We build garden greenhouses ourselves. How to build a greenhouse for growing vegetables all year round

Today, any gardener can create a greenhouse on his own at his summer cottage. In order to build a greenhouse or greenhouse yourself, you need to create a plan, follow step-by-step instructions and have minimal experience with construction tools.

• the main advantages for self-construction of a greenhouse;
• the main difference between winter and summer designs;
• types of greenhouses;
• stationary and demountable structures;
• choose the material for the frame;
• varieties of greenhouse foundations;
• materials used to cover greenhouses;
• in what cases can you do without a foundation?
• creation of diagrams and drawings;
• the main stages of greenhouse construction;
• equipment.

The main advantages when building a greenhouse yourself

At the moment, in the process of growing vegetables in summer cottages and backyards, you can use various types of greenhouse structures, created on your own or purchased in specialized stores. Today anyone can build a greenhouse of any size.

How your greenhouse building will look like depends primarily on the materials that you will use to make it. Such a design will differ in the minimum price and the possibility of building a greenhouse at any time convenient for you. You can create very original designs on your own, while they will not be inferior to factory designs. For the manufacture of summer structures, polyethylene is most often used.

The main differences between winter and summer designs

At the moment, you can independently build both winter and summer greenhouse options. But, before starting the construction of one of the options for such a design, it is worth determining the main differences between these types. A winter greenhouse will require large financial investments from you.

The main differences lie in the materials used for the construction of greenhouses. Plastic wrap is suitable for summer greenhouses; it is not suitable for winter greenhouses. Winter greenhouses are most often covered with high-quality glass or polycarbonate (transparent). Thin polycarbonate can also be used to create a summer greenhouse.

If you are planning to build a winter greenhouse, then you should pay special attention to the foundation of this structure, as the foundation affects the efficiency of the heating system used in the greenhouse. The frame for a winter greenhouse should be made reliable; lighter options are suitable for summer structures. These features must be taken into account in the process of creating durable and efficient greenhouses.

Greenhouse types

Often, greenhouses are created for growing a certain type of plants, while their characteristics should be taken into account, including the required level of illumination, as well as a comfortable temperature for the growth of plants.

A lean-to greenhouse can be called one of the most versatile options for arranging a winter garden or greenhouse, this is due to the possibility of creating an internal transition to the structure. This will allow you to maintain your greenhouse at any time of the year. Note that it is best to build a lean-to greenhouse in the southern part of the house.

Gable roof greenhouses that look like small houses are common in different regions of our country. They can be safely called one of the most popular designs.

Drop-shaped structures are distinguished by their strength and increased light transmission, snow does not linger on their surface, but there are difficulties associated with their installation, therefore it is rather difficult to create such a structure on your own.

The domed greenhouse looks very original, while it has certain advantages in comparison with other types of structures. Such structures can be installed in seismically hazardous areas, they can significantly save the consumption of building materials. A domed greenhouse must be well insulated and sealed.

The polygonal shape of the greenhouse provides excellent light transmittance, has an attractive appearance, and is more resistant to strong gusts of wind. Installation of such a structure will require more time and effort, the main thing is to properly organize the space in order to ensure uniform heating of the air in the greenhouse.

There are Dutch greenhouses, which are distinguished by their reliability and durability of the structure. In this type of greenhouse, the walls are placed with a slope in order to improve the illumination, this has a positive effect on the amount of the harvest. The construction cost of this type of structure is negligible.

Tunnel greenhouses are common today. Such structures make it possible to protect plants from bad weather conditions and gusts of wind. Thus, with minimal investment, you can get a high yield of garden crops. This version of the greenhouse is the most optimal for building on your own. Often these greenhouses are used to grow tomatoes and peppers.

Stationary and demountable structures

All greenhouses and greenhouses that are used in vegetable gardens and personal plots can be divided into stationary and collapsible.

Collapsible structures have recently begun to be used in the conditions of home growing of plants. Such a collapsible greenhouse consists of a light collapsible frame; collapsible greenhouses are often small in size, so they can be easily installed in different parts of the site. Small collapsible greenhouses are inexpensive and easy to assemble.

Vegetable growers have long been using stationary greenhouses for growing garden crops. Such greenhouses consist of a foundation and a metal frame, on which the cover is subsequently installed. Most summer residents and gardeners prefer to use stationary greenhouses, this is due to their strength, as well as more comfortable work in the greenhouse.

Choosing a material for the frame

The frame of the greenhouse and the door must be characterized by increased rigidity, while they must be strong, which will allow the structure to withstand temperature fluctuations in different seasons, gusts of wind and the weight of the snow mass. But, it is worth considering that when creating a greenhouse, it is necessary to minimize the number of elements that reduce the level of illumination in the greenhouse.

When creating collapsible structures, materials are used that are lightweight and easy to install. At the moment, only a few types of materials are used to create the frame of greenhouses, which differ in their characteristics and cost.

Wood is the cheapest and most affordable material that does not require the use of special knowledge and specialized equipment. The wood structure is lightweight, environmentally friendly, but it can start to rot, so it must be treated with antiseptics.

Aluminum makes it possible to build durable and lightweight structures with a high level of rigidity, they can withstand heavy loads. In order to connect aluminum parts, a household rivet or nuts are used, which are inserted into the drilled holes. This option is not so popular due to the higher cost of aluminum.

Plastic allows you to create light and durable structures, it does not rot and cannot be destroyed by corrosion. It is very flexible, therefore it makes it possible to create structures of a wide variety of shapes, which is useful in the construction of arched greenhouses and greenhouses with a gable roof. But the plastic must be fixed to the ground or base without fail.

