Types of greenhouses. Models and types of greenhouses: made of agrofibre, collapsible for film, industrial, mobile and others Solar vegetarian for plants

Every gardener knows what a greenhouse is and why it is needed. But there are many types of these irreplaceable helpers in growing crops. Therefore, when choosing a greenhouse, questions inevitably arise about which one is more reliable and convenient.

Manufacturers offer different versions of these designs, which differ in shape, material, and degree of light transmittance. There are many nuances that need to be taken into account when choosing. Knowing these subtleties will help you find a greenhouse that will serve flawlessly for many years.

Any greenhouse is a simple structure that consists of two main elements - a frame and an awning. In most cases, they are sold separately, but there are options for ready-made designs in which the manufacturer provides literally every little detail.

In any case, the choice of greenhouse is made according to two main parameters:

• frame;
• covering material.

First of all, you need to decide on the shape of the greenhouse. The market offers many models from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

The following types of structures are distinguished:

• with vertical walls;
• with sloping walls;
• arched;
• single-pitched;
• gable;
• with a mansard roof.

The choice is wide. You can find exactly the option that suits you in all respects. One of the most important selection criteria is the convenience of the greenhouse. And here the summer resident is offered a lot of opportunities to minimize labor costs in growing crops. A “smart” greenhouse will perform most of the tasks of ventilation, watering, and heating. You can choose a model with the set of functions that is necessary for a specific climate and area.

Types of covering for greenhouses

There are only three types of greenhouse coverings. All of them are capable of efficiently performing the main task - protecting plants from harmful environmental influences.

Coatings are made from:

• polycarbonate;
• glass;
• polyethylene film.

Why is polycarbonate good?

The most reliable material for greenhouses is. This is a light-transmitting multilayer material, the structure of which in cross-section resembles a honeycomb, which is why it is called honeycomb.

There is another type of this material - monolithic. But it is not used in greenhouse construction for the reason that it does not meet all the requirements for these structures.

Important! Monolithic has much more weight and does not have the light transmittance so necessary for growing crops. Therefore, it is never considered as a covering material for the greenhouse frame.

Cellular polycarbonate, due to its hollow structure, is able to retain heat well. The reason is that there is air in the space between the honeycombs. This is the best heat accumulator. Therefore, polycarbonate structures are the “warmest”. For gardeners living in regions with harsh climates, this is a decisive factor when choosing a greenhouse.

Cellular polycarbonate is a sheet material, but it can be rolled into rolls, which are most convenient for transportation. The roll diameter depends on. The thinner it is, the easier it is to roll. However, even with a 4-mm thickness of the web, the roll will be quite voluminous - with a diameter of 1.5 to 1.6 m. If you exceed the permissible bending radius, you can damage the structure of the material.

Polycarbonate with a thickness of 4 to 10 mm is suitable for covering greenhouse frames. It should be noted that the thicker the canvas, the greater its weight. Not every frame is able to withstand the load created by a 10 mm polycarbonate coating. Considering that in winter it is necessary to add snow load to this indicator, the requirements for the strength and stability of the frame increase many times over. The best choice for medium-sized greenhouses is 4- or 6-mm polycarbonate.

Table. The main technical characteristics of cellular polycarbonate that must be taken into account when choosing.

Blade thickness	Weight (kg/m2)	Light transmittance of white transparent fabric (%)	Light transmittance of white matte canvas (%)	Light transmittance of colored fabric (%)	Thermal conductivity (W/m2 °C)
4 mm	0,8	82	52	42	3,6
6 mm	1,3	82	58	35	3,5
8 mm	1,5	80	54	35	3,3
10 mm	1,7	76	48	32	2,4

The average service life of polycarbonate greenhouses is 15 years. These are the most durable and reliable designs of all existing ones.

Advantages and disadvantages of glass greenhouses

Glass is an inflexible material, so it is only suitable for single- and double-slope structures. - a classic of the genre. You can easily assemble it yourself from used materials. Therefore, the main advantage of these designs is their low cost.

But glass also has other advantages that have long been appreciated by gardeners. Greenhouses with such a coating can withstand significant weight loads. A cracked or broken part can be quickly replaced. The main advantage of glass is its transparency. Plants in such a greenhouse will not suffer from lack of light.

Important! Glass greenhouses also have disadvantages. These are fragility, the need for careful handling, and fairly high requirements for the strength of the frame.

