grho:greenhouses

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grho:greenhouses [2025/12/09 11:44] – Dave Darbygrho:greenhouses [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Greenhouses & polytunnels+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Greenhouses & polytunnels ======
  
  
-![Greenhouses & polytunnels](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/greenhouses1.jpg)+![Greenhouses & polytunnels](wiki:greenhouses.jpg)
  
 --- ---
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-## What are greenhouses and polytunnels?+===== What are greenhouses and polytunnels? =====
  
 Greenhouses and polytunnels are permanent or semi-permanent structures made of transparent material such as glass or plastic that protect plants from the cold and wind. They allow through the whole spectrum of sunlight, but trap the (infra-red) radiation that is reflected from the earth or plants (plus the warmed air is prevented from mixing with cooler air from above), which causes temperatures to rise. Carbon dioxide also allows sunlight through, but traps reflected infra-red radiation from the earth - which is why it's called a '[greenhouse gas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas)'. Greenhouses and polytunnels are permanent or semi-permanent structures made of transparent material such as glass or plastic that protect plants from the cold and wind. They allow through the whole spectrum of sunlight, but trap the (infra-red) radiation that is reflected from the earth or plants (plus the warmed air is prevented from mixing with cooler air from above), which causes temperatures to rise. Carbon dioxide also allows sunlight through, but traps reflected infra-red radiation from the earth - which is why it's called a '[greenhouse gas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas)'.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Greenhouses are a common sight in UK gardens; this one is typical - aluminium frame, glass, sliding door, roof ventilation, staging.+_Greenhouses are a common sight in UK gardens; this one is typical - aluminium frame, glass, sliding door, roof ventilation, staging._
  
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-Cold frames made from old windows. They can be propped open further and further until the seedlings are hardened off enough to plant outside. Image: [**Appropedia**](https://www.appropedia.org/)**,** [**CC-BY-SA**](https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights)+_Cold frames made from old windows. They can be propped open further and further until the seedlings are hardened off enough to plant outside. Image: [**Appropedia**](https://www.appropedia.org/)**,** [**CC-BY-SA**](https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights)_
  
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-No tomatoes you can buy will beat the taste of home-grown tomatoes from your greenhouse or polytunnel.+_No tomatoes you can buy will beat the taste of home-grown tomatoes from your greenhouse or polytunnel._
  
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-## What are the benefits of greenhouses and polytunnels?+===== What are the benefits of greenhouses and polytunnels? =====
  
 Greenhouses and polytunnels create better growing conditions for plants, providing the following benefits: Greenhouses and polytunnels create better growing conditions for plants, providing the following benefits:
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 <caption> <caption>
-A polytunnel on a smallholding in Wales; polytunnels are cheaper than large greenhouses, and so are perfect for smallholdings or market gardens.+_A polytunnel on a smallholding in Wales; polytunnels are cheaper than large greenhouses, and so are perfect for smallholdings or market gardens._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Start small: it’s cheap and easy to build your own small structure to get started, and it can be fun to use your creative and practical skills to make something from scratch (from recycled materials). A few poles (old tent-poles will do, or bamboo poles tied together to make an A-frame) and some plastic sheeting is all you need for a miniature polytunnel. You can also get cheap kits from garden centres. Remember that you'll need to water regularly, as the plants won't be getting any rain, and that may involve lifting the structure off - but, if you find that your yields increase, you could up-scale to larger structures in subsequent seasons. Start small: it’s cheap and easy to build your own small structure to get started, and it can be fun to use your creative and practical skills to make something from scratch (from recycled materials). A few poles (old tent-poles will do, or bamboo poles tied together to make an A-frame) and some plastic sheeting is all you need for a miniature polytunnel. You can also get cheap kits from garden centres. Remember that you'll need to water regularly, as the plants won't be getting any rain, and that may involve lifting the structure off - but, if you find that your yields increase, you could up-scale to larger structures in subsequent seasons.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Self-built, lean-to greenhouse with lime-rendered, straw-bale shed and lower walls.+_Self-built, lean-to greenhouse with lime-rendered, straw-bale shed and lower walls._
  
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-'Pop-up' plastic greenhouse can be a (relatively) cheap temporary option.+_'Pop-up' plastic greenhouse can be a (relatively) cheap temporary option._
  
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-How about this self-built greenhouse from hundreds of recycled plastic bottles?+_How about this self-built greenhouse from hundreds of recycled plastic bottles?_
  
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 <caption> <caption>
-Propagating [**seeds**](/seed/seed_saving) in trays in a greenhouse in the early spring, before transferring to a cold frame, then planting outside.+_Propagating [**seeds**](/seed/seed_saving) in trays in a greenhouse in the early spring, before transferring to a cold frame, then planting outside._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-[Geodesic dome](/geod/geodesic_domes) greenhouses tend to lose less heat at night because they have the minimum of surface area for the internal volume of air.+_[Geodesic dome](/geod/geodesic_domes) greenhouses tend to lose less heat at night because they have the minimum of surface area for the internal volume of air._
  
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-You can find more detailed advice about greenhouses & polytunnels in books or online (see resources) - and here are [month-by-month guides](/grho/greenhouses) to what to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse.+You can find more detailed advice about greenhouses & polytunnels in books or online (see resources) - and here are [month-by-month guides](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/greenhouses-polytunnels/further-info) to what to sow, plant and harvest in your polytunnel or greenhouse.
  
 +===== Forum =====
  
-## Further resources+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
  
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 +- [How to build a greenhouse](https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-build-a-greenhouse/)
 +- [Second Hand Greenhouse – Buying, Dismantling and Re-building](https://www.allotment-garden.org/greenhouse-growing/second-hand-greenhouse-buying-dismantling-and-re-building-a-greenhouse/)
 +- [Month-by-month guide to greenhouse planting, growing & harvesting](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/plants/greenhouses-polytunnels/further-info/)
 +- [Low-cost geodesic dome greenhouse kit](https://geo-dome.co.uk/article.asp?uname=geo_polydome)
 +- [Greenhouse Growing](https://www.greenhousegrowing.co.uk/)
 +- [Free DIY greenhouse plans](https://morningchores.com/greenhouse-plans/)
 +- [Why buy a polytunnel?](https://self-sufficient.co.uk/Why-Buy-a-Polytunnel.htm)
 +- [Make your own DIY polytunnel](https://self-sufficient.co.uk/Make-Your-Own-DIY-Polytunnel.htm) 
  
-## Specialists+ 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Composting](cpst:composting) 
 +- [Herbs](herb:herbs) 
 +- [Hydroponics](hydp:hydroponics) 
 +- [Smallholding](smho:smallholding) 
 +- [Soft fruit](soft:soft_fruit) 
 +- [Urban / small-space gardening](urbs:small-space_gardening) 
 +- [Vegetable growing](vegg:vegetable_growing) 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • grho/greenhouses.1765280665.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/09 11:44
  • by Dave Darby