Steel is used for the construction of the frame quite often, while it is necessary to create a strip foundation for the base of the greenhouse. Galvanized steel frames are resistant to corrosion, which increases the service life of the structure.

The profile for drywall is lightweight and easy to install. Based on practice, a frame made of a drywall profile is very convenient during operation, it can serve for a very long time and be collapsible. The profile can be used for the construction of single-slope and gable structures, as well as for arched greenhouses.

Window frames, as a material for the frame of greenhouses, make it possible to build greenhouses with permissible thermal insulation values, and this can be done as soon as possible with significant cost savings. It is worth noting the short service life of such a structure, even if you plan to process the wooden part of the window structure, the maximum service life will be no more than five years.

Other materials are not used to frame greenhouse structures.

Varieties of greenhouse foundation

The light weight and significant windage of greenhouses can cause the structure to overturn in strong gusts of wind, so the greenhouse frame must be installed on a reliable and solid foundation. The type of foundation is chosen depending on the estimated mass of the structure.

A brick foundation is easy to build, reliable and suitable for most greenhouses. Note that creating such a foundation for a greenhouse is a complex and lengthy process.

The stone foundation is durable and reliable. A properly constructed stone foundation will be able to withstand a heavy metal frame made of profiles and fiberglass. Such a foundation is used to create capital greenhouses, it is expensive.

A concrete foundation is one of the most inexpensive options that will quickly create the foundation for your future greenhouse. Initially, the formwork is created, after which the concrete mixture is poured and the rods are installed in order to secure the greenhouse frame in the future.

The simplest and cheapest is a wooden base for a greenhouse. But, using such a base, even taking into account its treatment with antiseptic agents, can be no more than five seasons, so such a base should not be installed under capital greenhouses.

Materials used to cover greenhouses

To cover a greenhouse or greenhouse, you can use glass, plastic wrap, polycarbonate (translucent). Each of these materials has its own positive and negative characteristics, which must be taken into account, giving preference to one or another material.

Polyethylene film is one of the cheapest materials, but in terms of durability, the film cannot compete with glass and polycarbonate. The film, regardless of its quality, must be changed at least once every three years. When creating an arched arc greenhouse, a double layer of film is most often used, this provides the most comfortable conditions for the growth of various crops. The film has excellent light transmittance, but the sun's rays negatively affect the film, wearing it out and reducing the light transmittance. Condensation often forms on the inside of the film.

Traditionally used in greenhouses, glass is durable and high in light transmission, providing excellent thermal insulation. When using glass to create greenhouses, it is worth remembering that it heats up very quickly and has a large mass. Glass is an expensive material and it won't cost you very little to replace it.

Polycarbonate is a hard plastic that has characteristics such as transparency and a honeycomb structure. The distinctive features of the material are considered durability, impact resistance, light transmittance. Polycarbonate is flexible, so it can be used to create tunnel or arch type greenhouses.

In some of the cases, other materials can be used. For example, you can find combined greenhouses in which the roof of the structure is covered with a film, and the side parts of the frame are made of glass.

When can you do without a foundation?

The foundation is the basis that allows you to ensure the proper level of stability of the structure, to preserve its integrity, the strength of the entire greenhouse. But today you can find various protected ground structures that do not provide for the need to arrange a foundation.

First of all, we are talking about lightweight portable structures. They are lightweight, such structures protect the attachments to the ground using pegs from the windage. If we are talking about stationary greenhouses, then the arrangement of the foundation is mandatory, which allows you to create durable and stable structures.

Creation of diagrams and drawings

Before starting the construction of a greenhouse or greenhouse on your own, it is necessary to draw up a competent plan, draw drawings and diagrams of future buildings. Drawings of the future greenhouse can be anything. At the moment, on the Web, you can find diagrams of classic models of greenhouses created from wood back in Soviet times, but there are also modern models, as well as diagrams of Mitlider greenhouses.

When choosing a drawing for a future structure, it is worth starting from the requirements that you will place on the greenhouse. In particular, it is worth considering the features of the materials used for the construction of the greenhouse, as well as the goals that you set for such a structure of protected ground.

You can independently create a diagram of the future structure or use an option already developed by someone. If you do not want to waste your time and effort, then it is preferable to use ready-made schemes, the main thing is to choose a scheme that will satisfy your needs.

The main stages of greenhouse construction

The process of self-creation of a greenhouse or greenhouse consists of several stages, while they must be performed in a specific sequence:

• it is necessary to select the type of structure;
• create a drawing and a diagram or use ready-made drawings;
• creation of the frame of the structure;
• earthworks, which include the arrangement of the foundation, the base for the frame;
• fixing the supporting frame of the greenhouse;
• installation of greenhouse cover.

The peculiarities of each of the stages depend on the materials used, as well as on the future characteristics of the greenhouse, including its size, as well as the season in which it will be used.

Equipment

When creating a greenhouse, it is necessary to provide favorable conditions for the growth and development of plants; such a microclimate can be provided through the use of specialized equipment for greenhouses. In order to ensure the maximum yield of the crops grown and their quality, it is necessary to modernize greenhouses and greenhouses. Growing plants in greenhouses requires the use of systems for heating premises, watering plants, if necessary, additional lighting, and systems that provide ventilation.

The use of an irrigation system (subsurface, drip) makes it possible to save water, and also reduces the time and effort required, saving gardeners and summer residents from the need for manual irrigation.

Heating in greenhouses can be organized in several ways, the choice of equipment used will depend on the available communication system. At the moment, gardeners use stove, gas or electric heating of greenhouses.

Ventilation in the greenhouse is of great importance and affects the plants regardless of their stages of growth and development. Ventilation protects the plants from overheating and ensures the necessary air exchange in the greenhouse. In order to provide natural ventilation, you can open the doors and vents. If more intensive air circulation is required, it is necessary to install an exhaust or circulation fan.

