The following aspects can be attributed to the systems for maintaining the indoor microclimate:

- soil heating from all sides
- watering the soil, as well as maintaining air moisture
- lighting, which should be carried out in the required spectrum
- shading that is created for some crops in order to support their livelihood if these crops are short day crops
- supply and exhaust ventilation
- air enrichment with carbon dioxide, for which a special system should be created

All systems should be arranged in accordance with what type of greenhouse is being built, as well as in accordance with what crops will be planted inside it. If these are private greenhouses for private cultivation of crops, then it will be sufficient to create a small heating system, irrigation and lighting of crops. To ventilate the greenhouse, it will be possible to make several vents, which will be located directly on the slopes. As for heating, either stove or water heating can be installed in the greenhouse, it all depends on how the gardener himself wants to act, as well as what kind of heating he has enough funding. You should also be guided by the size of the greenhouses. If its area is no more than fifty square meters, then you can use either a brick or a metal stove. As a rule, their capacity is quite enough to heat such a relatively small area. If the greenhouse is much larger in area, then it is worth installing a boiler, as well as ordering additional installation and installation of a water heating system. At the same time, the boiler can be chosen different in its composition, shape and structure, it all depends on the wishes of the gardener himself.
If the gardener wants to install additional heating components, then he can install several radiators, which will be located along the outer walls. You can also continue the pipes through which the greenhouse will also be heated.

In general, the technologies can be very different, one should initially represent the area as a whole, the useful area of ​​the greenhouse, take into account the location of all technological paths, and only then be puzzled by the installation of heating systems directly. Although it is worth paying even more attention to them, because in fact it is they who will provide the functional purpose of greenhouses in modern gardening, so you should not treat heating too dismissively, otherwise there will be absolutely no sense in the greenhouse.

Heating the soil - it is necessary for those beds where thermophilic crops and plants will be planted in the future. Heating can be biological, or it can be artificially installed, it all depends not only on the capabilities of the gardener, but also on what type of greenhouse we have. To install heating the beds, it is necessary to lay special trenches, where some organic waste will be laid. They will provide soil heating for some crops, in the cultivation of which this is perhaps the most important requirement. If we are talking about artificial heating, then for this, the trenches must be filled with electric cables, as well as water pipes, through which heat will be supplied to the plants, their root system and trunks. You can also set automatic control over heating, because if the plants are overheated, then this can lead to the fact that they simply die and give a completely opposite reaction to the one that the gardener initially expects to receive.

A source for water supply should be installed in the greenhouse, since the irrigation system also plays a significant role in the installation of the greenhouse. Thanks to automated watering, the gardener will have more time to devote to other concerns in the country. The sources of water supply can be a water supply system, a water well, or a well with a pump, from where the necessary moisture will come. The water must also be pre-conditioned. It should be defended, brought to comfortable temperatures and softened. Probably, it is not worth talking about the fact that there are cultures whose growth, development and vital activity in general may depend on the quality of irrigation. So the irrigation system must also be automated and stabilized to the limit.In addition, the water that is supplied to plants in greenhouse conditions can be enriched with some mineral components and elements that play a very significant role in the development of the plant and in its further fruiting (if it is a fruit, vegetable or berry crop).

For growing seedlings and crops in a year-round greenhouse, you can install one or more of the following systems:

- drip irrigation system
- sprinkler system - a type of watering when it seems like the plant is in the rain
- fogging
- flooding - ebb and flow, it is recommended for those crops that are not prone to erosion, otherwise it can greatly affect the general condition of the plant.

Water can be supplied both manually and automatically, while the gardener can set a schedule, independently regulate it, and watering will be carried out in accordance with this requirement. In home greenhouses, you can water manually, since the area of ​​the greenhouse is small, and not so much time will be spent for watering, which, of course, is very important. If these are large greenhouses, then it is best to install an automatic irrigation system there so as not to waste time on such large volumes and areas. Thanks to modern technology, the life of a gardener has truly become incredibly easy, and it cannot be ignored. But you should be very careful and wisely approach the organization of your dacha leisure and the construction of a greenhouse, the cultivation of plants in it, since, of course, there is no human intervention here. Not enough.

