When it comes to the idea of growing plants in a suitable environment, where they could grow and flourish beautifully, there is always a call for areas that are made specifically as per the plant’s condition to grow, these areas are commonly known as greenhouses. Such establishments were present ever since the Roman times, however gardeners of that time used artificial methods to grow vegetables and fruits so that they could be available all year round. Greenhouses have been practiced by people ever since the 17th century, it was first publicized by botanist Charles Lucien Bonaparte who was from France and he build a very modern greenhouse to grow tropical medicine plants. Experiments with greenhouses were continued since then until the current time, the first experiment was to introduce technology and glass construction in it.
History of greenhouse
The 19th century had some glory days for greenhouses as they were being built with sufficient height and with very sturdy construction. At that time greenhouses were usually public parks but as time went on it evolved into many secluded spaces with glass walls or exteriors and iron architecture. These greenhouses were known to be all over the world like Leiden(Holland), palm house in Kew harden, New York crystal palace, Samuel cocking in Japan, king Leopold the second in Belgium, etc.
In 2oth century they introduced a new structural pattern to the greenhouses as well as new technologies to add for the betterment of the plants, growing in them. One of the new structural advancements was a geodesic dome which was first introduced by the Eden Project in Cornwall, the Rodale institution in Pennsylvania, and the Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. Another was a pyramid which is still used for huge greenhouses one of them is in Alberta which is known as mutter conservatory. Greenhouses have been around for millennia. They have served many purposes, from providing food to protecting plants from extremes of weather. Today, greenhouses are used mainly for the production of vegetables and flowers on a commercial scale.
They are all over the world and beneficial for the environment which does not invite any unnecessary hazards or disturbances in the ecosystem.
What is a greenhouse?
Greenhouse is basically something that will let you grow your favorite plants whether it’s their season to grow or not. You just have to maintain the atmosphere inside some designated place which will help your plant to grow as it should. It is a protected environment in which outside air, sun, rain, etc. does not affect the plant. If you are keen on growing seasonal plants throughout the year, you should definitely get a green house. Although, you might come to know that greenhouses come in different shapes and sizes based on your requirement you can choose the one that you need.
There are some indoor greenhouses, and large greenhouses that can house dozens of plants, there are also greenhouses that are specially designed for the delicate plants. You can even install the heater and lamps inside the greenhouse to ensure that your greenhouse plants get everything that they need. They are usually made out of aluminum racks or polyethylene covers. Nowadays, there are so many varieties in the market that you will not have to stress much about finding the right greenhouse for your precious plants.
Massive greenhouses are necessary in agriculture and for botanic science, whereas smaller structures are unremarkably employed by hobbyists, collectors, and residential gardeners. The insides of a greenhouse are exposed to sunlight which then becomes significantly warmer than the exterior temperature, protecting the plants in cold weather. The glass greenhouses are full of instrumentality and also, heating, cooling, lighting, and should be controlled by a other technologies to boost conditions for plant growth. completely different techniques then judge the optimality degrees and comfort of greenhouses, like air temperature ratio and vapor-pressure deficit, so as to cut back production risk before the cultivation of a particular crop.
Greenhouses can be differentiated on the basis of their shape or style. the uniqueness of the cross-section of the greenhouses will be thought of as an element. because the sections are generally constant for all kinds of greenhouses, the longitudinal section of the greenhouse can’t be used for it’s classification. The cross sections depict the breadth and height of the structure and therefore the length is perpendicular to the plane of the cross-section. Also, the cross-section provides info on the form of the structural members, like the truss or hoop, which can be perennial on a day. The generalized kinds of the greenhouse are supported via air shelter, evened span, un-evened span, ridge and furrow, and saw tooth .
Greenhouse can also be evaluated by design and material both as the design is important on the basis of design style which are a-frame, dome, arched, pyramid, etc. and in terms of the material, they come in different forms like glass, fiberglass, plastic, double layered polyethylene, PVC etc. The greenhouse comes in different forms and each one of them is useful but has different benefits and usage abilities which can be determined by its structure and the materials used to build it.
Advantages of the greenhouse
Ease of use- It is much easier to grow your own vegetables in the comfort of your own home than go through all the trouble of taking care of them in a garden outside. Not only do these greenhouses allow for an easier growing process, they also provide a more controlled environment that can help you produce higher quality produce. Plus, you’ll be able to save on gas money and time spent grocery shopping since you can grow all your food right at home! It is designed to be user-friendly. The panels are sturdy but lightweight. This makes them easy to move around if necessary. On top of that, you’ll be able to save on gas money and time spent grocery shopping since you can grow all your food right at home. It is a great way to grow your own vegetables and if you have the space for it, you should really consider it. There are many different types of greenhouses available on the market today and they come in many different shapes and sizes. It all depends on what your requirements are for your greenhouse. But they generally cost between $2,000-$10,000 which is not an insignificant investment.