Additional lighting must be used when growing seedlings. Also, such lighting will be needed when growing any garden crops that are planted in regions with short daylight hours. The use of special lamps makes it possible to provide the plants with the required level of illumination, especially in early spring, in winter and in the last month of autumn.

Today, many gardeners and summer residents cannot imagine working on the site without using greenhouses.

On the territory of our country, for the first time, K. Timiryazev was able to grow plants using greenhouses. In 1872, he built a vegetation house on the territory of the Petrovsk Academy of Sciences, in which he grew various crops. Such a prototype of modern greenhouses gave impetus to the development and implementation of a wide variety of types of greenhouses, which make it possible to lengthen the fruiting period of plants and improve the quality of the yield obtained.

As a rule, planting is done in the spring, but you need to take care of the conditions, in particular, we are talking about protection from low temperatures. Especially when it comes to vegetables.

Greenhouses and greenhouses do an excellent job with this task. How to make it from almost scrap materials and see below.

How is a greenhouse different from a greenhouse?

Before delving into the question of how to make a greenhouse, let's define what is the difference between a greenhouse and a greenhouse:

• The greenhouse is used for growing seedlings and further planting in open beds, while in the greenhouse, plants can be kept all year round;
• The required temperature level in the greenhouse is maintained due to the presence of compost or manure in the soil, while the greenhouse has an additional, third-party source of heating;
• It is possible to grow trees in a greenhouse, but it will not work in a greenhouse.

What kind of greenhouses are there?

The greenhouse can be stationary or portable (a photo of a greenhouse in the country is presented below).

A stationary greenhouse can have all sorts of shapes, the most common model is a butterfly (it got its name due to the doors opening on both sides).

Portable, often in the form of a tunnel. The main material in both cases is a polymer film.

From all this it follows that it is quite possible to make a greenhouse with your own hands, this is the same creative process as growing cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.

Material selection

Before considering how to make a greenhouse with your own hands, let's figure out the question of choosing a material.

When choosing a material, it must be borne in mind that it must meet the following requirements:

• Good light transmittance;
• Resistance to various kinds of deformations, with strong gusts of wind, for example;
• Easy to install and assemble the whole structure;
• Durability.

As for the materials used, the cheapest, and most importantly practical, is the film, and here are its types:

• polyethylene;
• stabilized film;
• polyvinyl chloride.

Covering materials include:

• agril;
• lutrasil.

In order to finally determine and understand which material is preferable, you need to compare them, and consider the pros and cons of each.

Glass

The advantages of glass include: it transmits about 94% of the light, lasts for a long time, and retains heat.

By cons: it gets very hot in summer, heavy load on the main frame.

Film

The advantages of this material include: low cost, low weight, no foundation is needed.

Note!

By cons: fragility, difficult to wash.

Polycarbonate

Pros: good light transmission, high level of thermal insulation, lightweight and durable.

What to use to make a frame for a greenhouse

The frame is a kind of base for the greenhouse, most often it is made of wood or plastic, less often of metal pipes.

Wooden frame

The main plus is its environmental friendliness. It is also worth noting that it is very simple in terms of installation.

For installation, you will need the following tools: a hammer, a screwdriver, a saw, nails, rubber as a sealing element, wooden beams, a ruler.

Note!

It is advisable to cover the wooden elements of the future structure with linseed oil prior to the installation process.

Sequence of execution

First of all, a bar is attached to the mortgage fastening, it will also become the base. Then the main beam is placed along the perimeter of the foundation, and temporarily everything is fastened with nails.

Side and corner beams are attached diagonally with a bar. The door frame is installed to the side posts. The cornice is attached to the top of the side and corner beams.

Roof

In the area of ​​the points where the vertical beams are fixed, you need to bring out a beam, the length of which is 2 m. Roof beams must be fastened at an angle equal to 30 degrees, they are connected to each other by a beam. In the area of ​​the end points, they must be supported by vertical guides.

The final fixing of the roof frame is done using corners and strips on self-tapping screws.

Note!

Doorway

The door frame is attached first. Do not forget, in the middle and upper part, the opening is fixed with special stiffeners.

Application of metal pipes

A greenhouse, as mentioned above, can be made from metal pipes, and also with your own hands. This design is more durable.

You will need: a welding machine, a hammer, a grinder, a special nozzle for working with metal (disc).

The pipe is divided into two equal parts. Tees are welded to the edges of the base pipe, and crosses are welded every half a meter. The cut off elements must be welded to the crosspieces.

Special tees are attached to the arc to secure the door pillar.

Covering the greenhouse

After the frame is ready, you can start covering.

Film

The easiest material to use is film. It is necessary to cover the entire structure, leaving a margin of 15 cm, and then cut it off.

Polycarbonate

The front side of the polycarbonate, the one where the picture is shown. First you need to cut the sheets. Seal the sections from above with a sealing tape, perforated from below.

First, the polycarbonate is attached on top, then on the sides. Fastened to the frame with a special profile, as well as rubber gaskets.

At the end, a seal and door fittings are installed.

Ventilation

In greenhouses, in order to create ventilation (airing), you just need to open the doors, only it is advisable to do this in warm weather.

A greenhouse is an indispensable thing for a gardener who is going to harvest a large harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables in the future, having wisely approached the design and following all the instructions, everything will definitely work out.

DIY greenhouse photo

Polycarbonate greenhouses in the trade network are widely represented - for every taste and size. But many people prefer to do them on their own. Because a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands turns out to be many times stronger and more reliable. At the same time, the costs are less or the same.

