Greenhouses for Homeowners and Gardeners
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NRAES–137 NRAES–137 NRAES–137 Greenhouses for " Homeowners and Gardeners Greenhouses for Homeowners and Gardeners will help readers select and design the most appropriate size and style of greenhouse to fit their needs, find the best place to locate a greenhouse, and decide whether to build a greenhouse themselves or hire a contractor to do it. After reading this publication, aspiring greenhouse operators will be able to make informed decisions about glazing and framing materials, space utilization, interior design, heating and cooling systems, supplemental lighting, watering and fertilizing systems, and other greenhouse design and construction issues. Window greenhouses, growth chambers, cold frames and hotbeds, shade houses, and rowcovers and tunnels are discussed in the book as well. Nearly 150 line drawings are included in the 214-page book to help readers visualize the way greenhouses are built; evaluate alternative methods of construction; design interiors; select labor-saving equipment; and understand the skills involved in designing, building, and operating a greenhouse. Ten diverse do-it-yourself plans for home greenhouses and other structures that can extend the growing space are provided in an appendix. Each plan includes diagrams, materials lists, and construction details. Three additional appendixes contain a maintenance checklist, lists of greenhouse and equipment suppliers, and useful conversions. A glossary of terms that might be unfamiliar to readers and an index are included as well. Greenhouses for Homeowners and Gardeners is written as a reference to update similar publications that have become obsolete due to changes in materials and construction techniques. The author, John W. Bartok, Jr., exten- sion professor emeritus at the University of Connecticut, has over thirty years of experience working with hobbyists, commercial growers, institutions, and manufacturers. NRAES–137 Natural Resource,Plant and Agriculture, Life Sciences and PublishingEngineering (PALS) Service (NRAES) Cooperative Extension Greenhouses for Homeowners and Gardeners Greenhouses for Homeowners and Gardeners Recycled Paper Acknowledgments About PALS This publication has been peer-reviewed by the persons listed below. It was judged to be technically ac- curate and useful for cooperative extension programs and for the intended audience. Plant and Life Sciences Publishing (PALS) is a program of the Department of Horticulture in the College Louis D. Albright of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University. PALS assists university faculty and their Professor colleagues in publishing, marketing and distributing books for small farmers, gardeners, land owners, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering workshops, college courses, and consumers. The University of Maine and West Virginia University are Cornell University partners. Robert A. Aldrich, P.E. Owner, Aldrich Engineering and PALS books are practical and comprehensive. They are based on decades of grower experience and uni- Emeritus Professor versity research. Book categories include garden and landscape, small-scale farming, small-fruit produc- Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering tion, composting, pasture-based livestock production, rural-land management and personal finance. The University of Connecticut gardening, small-scale farming, small-fruit production, rural-land management and pasture-based live- Lois Berg Stack stock production books were written for the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Great-Lakes states and adjoin- Extension Professor, Ornamental Horticulture ing Canadian provinces. Most contain knowledge that will be useful to a wider audience. University of Maine Cooperative Extension Visit PALS web site for descriptions of books distributed. Robert E. Graves Professor Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Plant and Life Sciences Publishing (PALS) The Pennsylvania State University 34 Plant Science Ithaca, New York 14853 Dr. Helen T. Kraus Phone: (607) 255-7654 • Fax: (607) 254-8770 Extension Agent, Environmental Horticulture Virginia Cooperative Extension – Danville Office E-mail: [email protected] • Web site: palspublishing.com Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Marty Sailus, PALS Director David S. Ross Extension Agricultural Engineer Department of Biological Resources Engineering University of Maryland Credits Thanks to Jan Bartok for her word processing work and manuscript review. Cathleen Walker, NRAES production editor, edited and designed the book. Jeff Popow, NRAES managing editor, coordinated the peer-review process. Mary Lash, NRAES production editor, coordinated the development of illustrations. Thanks to the Art Department, Ithaca, New York, for preparing the illustrations. Disclaimer Neither the author nor NRAES guarantees or warrants recommendations or products discussed in this publication. Use of a product name does not imply endorsement of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable. On the Cover Front cover (clockwise from top left): (1) Poly-covered slant-leg greenhouse. Design by Rutgers University. Photo by John W. Bartok. (2) Freestanding Gothic-style glass greenhouse. Photo courtesy of Janco Green- houses. (3) Solar greenhouse in winter. Photo by John W. Bartok. (4) Attached Gothic-style glass green- house with aluminum slat roll-up external shade. Photo courtesy of Janco Greenhouses. Back cover (clockwise from top left): All photos by John W. Bartok. (1) High tunnel with roll-up side construc- tion. (2) Poly-covered A-frame greenhouse. (3) Custom-designed attached sunspace. (4) Cold frame. Cooperative Extension NRAES–137 Greenhouses for Homeowners and Gardeners Written by John W. Bartok, Jr. Extension Professor Emeritus Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering University of Connecticut Plant and Life Sciences Publishing (PALS) 34 Plant Science Ithaca, New York 14853 NRAES–137 June 2000 © 2000 by NRAES—Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service All rights reserved. Inquiries invited. (607) 255-7654 ISBN 978-0-935817-49-2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bartok, John W., 1936– Greenhouses for homeowners and gardeners / John W. Bartok, Jr. p. cm. — (NRAES ; 137) Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 0-935817-51-4 (pb : alk. paper) 1. Greenhouses — Design and construction. I. Title. II. NRAES (Series) ; 137. SB416 .B37 2000 690'.8924—dc21 00-030485 Requests to reprint parts of this publication should be sent to PALS. In your request, please state which parts of the publication you would like to reprint and describe how you intend to use the reprinted material. Contact PALS if you have any questions. Plant and Life Sciences Publishing (PALS) 34 Plant Science Ithaca, New York 14853 Phone: (607) 255-7654 • Fax: (607) 254-8770 E-mail: [email protected] • Web site: palspublishing.com Marty Sailus, PALS Director REPRINTED February 2018 ii Contents Figures .......................................................................................................................................................ix Tables ...................................................................................................................................................... xiv Introduction ............................................................................................................................................1 About This Book ...................................................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 — Greenhouse Basics: Getting Started How Does a Greenhouse Work? ........................................................................................................................3 How Are Greenhouses Used? ............................................................................................................................4 Year-round Greenhouses ..............................................................................................................................4 Season-extender Greenhouses .....................................................................................................................4 Conservatories ...............................................................................................................................................5 Sunspaces ........................................................................................................................................................6 Window Greenhouses ...................................................................................................................................6 Indoor Light Gardens....................................................................................................................................6 How Much Does a Greenhouse Cost? ..............................................................................................................7 How Much Time Does a Greenhouse Demand? .............................................................................................7 CHAPTER 2 — Selecting a Greenhouse: Types, Styles, and Sizes Types of Greenhouses ..........................................................................................................................................9 Attached (Lean-to) Greenhouses .................................................................................................................9 Freestanding