What are the benefits of a polyethylene awning?

The most popular material for covering greenhouses is polyethylene. If previously the choice was clear (dense polyethylene), today you can choose from several types of this material.

In any gardening store you can find the following films:

• light stabilized;
• light scattering;
• copolymer ethylene vinyl citate;
• polyvinyl chloride (cellophane);
• foamed.

Each of these materials can be used to construct a greenhouse and greenhouse. But when choosing, you need to pay attention to the characteristics. For regions with snowy winters, the best choice is reinforced film.

The Russian market offers products from Turkish, Korean and domestic manufacturers. How are these materials different? Foreign companies produce film with polyethylene reinforcement, while Russian companies produce film from high-strength polypropylene mesh. Therefore, domestic products are more durable and durable.

Cellophane film has the highest light transmittance. But this material has the least strength of all the others, so it is suitable only for temporary or annual structures.

Stabilized film is capable of reflecting heat into the greenhouse or greenhouse. This property is taken into account when constructing shelters for seedlings. Antifog, which is part of the film, prevents the formation of condensation on the outer surface of the awning.

Light-scattering film is capable of reflecting UV and IR rays. This ensures the maximum possible protection of plants from the negative effects of the environment. The phosphors included in the film make it possible to obtain uniform illumination of the interior of the greenhouse.

The most durable film is copolymer. It perfectly withstands wind speeds of 18-20 m/s. Another advantage is its frost resistance. The copolymer film will not crack at temperatures down to -80C°, so this material is chosen for constructing greenhouses in areas with cold and windy climates.

Double-layer foam film. One layer is dense and smooth, the second is porous. The space in the cells of the second layer is filled with air. Therefore, the foamed film has a fairly low thermal conductivity. This is an important indicator for greenhouses. But this material also has its drawback: low light transmittance. Therefore, foam film is chosen for constructing shelters in areas with a lot of sunny days.

Greenhouse frames

Greenhouse frames are made of steel and aluminum. When constructing homemade structures, wooden blocks are often used. What should you pay attention to when choosing the material from which the frame is made?

Many manufacturers offer greenhouses with powder-coated frames. This is a good solution to ensure the durability of the structure. Regardless of the metal processing method, aluminum frames are almost twice as expensive as steel frames. This is due to the lighter weight of the former and their maximum resistance to corrosion.

However, aluminum frames have one significant drawback. Frames made of this material are unable to withstand significant weight loads from the severity of some types of coating, as well as from snow. Therefore, in the spring you can often see greenhouses that have overwintered on the site, the posts of which are curved. This suggests that the owner did not take into account the climatic features of his region when choosing a design.

An alternative option is a wooden frame for a greenhouse

Types of frame designs

There are two main types of greenhouse frame designs:

• stationary;
• collapsible.

The first ones are optimal for those who are often at the dacha, regardless of the season. Collapsible structures are chosen by those gardeners who visit their plot only during the warm season. In this case, it makes sense to buy exactly those greenhouses that can be dismantled and stored until the start of the next season. This way you won’t have to worry about the safety of your property.

Prices and quality

The most affordable are small greenhouses (up to 5 m2) with a polyethylene awning and a frame made of powder-painted steel - 8-10 thousand rubles. The same structures, but with a polycarbonate coating, will cost about 50% more – up to 15 thousand rubles. The most expensive are glass greenhouses. These structures are mounted only on the basis of reliable steel frames. A glass greenhouse with an area of ​​up to 5 m2 will cost a little more than 20 thousand rubles.

The price depends on various parameters - in particular, on:

• the presence or absence of windows to ventilate the interior of the greenhouse;
• number of doors;
• thickness and type of coating;
• frame material;
• design forms.

They are considered the most practical and high-quality. They are almost 200 times stronger and more reliable than glass. The least number of positive reviews about polyethylene greenhouses. They serve, as a rule, no more than 1-2 summer seasons.

Greenhouse forms

Greenhouses can be of absolutely any shape, length and configuration. The frames of stationary structures are made as follows: steel profiles are welded together and the corners and joints are reinforced. All greenhouse manufacturers offer the service of manufacturing these products according to the customer’s dimensions and sketches. Therefore, it is not difficult to obtain a structure of exactly the shape and size that is needed.

Arched greenhouses

The arched shape is the most successful for several reasons.

