In this article, we will explore the top reasons why you should invest in a greenhouse.
Top 10 Reasons Why You Need a Greenhouse
1. Control Your Own Climate
Imagine controlling your own private microclimate so you are no longer at the mercy of Mother Nature. Many people wonder, “What is the purpose of a greenhouse?” The answer is simple, it gives you control of your cultivation environment. Inside, you manage the humidity, temperature, and water. You are no longer a slave to the changing of the seasons. You can grow a multitude of seedlings and plants year-round without fearing freezing weather, wind, torrential rain, and more.
How does a greenhouse work? How does the inside of the greenhouse work? These are two common questions. A greenhouse is a simple structure of either glass, PVC, or sheeting panels. The transparent material allows sunlight to flow into the structure and onto your crop.
A greenhouse functions by converting sunlight into heat. Plants naturally release heat into the atmosphere which is trapped within the structure. The trapped heat drives up the interior’s temperature. Depending on the region, you might need to heat or cool the greenhouse to foster the ideal ecosystem.
2. Save Money
Do you buy fresh flowers often? Then growing them inside your own greenhouse will save you lots of money. Especially since flowers have been getting more and more expensive lately.
A few of my friends have greenhouses on their properties and each year they harvest many different veggies and even some berries. They always have some to share with friends and family. They save money for themselves and for others.
3. Grow Tender Produce
If you enjoy gardening, then you know the dangers of an early frost which can easily claim young seedlings. A greenhouse gives you unlimited growing options. You can start seeds in the greenhouse and then move them out into the garden when the threat of frost has passed. Also, if you are in an area that is notorious for nasty weather regardless of the time of year, then a greenhouse lets you grow without fear of a sudden temperature shift or storm.
Many plants won’t grow well in gloomy areas with a significant amount of rain, wind, sea spray, or lack of ample sunshine. A greenhouse lets you grow tender crops such as kiwis, tomatoes, cucumbers, bananas, and grapes with ease.
4. Overwintering Protection
Cold winters can quickly kill the plants in your garden that you have struggled to grow. A delicate rose bush can easily be hit hard by a dip in the mercury and might not recover. A greenhouse gives you the perfect location to overwinter your plants. The structure provides much-needed protection from the elements.
Over the summer you can grow tropical ferns, geraniums, tree ferns, Fuchsia, bananas, and bougainvillea in your garden. Then, when the weather shifts, you can bring the tropical and delicate plants into the greenhouse for protection.
Many gardeners try to overwinter plants in a sunny window, but there is only so much space on a windowsill. A greenhouse provides much more room to store the plants, plus it affords better sunlight exposure.
5. Increased Produce Yield
The warm temperature of a greenhouse helps encourage an abundant crop of flowers or vegetables. The combination of warm temperatures ensures warm soil which helps promote plant fertility. Seeds germinate readily and seedlings flourish when the soil is at a consistently warm temperature. All you’ll have to do is provide your crop with adequate water and then enjoy the ample harvest.
6. Pest and Disease Protection
When you garden outdoors your plants are at the mercy of pests and diseases. However, in a greenhouse environment that is properly maintained, your plants will have some protection. Creatures such as slugs, snails, and butterflies can rarely get into the greenhouse to damage your plants.
You will have to maintain humidity control in the greenhouse to prevent certain fungal infections from occurring, but overall, the plants are well protected from disease.
7. Potential to Make Money
Why not turn your hobby into a side gig? Farmers’ markets are suitable places to sell greenhouse-grown produce and flowers. Any excess cut flowers, plants, fruits, or vegetables that you grow, you can easily sell at a local farmers market, or you could even sell right from your greenhouse. Small mom-and-pop style greenhouses are a very popular way to earn extra money!
8. Embrace the Tropics
There are only a handful of places in the United States where you can grow delicate tropical plants outdoors in a garden. However, with a greenhouse, you can grow tropical plants year-round and even propagate your own fruits. Imagine propagating a pineapple in your greenhouse! Also, you can cultivate award-winning orchids or roses.
Depending on where you live, you might need to use heaters to keep the temperature consistent in the greenhouse when the snow starts to fall outside.
9. A sheltered Retreat
You can use a greenhouse as a She shed, as an outdoor office, or even as a place to do yoga. Get out to your backyard in the morning and have a cup of coffee inside your greenhouse while taking in some vitamin D. And don’t forget about the hobby of gardening! Research has shown that gardening relieves stress and fosters a connection with nature.
10. Adds Beauty to Your Landscape
A greenhouse can be a lovely addition to the landscape! They are both beautiful and functional. You can choose the best design for your sense of style and landscape by picking from a wide variety of styles, colors, and materials. Once it is all set up, then it will become a vibrant space filled with aromatic plants and soil. A greenhouse smells like life and is sure to completely delight your senses every time you enter.
The Benefits of Having a Greenhouse
You are still on the fence about why you need a greenhouse? If so, let’s examine some of the benefits they can bring you.
- Multipurpose: Imagine the many things you can organically grow in a greenhouse such as house plants, vegetables, fruits, exotic plants, bulbs, seedlings, and more. In a greenhouse, you can grow multiple types of plants at the same time. You can also use them as storage for gardening tools, accessories, and other equipment. Many people attach a gardening shed to the greenhouse or they build a lean-to greenhouse on the side of a shed.
- Plant protection: You don’t have to worry about mounding soil or mulch around the base of your garden plants prior to winter. With a greenhouse, your plants are protected when the mercury takes a nosedive.
- Consistent control: No more worrying about weather extremes! With a greenhouse, your plants won’t face a drought, damaging winds, or pelting rain. You are no longer a slave to the weather. Instead, you can raise plants year-round by controlling the environment in your greenhouse.
- Wide assortment of designs: There is a multitude of greenhouse designs available. Pick one that truly compliments your landscape while providing you with the space and functions you need to garden. You can choose the size and shape that fits your needs, or you can customize it the way you want it to be!
- Get a jump on gardening: In areas of the country where the gardening season is short-lived, you can start seeds and seedlings in the protection of the greenhouse and then move the plants to the garden after all danger of frost has passed.
- Tastier produce: Hothouse-raised produce is usually very tasty because it has not been impacted by weather changes, pests, or disease during growth.
