Greenhouse Modifications

 OK, so you've got your greenhouse kit waiting to be assembled.  What follows are a few modifications that will improve the experience, recommended by gardeners who have lived with and experimented with their greenhouses over a few seasons.

 

Modifications #1 

1.  Use some kind of treatment on the lower wooden panels.  These are the panels that will see the most wear from rain, dust, mud abrasion.  Even if the wood is already cedar or pressure treated,, use some kind of weathering treatment to extend the life of the whole greenhouse.  Water seal, polyurethane, whatever you can get by the gallon.

2.  Ventilation is key in the summer.  The inside of the greenhouse will become an oven if the doors and windows remain closed.  Make sure that all ventilation remains open and unobstructed.  Find a way to secure doors open.  Are there temperature regulated windows or louvered vents that can be used in shoulder seasons to regulate the temperature?  This is key in June when the nights would benefit from the greenhouse being shut, but daytime temps can spike to dangerous levels when the sun is beating down.  

3.  Strategies for the height of summer - July and August.  

• Consider covering with shade cloth at the hottest months.  Find ways to open as many panels as possible.  
• Put some of the lower panels on hinges to fully open but add cabinet hardware to seal securely in the winter.  
• Add additional screened vents that can be closed or sealed with plastic in the winter, but will pull more air into the interior in the summer.  

 4.  Interior plumbing.  

• Add a hose bib, 
• draining into a basin inside to rinse off vegetables and water seedling trays.  
• Supply water with a garden hose on the outside, but use actual plumbing on the inside.  
• Consider a  rain barrel collection system off the roof 

 

5.  Electricity for working in the evenings during the fall and spring.  Use a heavy duty extension cord to run temporary power to the greenhouse.

• Overhead lights 
• Ventilation fans
• Diesel heater
• 
  

 6.  Heat.  What can be done to keep the interior above freezing overnight:

7. Lighting.  

• Overhead lights 
• seed starting lights
• Solar exterior lights. 

8.  Wire frame shelves for seed trays