1. A high layer of snow does not form on it. This ensures the safety of the covering material.
2. The arched shape requires a minimum number of seams and joints. This gives the design the greatest reliability in operation.
3. Greenhouses of this form are resistant to winds.
4. Finally, such structures are easy to install and can be easily extended in length.

But despite everything, arched structures cannot be called perfect. They also have their drawbacks. The main one is a smaller volume of internal space than that of rectangular greenhouses. Another disadvantage is that for structures more than 2 meters high, the installation of reinforcing beams is required.

The most popular models of arched greenhouses:

• "People's"
• "Nurse";
• "Sun";
• "Rostock";
• "Orange";
• "Oasis".

Greenhouse "Alpha"

Lean greenhouses

This type of structure is classified as an extension structure. Lean-to greenhouses are convenient because they can be placed in close proximity to the walls of any country building - a house, a summer kitchen, a warehouse, a barn. This is the main advantage of this type of structure. But it is also the main disadvantage. The fact is that in such rooms only one-sided illumination is possible. Therefore, plants will be in the shade for a significant part of the daylight hours. However, this is not always a bad thing. If a gardener grows shade-loving crops, a lean-to greenhouse is one of the best choices for him. This design will save space on the site and will do the main job of shading the plants.

This type of structure can be covered with any material - polycarbonate, glass, polyethylene film. The frame can also be anything. For homemade structures, an excellent solution is wooden blocks. But they will need to be covered with a moisture- and bioprotective solution. You can choose any one: “Senezh Ognebio” and “Senezh Ognebio Prof”, “Neomid 450”, “Pirilax”.

Gable greenhouses

Gable greenhouses can be safely classified as universal and traditional.

There are two possible options for these designs:

• with walls located at right angles to the surface of the earth;
• with walls located at an obtuse angle to the surface of the earth.

The first option is classic. Summer residents call such greenhouses “houses.”

These structures are built much more often for several reasons:

• they are easy to install;
• allow the use of any covering material;
• You can easily and simply install vents on the slopes for ventilation;
• installing the door will not cause any difficulties;
• you can choose any slope angle and any ridge height;
• there is no need to install snow protection, since snow will not linger on the peaked roof;
• Wooden blocks of any cross-section are suitable for mounting the frame.

Important! If the greenhouse is small in size and weight, it can be installed directly on the ground without constructing a foundation.

But these designs also have their drawbacks. The first is that the gable greenhouse is stationary. In case of redevelopment of the site, it is very difficult to move it to another place. The second disadvantage of these structures is that they have a significant number of joints in both the frame and the skin. Therefore, the roof is not always airtight. If cellular polycarbonate is used, the thickness of the sheets must be at least 6 mm.

Another option is the Dachnaya-Strelka greenhouse

Dome greenhouses

The main advantage of these greenhouses is the uniform distribution of the weight load. Therefore, you can use any material, even the heaviest, for cladding. The frame consists of many segments of triangular, rectangular and trapezoidal shapes. A significant number of joints ensures maximum strength of the frame.

Dome greenhouses have ideal streamlining parameters, which guarantees maximum resistance to winds. These structures are not afraid of any precipitation. Snow will roll off the roof surface. This circumstance entails the need to install a sufficiently high foundation that will protect the internal space from moisture penetration.

• The protective layer on which the inscriptions are applied must be located on the outside of the greenhouse.
• To obtain the most durable structure, be sure (!) to pay attention to the location of the polycarbonate “honeycombs” - they should go only vertically, in inclined structures - parallel to the slope.
• When creating arches, keep in mind that polycarbonate sheets bend only in one direction - lengthwise, that is, along the line of the stiffeners.
• The joints of the sheets should be at the center of the frame post; the sheets are connected only in this way.
• This type of plastic is cut with a construction knife, jigsaw, or grinder. You can also use a hacksaw or a circular saw.
• To firmly connect the sheets to each other, special plastic profiles are used. Manufacturers do not recommend overlapping polycarbonate. In practice, when making a polycarbonate greenhouse with your own hands, it is not always possible to cut and fit the sheets perfectly. Some craftsmen even manage to do without connecting profiles, placing polycarbonate overlapping. The most important thing is that the joint must be in the center of the rack, and not sag in the air. Moreover, even with ideal installation, snow pressure can force the sheet out of the profile. In the case of overlap, this does not happen.
• It is not advisable to use a powerful drill for screwing in self-tapping screws - it will overtighten the fasteners and often slip off during operation. It is better to work with a regular screwdriver. Polycarbonate is drilled at low speeds with little effort. Next, turn off the tool, insert the screws and continue working.
• The distance between the screws to be screwed in is 25-70 cm. It all depends on the type of frame and the expected snow and wind load.
• When assembling polycarbonate structures, rivets are sometimes used instead of self-tapping screws. However, dismantling the greenhouse or replacing a damaged sheet in this case will be more difficult.
• When the temperature changes, plastic can change size. When making butt joints, a small space of a couple of millimeters in size is necessarily left between the sheets - a technological gap. Otherwise, cracks will form at the junction. For the same reason, the size of the holes for fasteners is made a little larger. To prevent the plastic from cracking, do not tighten them all the way.
• To compensate for expansion and protect against cold bridges, it is recommended to use special thermal washers for polycarbonate (screws are purchased separately). It is allowed to use EPDM roofing screws, equipped with a gasket or standard for metal with a rubber thermal washer, in which the threads have a small pitch.

