Almost all gardeners are sure that the harvest is not laid in the summer, when the plants are already planted in permanent places and are blooming and growing with might and main, but long before that - even in early spring, when seedlings are just being grown. In order to provide the family with tasty and healthy products from their own plot, many resort to the help of greenhouses, which allow both growing early and strong seedlings and extending the growing season of adult plants.
Requirements for home mini-greenhouses for seedlings
But whatever the greenhouse, it must:
- Create comfortable conditions for seedlings, provide an optimal microclimate, temperature, humidity, nutrition, and;
- Give easy access to plants for care and weeding;
- Worthy to look and fit into the surrounding interior or landscape;
- Be durable and able to withstand more than one cycle of growing plants.
However, this means that it will be necessary to build a capital structure made of brick, glass or the now popular polycarbonate, which requires large material and physical costs. But in many areas, a small, easily erected structure from available materials will suffice.
Mini-greenhouse for seedlings with a frame made of pipes
If a lot of seedlings are required, then you can build a greenhouse consisting of a wooden frame for the garden itself and plastic pipes from which the upper part of the structure is made. The greenhouse is covered with a film, which will protect the plantings from cold, precipitation and wind, but let in a sufficient amount of light.
The photo of a mini-greenhouse for seedlings shows the entire process of its creation from the stage of marking the site, installing a wooden frame to the finished structure.
To prevent the film from letting in cold air, it is attached to the frame using double-sided tape or rails and wallpaper nails. The dimensions of the greenhouse can be completely different, but you should not make it longer than three meters.
The construction of a mini-greenhouse for seedlings with your own hands begins with clearing and leveling the place where the structure will be installed, and the site is covered with mesh, film or agrofibre.
Inside the contour, a drainage layer is necessarily made, after which the ridge is covered with fertile soil. This will make it possible to use large greenhouses in summer for planting cucumbers, tomatoes or other crops that require shelter. And the film can later be replaced or supplemented with a net so that climbing plants receive support.
There are several options for the upper, film part. These can be opening covers of various designs or a folding canopy made of film. Square mini greenhouses for seedlings are made by crossing two plastic arcs, while long structures require a number of such arcs.
If plastic pipes are not available, the arcs can be made from strong steel wire. True, such a frame should be more frequent than plastic.
Film mini-greenhouse for seedlings
The simplest greenhouse without additional heating can be made from frames knocked down from wooden beams and covered with a dense film or sheet plastic. In order for the air heating to be sufficient, it is necessary to position the structure from east to west and it is desirable to make a gable roof.
To install the greenhouse, you need to determine the size and prepare the materials:
- Timber of different sections for the frame and frame;
- wood preservative,
- wallpaper and ordinary nails,
- loops for attaching the frame to the frame;
- film or thin sheet plastic.
The advantages of such a greenhouse:
- Low construction cost;
- Early planting of plants in the greenhouse;
- Convenient storage and durability;
- Quick installation and replacement of the film if necessary;
- Replenishment of soil moisture after the snow melts.
Sowing in a film greenhouse can be started already in the first decade of April, but if the walls are insulated with straw briquettes or other material and glazed frames are used, then plants can be planted in March.
Greenhouse near the wall of the house
A greenhouse attached to the sunny side of a house or other building will be reliably protected from the wind and will receive the maximum amount of light, and hence heat.
The frame of the structure, as well as its coating, can be any. And on the main wall, you can strengthen additional racks, which will not be superfluous when growing seedlings in a mini-greenhouse.
Greenhouses for seedlings from plastic bottles
If enough plastic bottles are left after a hot summer, they can be used as building material for an original mini greenhouse for seedlings. Moreover, the bottles can be cut, as shown in the photo, or you can assemble walls from whole vessels.
Greenhouses from window frames
Old glazed frames can get a second, and very worthy, life if they are included in the design of mini-greenhouses for seedlings, which can be of different shapes and designs. And with some imagination, they will serve as a decoration for a garden or balcony.
Miniature greenhouses for seedlings
Gardeners for seedlings occupy any free piece of space, so it’s no secret to anyone that even in houses, such enthusiasts often have everything lined with boxes and bowls with plants.
Quite miniature designs will help to save space and streamline the green economy. These can be ready-made mini-greenhouses, high-tech models with special electric heating and automatic watering, but you can not spend money on such innovations, but make a similar design yourself right here, at home.
How to make a mini-greenhouse from improvised means?
The easiest way for such a greenhouse is to use any plastic containers in which cakes and semi-finished products are sold today, egg packaging with a transparent plastic lid is also well suited.
As an insert in a mini greenhouse for seedlings, peat tablets and cardboard egg cells filled with nutrient soil, cut to the size of the container, can serve.
If the egg tray is plastic, then small holes should be made in the bottom to drain excess moisture before filling it with soil.
Peat tablets can also be replaced by empty shells, toilet paper rolls, or impromptu cups from an ordinary newspaper, inserted into the cells, as in the photo. These natural containers, as the plant grows and the root system is formed, are destroyed and do not leave traces in the soil.