How to choose a design

If you decide to build a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands, it is advisable to choose a design that allows you to use the main advantage of this material - its ability to bend. These are two types with curved roofs with arched supports.

In one design, the arcs extend from the ground itself. If they are bent in the form of a radius, a lot of area is lost at the edges, since it is very inconvenient to work there due to the low height.

Another design solves this problem - with a composite frame welded from several pieces. Straight posts emerge from the ground / base, which rise to a height of at least one and a half meters. An arc is welded to them. With such a device, the roof turns out to be round, the walls are straight. Even along the walls, you can work without problems, straightening up to your full height.

But the rounded greenhouse roof has several drawbacks. The first is that it is more difficult in it than in a straight line to make vents for ventilation. You can solve the problem if you make transoms in the walls, and not in the roof. The second minus of a rounded roof in a polycarbonate greenhouse is that snow comes off it worse than from flat inclined surfaces. If you live in a region with snowy winters, or you have to make reinforced farms, or make a pitched roof - with one or two slopes.

There is a third solution - to make a rounded part of the roof from two arcs welded at an angle, which forms a kind of ridge. With this structure, the snow melts well and the ridge can be protected with a wide strip of metal. This will improve snow removal and protect the joint from leaks.

DIY polycarbonate greenhouse: material for the frame

The choice of materials for the frame is not very large. Profiled (rectangular) pipes, a metal corner and a wooden bar are suitable. They also use galvanized drywall profiles.

Wood

The beam is used for small greenhouses, and the design is chosen with a gable or gable roof, since it is difficult and long to bend arcs from wood. The cross-section of the bar depends on the size of the greenhouse and the snow / wind loads in the region. The most common size is 50 * 50 mm. Such supports are placed in the Middle Lane. For greater reliability, corner posts can be made of 100 * 100 mm timber.

Moreover, to save money, you can not buy a timber, but make a composite one - from boards. Take two boards 50 mm wide and 25 mm thick, three boards 15 mm thick. Fold, knock down on both sides with nails. The resulting struts are stronger, better carry loads, and are less susceptible to torsion, since the wood fibers are directed in different directions.

Another option - larger

If you build a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands on a wooden frame, all boards / timber must be treated / impregnated with antiseptics, and those that are intended for the street. Treat the ends that are buried in the ground with compounds for direct contact with the ground. Without such treatment, the wood, firstly, will quickly deteriorate, and secondly, it can become a source of plant diseases.

When joining the uprights to the harness (bottom bar), use steel reinforced mounting angles for greater rigidity and reliability. They are in hardware stores. To increase the bearing capacity of the roof, additional lintels are installed.

Profiled pipes and steel angle

Most of the polycarbonate greenhouse frames are made of profiled pipes. If you have the skills to work with it, it's easy to do everything yourself - it's easier to cook a square or rectangle than round pipes. Another plus is that with the help it is easy to make arcs yourself.

The cross section again depends on the size and natural conditions. Most often they are made from a rectangular pipe 20 * 40 mm. But there are also options. For that material, another parameter such as wall thickness is also important. It is desirable that the metal is 2-3 mm. Such a frame endures significant loads.

A steel corner is also a good option, but bending it is a difficult task, therefore greenhouses are assembled in the form of a house - with gable or pitched roofs. The dimensions of the shelves are 20-30 mm, the thickness of the metal is from 2 mm.

Galvanized profiles

A do-it-yourself polycarbonate greenhouse with a frame made of profiles is the most unreliable option. It is good in areas with little snowy winters, and even without strong winds. The advantage of this option is that no welding is needed. And the minus is not the greatest bearing capacity.

One of the frames of the Ukosina and stops are not superfluous

The technology is used as standard - both for the construction of walls and partitions made of plasterboard. The only difference is that the frame is sheathed on one side and polycarbonate is attached. It is advisable to make the racks double - splicing two bearing profiles, deploying them "back to back" and twisting them with self-tapping screws. For greater rigidity of the frame, make bevels, connecting adjacent racks with inclined jumpers. It is advisable to make the roof pitched rather than rounded, to strengthen the trusses.

Foundation

If you are wondering whether or not you need a polycarbonate greenhouse foundation, there is only one answer - you need it. Moreover, it is reliable. They fly very well. Therefore, the base should "anchor" the building well.

Belt type

This foundation is for buildings that are planned for more than one year. The most expensive, but also the most thorough option. If you plan to use the greenhouse all year round, the foundation is made deepened - to a depth just below the freezing of the soil. For seasonal use, concrete-brick or just from a bar is suitable.

Concrete-brick is one of the most common

Concrete-brick (concrete-lumber)

Most often they make a concrete-brick version. It is optimal in terms of cost, complexity and duration. The work is carried out as follows:

• They dig a trench according to the size of the greenhouse. Its width is about 20 cm, the depth depends on the type of soil.
  
• A dense oilcloth or roofing felt is spread on the prepared bottom. This is necessary so that moisture from the solution is not absorbed into the soil. It is also desirable to cover the sides, but there formwork panels partially solve this problem. Without this layer, concrete will not gain strength and will collapse.
• A solution is poured into the resulting ditch. The proportions are as follows: for 1 part of cement (M 400), take 3 parts of sand and 5 parts of aggregate. Aggregate - preferably fine and medium crushed stone. It is not worth using expanded clay - it absorbs moisture and can cause high humidity.
• The surface is leveled "under the level". You can smooth it down with a wooden block.