Weather conditions do not always allow for growing vegetables and flowers in open ground. Greenhouses and greenhouses are used for growing seedlings or for the full period of plant growth and fruit ripening.

1. They have a small height - no more than one and a half meters.
2. Lack of doors. The ability to access plants depends on the design of the greenhouse.
3. Greenhouses often have artificial heating and lighting. The greenhouses are heated only by solar energy and compost.
4. Unlike greenhouses, greenhouses are not only stationary, but also portable.
5. Greenhouses that are simple in design are installed for the period of growing crops.
6. Greenhouses are not suitable for growing plants in winter. For these purposes, permanent greenhouses are built, which are equipped with lighting and heating.

Only experienced gardeners understand such subtleties. It really doesn’t matter what you call a protective device used for growing seedlings or heat-loving plants. Some designs on sale have a double name - greenhouse.

Types of greenhouses and greenhouses

Many people first buy and install a greenhouse, and then think about its advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a design, have clear answers to the following questions:

• what crops are you going to grow;
• greenhouse location;
• possibility of connecting a power supply point for a lighting device;
• heating method;
• how much are you willing to spend on the purchase and installation of the structure.

Structures for protecting soil and plants differ in location, design, frame material, type of coating and internal structure.

1. According to the method of location, greenhouses are divided into adjoining ones, which are attached to a standing building, and free-standing ones. Adjacent structures are often called wall structures.

Advantages of attached greenhouses:

• construction requires less costs than free-standing ones;
• there are no problems when supplying electricity and water;
• the possibility of creating an exit to the greenhouse from the house.

The disadvantages include the fact that it is not always possible to install a greenhouse on the south side of the building and the need to create additional wall insulation from high humidity.

Advantages of free-standing greenhouses:

• possibility of choosing shape and design;
• optimal choice of installation location;
• access of light from all sides.

The disadvantages include the difficulty of establishing communications.

2. According to the method of construction, greenhouses are either permanent or temporary. Capital types of greenhouses are installed on a foundation. The foundation is laid around the perimeter of the greenhouse to the depth of soil freezing. From the outside, the foundation is insulated with expanded clay or other heat-insulating material.

Temporary or portable greenhouses are convenient because they can be installed in another location if you decide to change something on your site.

3. According to the height of the soil, there are two types of greenhouses - buried and above ground.

To construct buried greenhouses, a hole is dug, the bottom is covered with soil, and the top is covered with film. In such greenhouses it is possible to grow early seedlings due to the fact that the soil freezes less than with the usual, ground-based method of arranging greenhouses. Mini-greenhouses are convenient for protecting plants in open ground.

4. According to the type of construction, greenhouses and greenhouses are divided into arched, polygonal, lean-to and gable. The single-pitch design is used mainly in the construction of wall structures. Gable and arched structures are convenient, in which you can move at full height and plant plants in 2-3 rows.

5. Heating in greenhouses is possible in several types - electric, biological, water. The simplest and cheapest heating method is a bucket of smoldering coals. When choosing a heating method, you should consider what material the roof of the structure is made of.

6. Plants are grown in the ground or in pots or boxes on shelves. Shelving is convenient for low-growing plants.

7. Plant nutrition can be soil or hydroponic. With the hydroponic method, plants are grown in aqueous solutions of substances necessary for crop growth. This method is not widespread among gardeners; it is used mainly when growing vegetables for sale and is not suitable for flowers.