Weather protection- A greenhouse is a structure that is used to protect plants from various weather conditions. They offer a degree of control over the environment, either by mimicking environmental conditions inside or outside, or by protecting plants from the environment. They act as a natural source of heat on cold nights as well as successfully provide great protection against rain and air which can damage crops, fruits and vegetables planted in the greenhouse. The structure can be made of glass, plastic, or metal. Greenhouses are often built to preserve plants for the winter season and allow farmers to harvest crops all year round. Some greenhouses also serve as nurseries for commercial plant production and other research facilities. Greenhouses can be insulated with thermopane, plastic, or fiberglass. This provides better insulation and weather protection. Strong winds usually knock down or damage the plants if they are not protected properly but when you are using a greenhouse you will not have to worry about that. Under a translucent or semi-transparent cover the sunlight is scattered while sufficient air is allowed . Greenhouses can be used as an extension of your home garden or for commercial purposes like growing crops or flowers professionally indoors all year round even if it’s too cold outside
Long Growing Season- Greenhouses are not just for plants. They can also be used to grow different varieties of plantations including fruits , vegetable or even crops. They are great for growing plants year-round, even in colder climates. Certain plants grow better in greenhouses than outside because they need the extra care given to them inside the greenhouse. Off-season production of vegetable and fruits are made possible only because of greenhouses Long growing season provides many benefits to greenhouse growers and manufacturers. One such benefit is the ability to produce an extended availability of fresh vegetables and fruits all year round. This, in turn, provides consumers with more options for healthy eating and reduces their purchasing prices as well as transportation costs. Another benefit is that it can reduce dependence on imports, which can be expensive for some countries if they rely heavily on them. Greenhouses are a great solution for climates that have long growing seasons. They work by trapping and using natural light to increase the number of hours plants can grow in a day. The trapped light is also crucial for keeping plants warm during cool periods. The Greenhouses allow you to vegetables, fruits, crops weeks or even months longer than imaginable! For a year-round harvest
Pest prevention- They reduce the need for pesticides on cropsThe small space of a greenhouse can provide protection from the elements. Greenhouses help to keep plants healthy by providing high levels of humidity, warmth, light and nutrients to plants grown inside them. The use of a greenhouse is an excellent way to control pests, as well as the temperature and humidity. Greenhouses provide a perfect environment for plants that are susceptible to pests. With shelter inside an enclosed structure, external species of pests and predators like moles, deer, and birds won’t be able to eat or attack plants that u have grown. The use of proper and organic pest help in maintaining the quality and quantity of the plantation.
Disadvantages of the greenhouse
Even though you’d think that greenhouses are one of the most useful, there are still certain disadvantages that you might come to know, here we have listed some for you,
Site Requirements- Usually greenhouses are dependent on natural light which may be difficult to come by depending on your location. For example, if you live close to an urban area with lots of buildings and trees blocking out natural light then it may be hard to grow anything in your greenhouse. Sometimes greenhouses are required to be built on the ground on permanent foundations of gravel or concrete blocks. Other greenhouses are built with steel frames or wood frames on a wood foundation. Usually, greenhouses are covered with glass or plastic panels to keep in heat and moisture. Greenhouses are often used to grow vegetables, flowers, and fruit in colder climates so u need to install the required heater, water supply system, and ventilation fans according to the type of plantation u are doing. You will always be finding a need for sources of electricity and water, which add to your maintenance cost of the greenhouse set-up. It has high setup and operating expenses. It requires regular inspection or sometimes on a daily basis which can cause labor charges
Temperature and Ventilation Management- The most significant disadvantage of a greenhouse is that it does not provide enough heat for the plants in the winter. Greenhouses do not have heating units, so they depend on solar heat in order to keep the plants alive. This is problematic because solar heat only provides about 20% of the necessary heating for these plants during this time. Greenhouses use either solid (heating) or mesh (ventilation) walls to maintain a desired temperature and humidity throughout the day which is difficult to maintain at times. Changing the atmosphere in a greenhouse has an effect on the plants it contains and it causes a burden on your pocket, if temperatures exceed healthy levels according to the type of plants, it can prove to be dangerous for the type of plant grown. In plants grown in greenhouses, the temperature is usually higher than outside. This is because the sun’s energy can be captured to warm the air inside the greenhouse.
Pest and Diseases-
Pests and diseases can be one of the most difficult challenges for greenhouse plants to overcome. One of the best ways to prevent this is by creating a pest management plan that includes sanitation, exclusion, and natural enemies. Developing a pest management plan may seem like a daunting task at first, but it is actually fairly straightforward and can be done in 3 steps:
Establish quarantine procedures:
- Any plants brought into the greenhouse should be quarantined for 30 days before being introduced to other plants in the production facility.
- Tools and other items should also be sanitized before use in the greenhouse to keep pests from spreading between plants.
- Plants with signs of disease or injury should also be quarantined for 30 days before introduction into the greenhouse to prevent
- Necessary precautions must be taken to eliminate any pests or diseases to make sure your next crop won’t be affected by any kind of illness or effects
Pollination Problems- There are plants for eg: a tomato that requires pollination before they are capable to bear the fruits via its flower. Fans in the greenhouse, which provide ventilation and keep vegetation dry, aren’t able to create the necessary wind for pollination, this is a big disadvantage of greenhouse technology. Pollination requires a specific condition to undergo pollination which can be difficult to maintain in the greenhouse. The pollination process sometimes uses bees for pollination which requires bees and their hive and the maze for the bee hive may be costlier at times. Pollination through bugs, and birds can be much more expensive, or sometimes it may or may not work according to the desired result.
Conclusion
So, by this collective information, we can say that there are both disadvantages and advantages of using a greenhouse system on how to set up a green house what are the pros and cons of the greenhouse system Majorly everything in the world has some advantages and disadvantages so we need to use or set up greenhouse according to our requirements success of greenhouse setup by you depends on the scale and funding of the project. The minimum recommended time frame for the projects with the right economic viability and long-term sustainability is around 1 to 2 years. So now you know, the detailed information on advantages and disadvantages, it will help you better take care of your greenhouse better or help you decide whether you should get one.