Most of the plants that grow in greenhouse conditions need to be additionally illuminated in the autumn or winter period. This is due to the fact that at this time, natural light becomes much less, and the plant does not have enough energy to complete its growing season and give a crop. Additional lighting can be done using several types of lamps. These are gas-charging lamps, phytolamps, and mercury lamps. You can also take LED lamps, but adjust their power so that the plant feels as safe and comfortable as possible. Lamps can be purchased at specialty shops for gardeners, and you can also purchase them in specialty hardware stores. Before buying, you can consult with more experienced farmers, who sometimes willingly reveal some of their secrets that relate to the arrangement of greenhouses and the implementation of all favorable conditions for planting and growing crops inside them.

There are also some crop families that not only do not tolerate excessive light, but thrive best in shade. These can include vegetables with short daylight hours, as well as some flowers that are energized in the shade. You can use the curtain method, as well as take some opaque canvases, thanks to which a very comfortable partial shade is created, and the plants begin to show their growth and development in such conditions. You can curtain both walls and ceilings, it all depends on the type of year-round greenhouse, as well as on how exactly the gardener decided to shade the plantings so that the shadow does not fall on those crops that, on the contrary, need as much lighting as possible.

If the greenhouse has a lean-to or gable view, then the ventilation system in it functions perfectly through the vents installed in the ceiling. If the greenhouse is large, then a full-fledged professional ceiling ventilation system should be installed in it. This will help to avoid stagnant air, harmful spores and bacteria will not form in the greenhouse, and crops will be safe. Oxygen is very important for plants, because thanks to it they breathe and carry out the process of photosynthesis.If there is no ventilation or ventilation, then in such conditions ideal growth or development of crops should not be expected.

Of course, in order to build a greenhouse, you need to tackle the selection of a suitable territory. The health and vitality of all crops that will grow inside it will depend on how correctly the greenhouse will be located on the site. For a year-round greenhouse, it is recommended to choose a well-lit and insulated area, it should be flat. An exception may be areas that have a slight slope to the south, but this is in rare cases, and if the future design will take this slope into account. Also, the greenhouse must be protected from harsh winds or drafts, otherwise this will lead to the fact that it will be blown through, and this negatively affects the state of the structure and, of course, the plantings themselves. Initially, a shallow foundation is installed, which is usually made of concrete. If the greenhouse is unpaved, then it is worth adding a little waterproofing components to the concrete in order to prolong the life of the greenhouse itself, especially in conditions of constant soil moisture. In general, you should pay attention to such trifles, because the future state and the general functionality of the structure depend on this, therefore, in no case can you ignore such trifles. The height of the foundation, its width - these indicators depend on what type and size the gardener builds the greenhouse itself.

The frame for the greenhouse is made of both wooden beams and metal. Both frames will be strong enough if installed correctly. In addition, both wood and metal are two components that have a low level of heat dissipation, and therefore, if the structure is correctly installed, observing all the subtleties and rules, then the greenhouse can last for more than fifteen years. Wood and metal must be treated with an antiseptic, and wood must also be treated with insecticides so that insects and microorganisms do not breed in it. Also, all elements of the greenhouse must be absolutely dry, no moisture. We must not forget about the hybrid insulation - ideally, roofing material or glass insulation is suitable. They are folded not in one, but in two layers in order to strengthen the structure and its safety. All bars or metal structures are sawn or cut to size, and a compound is used for connection and insulation.

The greenhouse is mounted in several hands, several people must work so that the structure is checked several times for strength. The cover is made of polycarbonate, films, since they have thermal insulation properties, and at the same time perfectly transmit sunlight, which is very important for illuminating crops. All systems inside the greenhouse are installed in accordance with safety regulations, insulation is used everywhere so that moisture does not enter the mechanical structures. This will protect the greenhouse and the gardener himself from possible emergencies. In general, if you follow all the rules, you can achieve an excellent result in the construction. The greenhouse will carry out all the specified functions, it will serve for a long time.

Year-round greenhouse