What materials are used to make the frame?

Wood, plastic and profile pipes, metal, fiberglass are used for the frame.

Covering for greenhouses and greenhouses

The choice of covering depends on the frame of the greenhouse.

1. Glass is used in wooden structures. It is used in permanent buildings or fixed in frames from which a greenhouse is subsequently assembled. It is possible to use old window frames to build a greenhouse. Due to the complexity of installation and the fragility of the material, glass is becoming less and less popular as a coating material.
2. Greenhouse film, regular or reinforced, is used to cover all types of structures and is the cheapest material. The disadvantage of the film is its short service life.
3. The most durable coating is cellular polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is not recommended for use with PVC pipe frames. The incompatibility of the two types of plastic reduces the service life of the greenhouse to 3 years. A suitable frame option is made of galvanized profile or galvanized profile pipe.

Types of polycarbonate greenhouses

Polycarbonate greenhouses have a number of advantages.

1. Easy to install.
2. High strength.
3. Light weight.
4. Provide good light transmission.
5. They have high thermal insulation characteristics.

The disadvantage is the high cost. Building a greenhouse with your own hands will cost you less than buying a ready-made one.

Greenhouses differ in shape, design, number and arrangement of hatches.

Butterfly greenhouse. The design allows for maximum light access to plants in sunny weather.

Greenhouse-breadbox (snail) has a very convenient design.

Belgian greenhouse with a pitched roof. The roof can be raised for ventilation or folded back completely.

What to consider when installing greenhouses and greenhouses

1. Choosing a location. The greenhouse is installed with its ends from north to south at the site of maximum illumination of the site.
2. Do not assemble a plastic-lined greenhouse in cold temperatures. The optimal temperature for installation is 10-12º above zero.
3. When using a polycarbonate covering, choose an arched type of greenhouse design. This type of construction will protect the coating from damage during the winter.
4. Buy high-quality polycarbonate with a thickness of at least 4 mm. In appearance, the plastic sheet should be transparent without any inclusions.
5. For installation, use fittings designed for installing polycarbonate - thermal washers, press washers, sealing tapes, end edging profiles, glazing bead seals for sealing.
6. Install partitions in greenhouses where you plan to grow various crops. This will help avoid cross-pollination of plants.

Greenhouse made of fiberglass reinforcement.

Building a greenhouse with your own hands.

They ceased to be some kind of inconvenient and ugly structures, but became a comfortable and nice building for growing some plants, in our case, mainly vegetables and fruits, which may need warmth.

Offered to choose from a huge number of different types of greenhouses with different functions and features.

How to choose a greenhouse so that its use brings only positive emotions? Which greenhouse is better?

What types of greenhouses are there? Photo

Total exists the three most important types of greenhouses and greenhouses, which are divided according to the tasks for which they were built:

• warm greenhouses are built primarily for plants that naturally require a tropical climate or a climate similar to it in air temperature.

Typically, the temperature in such buildings exceeds 18 degrees above zero Celsius, and various measures are also taken to humidify the air, since in places with a tropical climate there is usually also high humidity, without which some plants may simply not survive. Typically, such greenhouses have some devices or mechanisms that should artificially heat the air.

Infrared lamps are especially popular: mainly due to their low electricity requirements, as well as due to the fairly low price of these products on the market;

• semi-cold greenhouse keeps the temperature at the autumn-spring level of 10-13 degrees above zero Celsius.

In buildings of this type, most of all the crops that can be grown in our country usually grow: vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Not all of them, of course, but almost all plants that are not very demanding on the ambient temperature - that’s for sure.

One of the most important positive features of this type of greenhouse is that it will be relevant all year round, as it will be able to maintain the optimal temperature for the crops grown there in absolutely any weather. Moreover, just one simple infrared lamp is enough for this. If in the previous case you could still think about the price, then here you can certainly afford one inexpensive lamp;

• the last type of greenhouse, cold, is suitable only for hardening off certain crops or growing vegetables that are definitely ready for a cold climate, for example, beets or onions.

You may be wondering why make a greenhouse in which the air temperature will be low, because you can just plant it outside.

In fact, no, in winter the soil usually freezes, and besides, in cold greenhouses there must be a fairly high temperature, above zero, but below ten degrees, so that the plants simply do not freeze along with the soil in which they were planted.