Mini greenhouses from plastic bottles
There are many ways to use plastic bottles, and from large containers you can build greenhouses for several seedlings.
The best option for such a mini greenhouse for seedlings is a transparent vessel, which is cut as shown in the figure, filled with drainage mixture and soil, and where the seeds are planted. In order not to stagnate moisture, holes should be made in each bottle on the bottom to provide such a greenhouse with a pallet.
Mini greenhouse from a barrel
A mini greenhouse for seedlings, but of a large volume, will be obtained from a plastic barrel if side slots are made in it that do not affect the stiffeners. The curtain is cut out of a dense film and fastened with double-sided tape or with the help of furniture brackets, and lighting on phyto-lamps can be brought into the greenhouse through the drain hole.
Garden on the balcony
If the window sills do not accommodate all the containers with seedlings, then the balcony area can also be used to equip the greenhouse. There are many designs and options for such a structure, and on the net you can find original photos of mini-greenhouses for seedlings even from a suitcase and from boxes from lost or unnecessary disks.
On the balcony, mini-greenhouses made in the form of whatnots with film covers or glass-fronted display cabinets will be appropriate. A small shabby chic greenhouse made from old window frames will even decorate the interior of a balcony or veranda.
However, it should be remembered that plants do not have enough light either to the room or on the balcony in winter or spring, so it is imperative to equip greenhouse lighting here so that the seedlings have at least 12 - 14 hours of daylight. For growing seedlings in a mini-greenhouse, special non-burning or fluorescent lamps are best suited. And so that the plants do not get burned when the sun appears, it is more correct to provide protective blinds in advance.
Video: homemade mini-greenhouse from arcs
Growing seedlings is a complex of complex agrotechnical measures, each of which is equally important. In this article, we will consider only one factor - the creation of an optimal microclimate. For growing seedlings outdoors, it is advisable to use mini-greenhouses.
What are their advantages?
- Versatility of use. In such designs, it is possible to maintain the parameters of humidity and temperature for all types of plants.
- Mobility. Mini-greenhouses can be transferred annually to other places, taking into account the characteristics of seedlings and the availability of free space on the site.
- Low cost. For construction, both purchased and any materials at hand, the remains of pipes and metal, the field of installation of complex engineering systems, used structures, etc. are used.
- Minimum loss of time. The simplest construction can be done in an hour, for more complex reusable ones it will take no more than one day.
In the article we will consider several options for the manufacture of greenhouses using various materials and technologies. This information will allow summer residents to choose the best option for themselves, realistically assess their capabilities and coordinate them with their needs.
The most affordable option for manufacturing, there are always several boards at their summer cottage. How to do it?
Step 1. Consider the size and specific location. For a mini-greenhouse, a length of 2 m and a width of 1 m are sufficient. The height is selected taking into account the width of the boards.
Practical advice. There are options for making inclined mini-greenhouses, in this way a stack of water is provided. We do not recommend doing this for several reasons. Firstly, rainwater will never harm the seedlings, let it fall into the greenhouse and natural watering is carried out. Secondly, one high side obscures the plants, and this does not benefit them. Plants in the shade grow weak, the stems are too elongated and thin. Thirdly, such a design is more difficult to manufacture. Why worsen the conditions for growing seedlings with your own hands?
Step 2 Box assembly. Cut two boards 2 m long and two 1 m long, trim the ends under the square. There are two ways to assemble the box: end-to-end or using bars. The second method is preferable, thin boards may crack when assembling end-to-end. To avoid such consequences, we recommend pre-drilling holes, the diameter of the hole is 0.5–1.0 mm smaller than the diameter of the hardware. True, in this case it is desirable to use self-tapping screws, the pressing force with ordinary nails may be insufficient. If the greenhouse is stationary, there are no problems, but if it is planned to be moved to a new place, then the structure may collapse.
Practical advice. We recommend to strengthen the box, this will significantly increase the time of using the mini-greenhouse. Reinforcement should be done with isosceles right triangles, the length of the side at the top is about 10 cm. Prepare 4 of these elements and fix them in all corners. It is better to install the squares from above, so they will not succumb to the processes of decay.
Step 3 Now you need to choose the option of covering the mini-greenhouse: using glazed window frames or ordinary plastic wrap. For mini-greenhouses for a long period of use, we recommend making glazed frames, they are stronger and more reliable, it is more convenient to use such devices.
How to make them?
- For a length of 2 meters, three frames with perimeter dimensions of 100 × 66 cm are sufficient. Frames can be made from a bar of approximately 50 × 50 mm.
- Cut the bars to size, you will need 6 pieces for three frames. 1 m long and 6 pcs. 66 cm long. Make a chamfer under the glass on one side. Chamfer sizes up to 5 mm in depth and width.
- It is better to assemble the frame using metal furniture corners, it is simple, easy and fast. The corners are fixed with self-tapping screws or nails 20–25 mm long.