  

• In the foundation, at the corners and with a distance of 1 meter, embedded inserts are installed - studs or pieces of reinforcement with a diameter of at least 12 mm. Studs are placed if it will be necessary to attach a beam to them, reinforcement - if a brick will be laid. They stick out above the level of the foundation by at least 15 cm.
• The poured foundation is covered with a film, it stands for at least a week (at temperatures below 17 ° C, two weeks should pass). If the weather is hot, it is watered a couple of times a day. To retain moisture in this case, it is better to cover it with a coarse cloth (burlap) under the film.
• If the lower strapping is a timber, waterproofing is rolled out over the concrete base. It is possible - roofing material in two layers, but now it is quickly destroyed, so it is better to take "Hydroizol" or something similar. You can coat the concrete with bitumen mastic a couple of times. The result will be more reliable.
• A number of strapping is laid:
  
• Next comes the assembly of the frame.

There are options for this type of foundation. It is possible to install small sizes in the prepared trench, fill the space between them with mortar. They must be installed so that their edge is below ground level. A layer of concrete is poured on top, leveled. The embeds are fixed at the seams.

Empty bottles can be used as a building material. They are laid in rows, poured with concrete. It turns out a very economical and warm foundation. Its bearing capacity is quite enough for a more serious building.

Polycarbonate greenhouse lumber foundation

This option is suitable as a temporary solution - it can last two to three years. It depends on the humidity in the area, the quality of the wood and the processing. A beam is used with a large section - 100 * 100 or more (it can be made composite, from several boards). It is treated with compounds for wood in contact with the ground. The order of work is as follows:

This option is only suitable for dry areas with low groundwater levels. In this case, one can hope that the foundation will live for at least a few years.

Pile-grillage

Another type of foundation that will not protect against frost. But it is reliable and will serve for a long time. Complete, and we will give a short list of works.

Then you can fix the harness, or you can build on a couple of rows of bricks and only then install the frame. After that, we can say that the do-it-yourself polycarbonate greenhouse is almost ready. It remains to fix the polycarbonate.

Which polycarbonate to choose

How long a polycarbonate greenhouse, bought or built with your own hands, will last, how well it will "work" depends on the parameters and quality of the polycarbonate. His choice must be taken responsibly - the amount is considerable.

Types of polycarbonate

There are three types of this material:

What type of polycarbonate is better to use for greenhouse construction? Depends on the operating mode of the greenhouse. If it's going to be heated, you need a cell phone. If this is an option exclusively for the warm season, corrugated (or monolithic) is more suitable. Monolithic is also not bad, but corrugated has great rigidity. For greenhouses that are planned to be used from early spring or throughout the winter, cellular polycarbonate is installed. Due to its structure, it has more than% against its high thermal insulation characteristics - it retains heat better, although it transmits light worse (86% versus 95%).

Choosing cellular polycarbonate

It is not difficult to choose corrugated or monolithic - we are guided by the declared characteristics. It is only important that there is protection from ultraviolet radiation. There are no other pitfalls. But with a cell phone there are many nuances. You should pay attention to the following:

The easiest way to check the quality of cellular polycarbonate is by squeezing it between your fingers. If it does not push through, even if you make considerable efforts, you can take it. If it squeezes easily, look for another.

Installation features

According to the technology, polycarbonate is mounted using starting and connecting profiles. First, profiles are installed on the frame, a sheet of cellular polycarbonate is inserted into them, which is fixed to self-tapping screws with special press washers, which simultaneously protect the attachment point from leaks. The profiles, in addition to holding the sheets in place, also protect the cuts from dust and dirt getting into the bottom. The system looks neat, works well, but all the components cost a lot of money.

Aesthetics for a greenhouse is not the most necessary property, therefore, if you need to save money, they prefer to fix it in a simple way, without profiles and press washers. Here's how they do it:

This is what concerns the fixing of cellular polycarbonate directly. There is one more point that became clear during the operation of polycarbonate greenhouses. Polycarbonate should not be placed close to the ground. It is desirable that it starts at least half a meter from the surface. Why? Because, firstly, it still gets dirty and almost no light passes through it, so it does not affect the overall illumination. Secondly, it begins to deteriorate - to blacken to exfoliate. It is not clear what triggers this reaction, but it is common. So when developing a layout of a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands, provide for half-meter walls made of another material - brick, building blocks. Does not matter.

A greenhouse is a special zone, the internal climate of which is not influenced by any vagaries of the weather and negative environmental factors. Crops growing inside the greenhouse are not afraid of cold or heat, wind, snow or hail. Thanks to the microclimate created there, the plants receive everything they need in sufficient quantity for them.

Everything that is done with your own hands is much cheaper than alternative options.

Creating a greenhouse with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem. The main thing is to know about the main elements of its design, the general rules of normal functioning and have a desire.

What you need to consider at the initial stage

First you need to choose a place for placement and decide on the crops grown in it. The choice of the location of the greenhouse is an extremely important stage, because in one place the soil may be too wet, and in another the plants will not have enough sunlight.

Choosing a soil

The building should have the highest quality soil, which is located on the site - with a flat surface and moderate humidity. A recess should be dug in the marked area to check the quality of the soil. If clay appears in the depression, the place is not suitable for us. For the construction of a greenhouse, you need to choose soil in which there is a layer of sand.

If there is no suitable plantation on the site, then you can independently dig a pit, fill its bottom with gravel and make a layer of sand. Fertilized and disinfected soil is already laid on this drainage.

Choosing a place

The place should be sunny. Most often, greenhouses are used in the spring-summer period, where there is no heating system, and the sun's rays heat the greenhouse. You need to choose a place where the sun shines all day long and the shadow of trees or outbuildings located in the vicinity does not fall on it.

Wall greenhouse

Drafts are a big enemy of greenhouses. An improperly or loosely installed cover entails wind entering the greenhouse. But even if done correctly, the breeze will cool the coating, and cooling walls are known to absorb some of the heat in the room.