Forms

In addition to the main tasks and crops that you can grow in a particular greenhouse, these buildings divided into several types according to their shape:

• Collapsible and folding greenhouses are usually small in size. They are very suitable if you want to set up a greenhouse for a while and then take it back home.

In this case, this type of greenhouse is simply ideal for you. It is compact, so you can carry it folded or disassembled not only in your car, but even on public transport, while you will not disturb other passengers and save your nerves.

You can also note the material from which the item is made. Usually this is ultra-modern cellular polycarbonate, a material that is not only ideal in terms of price, weight and strength, but also does not interest insects at all, which will completely protect you from invasions of hordes of caterpillars and Colorado potato beetles.

There are also collapsible greenhouses with film.

You don't even have to use special means to kill insects, simply because they won't even be able to get into your seedlings.




• Stationary greenhouses are less mobile, but they are more reliable and plants can be grown in them much longer than in other types, since they do not need to be dismantled with the onset of cold weather.

Although, of course, it is worth noting that such a construction is quite more difficult to make than simply deploying a folding greenhouse, however, the effect will be much more noticeable and pleasant in terms of effectiveness.




• Round and spherical greenhouses and greenhouses are rightfully considered the most advanced in comparison with all other types of similar buildings. First of all, this type of greenhouse is reliable and durable.

The streamlined shape makes such a greenhouse resistant to various natural phenomena, such as hurricanes and strong winds in general. The only serious disadvantage is poor air circulation, which is, first of all, determined by the very shape of this building.




• Industrial greenhouses and greenhouses have already been created for more serious cultivation of certain plants and crops.

This type of greenhouse is usually the most expensive, because it is almost impossible to build it without the help of specialists: in order for it to work as efficiently as possible, too many features must be taken into account.

At the same time, it can bring a lot of benefits, especially if you are or are planning to start a business.

The possible profit from the sale of vegetables or flowers, even the most heat-loving ones, for a whole year significantly exceeds any, even the most immodest, costs of constructing a greenhouse.




Variety of greenhouses

There is also a huge number of features and details when creating greenhouses. Usually, all of them, except those listed above, do not greatly affect the quality of the building, but they can have a very good effect on its appearance and become an additional decoration for your hacienda.

However, in order to choose the correct shape, height and other parameters of the greenhouse, you should not look for advice, just think for yourself, what will be more pleasant for you to see on your site, because in this case everything is limited by your imagination.

Models available for purchase

Below are the greenhouse models that you can buy. You can read more about each model and choose the most suitable one for yourself:

1. from Basagroplast.
2. made of polycarbonate.
3. Portable greenhouse
4. - the best protection for seedlings.

To grow a decent harvest, especially in climates with sharp temperature changes, summer residents use various additional buildings on their plots. Such buildings are usually called greenhouses and greenhouses.

The greenhouse is designed for growing fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants in all seasons.

They are mainly installed in garden plots in order to protect various cultivated plants from sudden seasonal or daily changes in air temperature, to create a favorable internal microclimate to increase the productivity of fruit-bearing plants and extend the flowering period of some ornamental species. There are numerous designs and types of greenhouses that are convenient for growing various types of plants and adapted to different landscape features and the vagaries of nature.

Materials used for covering greenhouses and greenhouses

Diagram is an example of greenhouse frame dimensions.

Various materials can be used as materials for covering greenhouses and greenhouses. The choice of a specific material will depend on the design and purpose of the greenhouse or greenhouse. Design solutions are presented below. The first materials for preserving the integrity of plants and fully protecting them from the harmful effects of the environment were parts of other plants - dry leaves, which were placed on a created primitive frame of twigs. Later, glass and glazed frames began to be used to create flower and vegetable greenhouses.

As a result of the development of science and the chemical industry, polymer compounds were invented and plants in the greenhouse began to be covered with film, having previously prepared the diagrams, and then the frame itself. At the same time, textile covering material appeared. Cellular polycarbonate has become the most modern material for constructing greenhouses and even highly complex greenhouses. Its high flexibility, combined with strength and a range of useful qualities, are the best option for protecting plants and increasing productivity significantly.

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How to distinguish between a greenhouse and a greenhouse?

Scheme of a small wooden greenhouse.

Despite the strong beliefs of some amateur gardeners, a greenhouse and a greenhouse have many differences, moreover, each of them has several designs and types of structures.

The greenhouse is considered to be the most primitive plant protector from environmental influences. It does not require complex design solutions or expensive materials; even a schoolchild can quickly make it. Initially, a frame is installed: they can be thick and flexible branches or thin metal rods, inserted parallel to each other into the soil and forming a common tunnel. The length does not exceed 3 m, and the height is 1.5 m (for ease of maintenance). A covering of fabric or film is pulled over the frame. Plants in greenhouses are warmed by the sun and the process of rotting in the soil. The construction of greenhouses is usually planned for the temporary residence of plants in them. For example, they cover flowers during frosts or tomatoes during fogs and at night.

The greenhouse has a more complex design. The first difference is in size: they provide for easy maintenance of plants throughout the entire period of plant growth, that is, they must practically correspond to the height of the owner. The frame that forms the greenhouse is more solid in nature: it is made of wooden beams or metal. The greenhouse can be equipped with artificial heating, which will help ensure a constant microclimate even in the cold season. Greenhouses are practically unlimited in size; they can occupy several tens of square meters in area and several meters in height for industrial production and planned placement of equipment for irrigation and heating.

The greenhouse has all the amenities, including doors and artificial lighting if necessary.

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The main types of commonly used greenhouses and greenhouses

Scheme of types of greenhouses.

How to distinguish between a greenhouse and a greenhouse should already be clear, but they also have varieties. Each of them is divided according to the type of material that is used as a coating. In addition, greenhouses can be thoroughly arranged in one place, then they are called stationary. Or they can be easily dismantled and quickly installed in any other place at will, in which case these are portable greenhouses. Portable ones have the shape of a tunnel. Permanent greenhouses can come in a variety of shapes for ease of use, but they always use cheap, non-durable materials to cover them. An example is the butterfly greenhouse. Its height is slightly higher than the height of the plants being planted, the length and width are at the discretion of the gardener. The special feature is the opening doors. Along the entire length of the flat roof there is a dividing strip with doors opening upward on both sides.

Many more species are isolated in greenhouses, since their initial structure is more complex and the principles of classification are more diverse. Recently, it has been customary to single out the following:

1. Separately equipped greenhouse. Such a greenhouse stands separately from other buildings and structures on the site and has the general outline of a house. Usually a roof with 2 equal slopes is installed on it for ease of maintenance and symmetry of shape. This species is considered the oldest and most traditional. Typically, glass frames are used as a covering material, and an unglazed part of the foundation is also provided.
2. The greenhouse is wall-mounted and has a gable roof. Such a greenhouse allows you to save heat, since it does not have one wall, but is attached close to any solid building on the site. The roof has 2 slopes, they are symmetrical, but 1 is only half completed. Naturally, there is less light in it than in a greenhouse that stands separately from other buildings, on its own.
3. The greenhouse is wall-mounted and has 1 roof slope. Even less heat and light from the sun enters such a greenhouse than the previous one. The roof has 1 long slope, firmly connected to the wall of a solid building. They are usually installed in the southern regions on the sunny side of the site, while the greenhouse plants receive part of the heat from the heated wall of the building. It is very convenient to provide entrance doors to such a greenhouse directly from your home or cottage, which will help further reduce heat loss and simplify the process of caring for plants.
4. A Dutch-type greenhouse is very similar in design to a free-standing greenhouse. The only significant difference is the walls, which expand slightly from the roof to the foundation, which allows more heat from the sun to be concentrated inside the greenhouse.
5. A greenhouse in the form of an arch complicates the installation work of its installation, since the basis of its shape is the arc. It does not have a roof as such, but is built seamlessly with the walls using smooth transitions.
6. A polygonal greenhouse is also difficult to install and is not financially economical. Its main purpose is to decorate the garden plot. The polygonal greenhouse has the shape of a circle of broken edges and a rounded roof.
7. The domed shape of the greenhouse is an exclusively decorative element, but it is capable of collecting maximum light for flowers and will remain securely in place for a long time.
8. Mini-greenhouses will help save space on a miniature garden plot. Usually they are attached to one of the walls of a solid building, given a rectangular shape and equipped with a pitched roof. Due to the small internal space, heat quickly accumulates inside such a greenhouse; it is useful to provide ventilation holes or windows.
9. A tunnel-shaped greenhouse is very similar in shape to a primitive greenhouse, but is more solid and has a durable frame and doors. To reduce the cost, such a greenhouse is covered with film and only small fruit-bearing primitive plants are grown.