The best option for the steppe regions, which is characterized by the presence of a constant gusty wind, will be a wall greenhouse, the design of which is attached to any non-residential building on the south side.

After you have decided on the location of the building and its area, it's time to think about its configuration.

What are greenhouses

Before making a drawing of the future greenhouse, you should decide on its configuration and appearance. A wide selection of modern building materials allows you to create unthinkable masterpieces of various forms in this direction. The design can be of two types:

1. Collapsible. It is built in the event that seasonal use of the greenhouse is planned.
2. Unbreakable. Built for year-round use.

According to the configuration, greenhouses are:

• Wall-mounted single-slope
• Traditional
• Polygonal

Other form options are basically various combinations of these three basic forms: often hipped or arched greenhouses are built, the frame of which is taken from a traditional or polygonal variety.

Structural elements

In order to build a greenhouse with your own hands, you need to know about its structural elements. Any greenhouse consists of three main elements that differ in shape and materials of manufacture:

Greenhouse base

It doesn't matter if you are making a temporary or permanent structure, almost any greenhouse needs a foundation. The only difference is that you don't have to make a particularly solid foundation for a temporary greenhouse (some even use plastic bottles for it). For a greenhouse, which is planned to be used all year round, a more solid foundation is needed. Thanks to reliable support, the structure will serve for a long time. The base of the foundation must be below the level of soil freezing. Tells about the foundation for the greenhouse .

DIY greenhouse (video)

Greenhouse frame

The construction of the frame is perhaps the most difficult stage in the construction of a greenhouse. You can buy a ready-made metal frame, you can order a metal-plastic or aluminum glazed structure, when assembled, you get a ready-made greenhouse, or you can mount the frame yourself. The frame is the main part of the entire structure. When planning the shape of the frame and choosing materials for its construction, you need to take into account the fact that the strength of the entire structure will depend on the strength of this element. For the manufacture of the frame, materials such as are most often used:

Wooden beams

The wood frame is easy to install, but the wood is not durable, therefore, when constructing a permanent structure, the wooden frame requires careful processing and regular maintenance during the operation of the greenhouse. But if you decide to build a greenhouse based on this material, then the information contained in the article will be useful to you.

Steel

The steel frame will be strong and durable, withstanding any stress. Often, instead of a steel angle for the construction of a greenhouse frame, it is used. If your choice fell on a steel frame, remember that the metal corrodes, so the material requires pretreatment.

Pvc

The degree of strength of the PVC frame directly depends on the strength and thickness of the profile used. The main advantage of polyvinyl chloride is its flexibility, which allows you to create designs of any shape completely sealed, allowing the owner to regulate the microclimate inside the greenhouse with his own hands.

Greenhouse cover

To protect the cultivated crops from the negative effects of external environmental factors, you should take care of a durable cover for the greenhouse being built. Today's construction market is overflowing with a variety of relevant products, so it will not be difficult to find a coating that best suits the given selection criteria. Most often used to cover greenhouses:

Glass

High strength glass is used to cover a robust greenhouse, which is planned to be operated for many years. Many people choose tempered glass for their greenhouse or triplex. If it is not possible to use durable glass to cover the greenhouse with your own hands, you can install ordinary glass in several layers. You can protect the glass from wind loads and the possible effects of precipitation, such as, for example, hail, by installing an unbreakable protective coating over the glass.

Glass perfectly transmits sunlight, and with them ultraviolet light.

Foam

Film is the most inexpensive and popular material for covering seasonal greenhouses.

It perfectly transmits the sun's rays, scattering them, and prevents plants from burning. At the end of the season, the film is carefully dismantled with your own hands and, if there are no obvious flaws on it, it can be left for reuse.

Polycarbonate

This flexible high-strength roll material looks aesthetically pleasing, protects crops from ultraviolet radiation, allowing them to pass the maximum amount of sunlight. The material is durable, therefore it does not lend itself to rainfall and wind loads. The polycarbonate cover is designed for long-term use, its transparent color remains unchanged for many years.

Some professional advice will help you build a high-quality greenhouse on your own:

1. The construction of a permanent greenhouse begins in the fall, so the selected area should be properly prepared: we remove the soil with a shovel bayonet, removing the plants from the top layer, and put it in a separate place for storage until next summer. With the help of any sheet material, we make boards to protect the soil from weeds.
2. with a collapsible frame made of pipes, they are easy to transport, but difficult to install. Fast assembly will be ensured only by a frame made of ready-made welded modules. The fewer joints in the frame system of the greenhouse, the less backlash and other defects that reduce the strength of the building.
3. If you are installing a polycarbonate greenhouse, you should not dismantle the coating for the winter. Polycarbonate is not afraid of stress. You can only remove the irrigation system and vents.
4. The reliability of the fastening directly depends on the choice of fasteners, a good option is a structure with a frame having welded-on loops that allow it to be fastened both to the ground and to the foundation.
5. If the greenhouse is fixed with pipes-piles, they should not be driven completely, since the soil floats and settles over time, and the fastening may weaken.
6. On two longitudinal sides, the greenhouse should be equipped with transoms for ventilation. In addition, you can install plastic partitions that eliminate cross-pollination, a system and automatic vents.

Knowing the structure of the greenhouse structure, relying on the advice of experts and observing the rules for selecting a place and soil for a future greenhouse, you can easily make a greenhouse yourself and grow plants in a microclimate favorable for them.

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Many summer residents would like to grow fresh vegetables all year round. It is possible to come to the country house even in winter. The building is heated, with all communications. For vegetables, if you want to start growing them in winter and spring, you will also need a warm house. A year-round greenhouse with heating can be equipped with your own hands.

The most important thing to start is to choose the right place. Location will determine the efficiency of the greenhouse by 30%.

Table. Options for choosing a location for a greenhouse

Parameter	Description
Daylight	Of course, in a stationary year-round greenhouse, additional artificial lighting will have to be provided, but why not 100% use the possibilities of nature. Plants should be provided with as much daylight as possible. By placing the greenhouse structure from west to east in an open area, you will get maximum sun for the plants.
Wind	Cold winds are able not only to penetrate into the structure through any even small cracks, but also, acting from the outside, to reduce the temperature in it by 2-5 degrees. For young seedlings, this change can be disastrous. Therefore, when installing the greenhouse, take care of its additional protection from the wind.
Water	Ideally, an automatic irrigation system is present in a year-round greenhouse. But if one is not available, the hydraulic communications should be located close, for convenient and prompt water intake and irrigation. Water temperature, especially in winter, also matters. Watering seedlings with cold water is unacceptable.
Approaches	Few people pay attention to this parameter. However, the approach to the greenhouse should be wide and comfortable. This will not only facilitate its construction, but also make it comfortable and efficient to use.

Choice of materials

What to build from? There are many options. You need to choose such a material so that the structure will serve for a long time, be durable, airtight, economical. In this regard, the old film and glass classical structures, equipped with frame structures using wood, are finally a thing of the past.

Why are film, glass and wood not suitable?

Greenhouse made of wood and glass - photo

1. Even heavy duty film can tear - heat leakage will occur.
2. In the frames and between them, gaps will necessarily form over time, through which heat will also go away.
3. Glass breaks and has low heat transfer in one layer.

What materials to choose for a year-round greenhouse?

• The frame structure can be used for the installation of metal-plastic frames, provided they are double-glazed.
• The walls of the greenhouse can be made of polycarbonate on a metal base.
• For a year-round greenhouse, a brick building is suitable.

Reliability, long service life, protection for growing crops - these are the main parameters for choosing a greenhouse building material.

Assembling a greenhouse from cellular polycarbonate

Consider the polycarbonate structure, the features of its assembly and the tools and additional materials necessary for this.

What is good about polycarbonate

This modern material has many positive performance qualities.

• It has excellent thermal insulation properties.
• It has a surprisingly flexible structure - it bends easily without breaking, which makes it possible to install even arched structures.
• This new material is 16 times lighter than the thinnest glass.

In polycarbonate structures, shaped pipes act as a frame. In addition to them, you will need:

• welding machine;
• polycarbonate sheets;
• bolts and sealant.

The assembly can be carried out in a few hours, according to the instructions that are attached to the finished greenhouse.

Advice! Not all ready-made structures provide transoms, but it is better to provide them, the possibility of airing will protect the plants from overheating.

The frame is assembled with bolts. Sheets are inserted into the frame. Remember to tilt the roof (35 degrees is sufficient) to keep snow from accumulating. Places of planks with open honeycombs on polycarbonate are treated with a sealant to minimize heat loss.

Features of a metal-plastic greenhouse

Do-it-yourself metal-plastic structures are not the easiest thing. The most durable it will turn out from specialists, therefore it is better to make a greenhouse frame to order in a construction company that specializes in the manufacture of such products. Plus, the frame will need double glazing, which is also better to entrust to specialists.

As a result, the full cost of such a year-round greenhouse will not come cheap. But this is the most real opportunity to grow greens and vegetables all year round.

Advice! When installing a metal-plastic glazed greenhouse, it is recommended to make one (northern) wall not of glass and insulate it.

The roof of such a greenhouse tilts 30 degrees. It is preferable to choose a single-slope configuration.

Features of a brick greenhouse

A brick greenhouse, or as it is also called capital, is a real "home" for plants, where life is possible all year round. This is not even a greenhouse already, but a real greenhouse, where you can grow not only vegetables, but also various exotic plants. Until now, despite new modern materials, such as metal-plastic and cellular polycarbonate, the option of a capital brick greenhouse is considered the most reliable, proven, optimal, effective.

How to build a brick greenhouse

The construction can be done by hand if you have at least minimal skills in brickwork and other construction work. But even without labor costs, a greenhouse will require a substantial financial investment.

You will need:

• brick;
• mineral wool;
• cement, sand;
• roofing material;
• boards, timber for rafters;
• windows, doors, gutters.

The peculiarities of the construction are that, unlike all other types of greenhouses, the brick one is a "two-room apartment" for green pets. The first room is the vestibule. Usually it occupies an area of ​​2x2 m or 2x2.5 m. Garden accessories, fertilizers, soil and other necessary things are stored in the vestibule, and a heating system (boiler, stove) is also installed.

The main greenhouse space can be any area that you are able to develop.

The partition between the two rooms is made capital. A door is installed in it. The second door from the vestibule leads outside. In the greenhouse, not only windows are made, but also transoms.

Another feature is that for a capital greenhouse, you will have to fill in the foundation, preferably a ribbon one.

Table. The main stages of the construction of a brick greenhouse

Heating system

There are different ways to heat the greenhouse. From the simplest and most ancient - stove, to new and modern infrared equipment and heat guns. Each system has its own disadvantages and advantages.

Table. Characteristics of greenhouse heating systems

Heating type	Specifications
	They are used in capital buildings. The simplest and least expensive method. Doesn't require complex structures. The stove is installed in the vestibule. Chimney - along the perimeter of the greenhouse. Ventilation is required to equip stove heating. Among the disadvantages are uneven heat supply, the need for constant monitoring, strong heating of the furnace surface, fire hazard. The walls of a gas generating solid fuel furnace do not heat up.
	Can be installed in a greenhouse from any material. It is considered the safest. You will need a tank with a boiler, a pump, pipes, water, electricity. Water is heated by electricity, with the help of a pump it is distributed throughout the system, when it cools down, it returns to the boiler. This method provides not only the optimal uniform thermal regime, but also the necessary humidity. But only specialists can install such a system. Operation will also require serious material costs.
	Alternative to water. You will need gas heaters and burners, as well as pipes evenly distributed throughout the greenhouse. Gas is burned, heat is distributed in the room. There are several disadvantages, among which the main one is the need for constant monitoring to avoid gas leaks, and additional ventilation is required. This option is more economical than water, heating is carried out evenly, the room heats up faster.
	The most popular and demanded type. Can be used in all greenhouses. There are many devices, including: convector batteries, cables, guns, heating mats. Most systems are equipped with sensors, it is possible to adjust the modes.
	You shouldn't even try to install the system with your own hands - it is installed only by professionals at the time of assembling the greenhouse structure. Heating is excellent, uniform, fast. Condensation does not build up (which happens in winter with all other systems). But there is a possibility of overdrying the air, so it is recommended to install humidifiers in parallel.

What vegetables are grown in the greenhouse all year round

In a heated greenhouse, you can grow absolutely any vegetables, herbs, berries, flowers and even exotic plants. But if there is only one greenhouse on the site, and you give preference to vegetables, you will have to choose up to three vegetable crops and as many green ones.

Vegetables

From traditional vegetables for year-round cultivation, they usually choose:

• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• pepper;
• Chinese cabbage;
• radish;
• salads.

Greens

From spicy green crops are grown:

• Dill;
• parsley;
• cilantro;
• basil;
• green onions.

Pepper - can be sown and grown with any crop.

Tomatoes - grow well with onions and radishes.

Cucumbers - Prefer radishes, lettuce, and all green crops.

Greens - can grow with all crops.

Advice! It is undesirable to combine cucumbers with tomatoes and cabbage with parsley in neighboring crops.

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse

The time of planting seedlings, which grew in rooms, to a permanent place of growth in a capital heated greenhouse, depends on the sowing time you choose. There are certain rules for successful planting of seedlings.

1. Seedlings are ready for planting when there are at least 7-8 true leaves on it (pepper has at least 12). Bushes are strong, resistant, not elongated, flower buds of peppers and tomatoes can begin to form. Leaf color is intensely green.

   

2. Before planting, the seedlings need to be hardened in two weeks - they should be taken outside for several hours, gradually increasing the time.
3. The greenhouse soil is prepared in advance - it is filled with humus, a bucket of 1 m² (not manure!) And minerals (potassium and phosphorus - 40 g each, nitrogen - 30 g / m²). The soil is dug up, loosened, broken into holes.

   

   

   

4. The wells are poured with water, two liters each. Seedlings are also well watered two hours before planting.

   

5. The seedling is carefully removed from the seedling container using the planting scoop, along with the root soil. If a root that is too long sticks out of a lump of soil, it is allowed to pinch it by a third.
6. The seedling is lowered into the hole, held with one hand, the space between the walls and the lump is filled with the other.
7. The soil is compacted near the stem, watered again. For plants that will be tied up (tomatoes, cucumbers, some varieties of peppers), it is immediately recommended to install pegs or slat trellises.

   

Greenhouse plant care

In a greenhouse that works all year round to “produce” fresh vegetables, the plants need extra care.

The first important condition is soil preparation. Vegetables grown out of season in the greenhouse will have increased demands, primarily on the soil. It should be light, fertile, with a high concentration of substances needed by plants.

As part of the greenhouse soil, the following components are required:

• manure;
• turf;
• peat;
• straw (sawdust);
• sand;
• carbohydrate and nitrogen fertilizers.

The second condition is feeding. Vegetables and greens need to be fed regularly throughout the growth and fruiting cycle.

The third important component of care is watering and moisture regime. Drip irrigation is preferred, or a fine shower (for some crops). If it is not possible to install an automatic irrigation system with regulation of the temperature of the supplied water, control that its temperature is not lower than the ambient temperature.

Heating is described in detail above. It is only worth noting that in the middle lane it will take at least seven months a year to heat a year-round greenhouse with varying intensity.

An important maintenance measure is weed control and soil loosening. Earthen crust is dangerous for all garden plants, but it is especially harmful to seedlings and seedlings in the greenhouse, where the plants get less air than in the open field.

Loosening of greenhouse soil, depending on the composition of the soil, often begins even before the emergence of seedlings (when sowing crops with seeds). If the seeds have not yet sprouted, but the crust has already formed, of course, it must be destroyed in order to facilitate the emergence of seedlings to the surface. Loosening to germination is carried out between rows, to a depth of no more than 5 cm, with a light ripper.

When the main crops sprout, or after planting seedlings in the greenhouse, all loosening is combined with weeding and carried out after watering. The soil is loosened closer to the stem of the plant, but so as not to destroy the side roots.

Advice! Vegetable crops, such as tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, cucumbers, are loosened immediately after planting the seedlings deeply, up to 7 cm. As the lateral roots grow, the depth of loosening decreases, and the distance from the stem increases.

Also, in a year-round greenhouse, it is necessary to pay special attention to the prevention of diseases of vegetable crops, to carry out measures to treat the diseases that have arisen, to timely remove the remnants of vegetation, obsolete whips, stems, leaves, and after harvesting, during the preparation of the greenhouse for a new sowing cycle, to disinfect it.

Growing vegetables in a greenhouse will surely bring excellent results if you follow all the rules for caring for seedlings and planting them in protected ground. The reward will be juicy and healthy fruits, vegetables and herbs from your own plot all year round.

Video - How to build a large winter greenhouse