- Take measurements under the glass, cut it out and install it in place. To increase the reliability of fastening, you can use glazing beads.
- From the inside, along the perimeter of the box, nail small slats, frames will lie on them. There is a second option - to increase the size by a few centimeters more than the width of the box, then the window frames will rest against the sides.
This is where you can finish making a mini-greenhouse, install it in place, prepare the soil and plant seeds for seedlings. But we will consider a few more options for lumber greenhouses.
First option. Hang window frames on hinges. This will make opening/closing them a little easier. In the open position, the structures rest on special stops. The disadvantage is that some of the seedlings will not receive enough full spectrum sunlight. Glass does not transmit ultraviolet rays, namely, they have a negative effect on pathogens.
Practical advice. Do not install cheap furniture piano hinges, they are non-separable. During the transfer of a mini-greenhouse, the windows cannot be removed, which greatly complicates the process of transporting the structure.
Second option. There are options for covering a mini-greenhouse with plastic wrap. To do this, you need to make a supporting frame from the rails, stretch the film on both sides, and press it around the perimeter with any heavy objects. For convenience, it is better to sprinkle one side with earth, and press the other.
The simplest mini-greenhouses made of lumber
You will need slats or narrow boards, the number depends on the size of the greenhouse. The slats are connected at an angle at the top with two nails or self-tapping screws. After making the first element, you need to check its dimensions in the garden, if everything is fine, then you can do all the rest. The first element should be used as a template, so it will be possible to achieve the same size of all parts. The lower ends should be pointed to facilitate driving into the ground. To increase the stability of the mini-greenhouse, it is recommended to tie all the elements with wooden blocks on both sides. The structure is covered with plastic wrap, pressed around the perimeter with heavy objects.
A good option, quickly done, creates normal conditions for the development of seedlings. The bars should have a diameter of 6-8 mm, the length is chosen depending on the width of the structure. Height within 50 cm. Such devices are covered only with a film. The problem is to eliminate the sagging of the film. This can be done using several methods.
- The distance between the arcs is not more than 50 cm.
- After all the arcs are stuck into the ground, several lines of rope or wire are stretched between them, on which the film will lie.
Metal arcs can be bent on a specially prepared template or using any round object of a suitable diameter. During bending, it should be remembered that after the load is removed, the bars will straighten slightly.
The bending template is made on a flat surface of suitable dimensions. On it you need to draw a semicircle with a diameter slightly smaller than the desired width of the mini-greenhouse. After the load is removed, the bars will unbend a little, the width of the mini-greenhouse will increase.
Nails are driven in along the drawn arc at the insistence of 4–5 centimeters. In the center and along the edges, you need to drive in another nail, the distance between them and the arc is slightly larger than the diameter of the metal bar. The workpiece will rest against them during bending. For the manufacture of arcs, you will need some practical experience, it is advisable to first practice on unnecessary segments.
Mini greenhouses made of plastic pipes
For manufacturing, plastic pipes with a diameter of up to three quarters of an inch are suitable. Estimating the length and number of arcs is not a problem, difficulties can arise during bending. How to bend them?
Plastic is a very elastic material, it is quite difficult to bend it, it always returns to its original state. If you try to bend too sharply, the pipe will definitely crack. During the manufacture of arcs, the main task is to remove residual forces, it is they that return the pipe to its primary rectilinear state. To eliminate stress, the plastic must be heated to a temperature of + 100–120 ° C.
Step 1. Prepare a template. Drive a few nails into a wide board along the desired arc; to prevent straightening of the pipe after removing the force, additional persistent nails must be driven in along the edges.
Step 2. Insert a piece of pipe of the required length into the template and bend it in the template.
Step 3 Heat up the plastic. This can be done with a building industrial hair dryer or boiling water. You need to work with a hair dryer carefully, to avoid the situation so that the plastic begins to melt. The job, of course, requires experience. It is easier with boiling water, but it does not allow heating the pipe to the required temperatures, it will level out quite strongly after being removed from the template.
Step 4 After heating, the arc must cool completely in the template. Take it out and check the effect. If necessary, you can repeat the heating of the material and again hold it in the template until it cools completely.
To make plastic pipes easier to enter the ground, the ends should be cut at an angle. You can use a hacksaw or a circular grinder with a metal cutting disc.
To increase the stability of mini-greenhouses made of plastic or metal arcs, it is necessary to install inclined supports on both sides. For these purposes, any pieces of metal or lumber are used.
Use of modern materials
Recently, very practical covering nonwovens have appeared in the implementation. With their help, you can grow seedlings directly on the beds without the need to manufacture special structures. Non-woven materials are very light and do not interfere with the growth of seedlings. In addition, they allow sunlight and water to pass through - there is no need for additional care. At the same time, non-woven materials are able to protect plants from night frosts down to -5°C, which is quite enough for most climatic zones of our country.
It is not economically feasible to make mini-greenhouses from polycarbonate. This is too expensive material to use only a few weeks a year. If you do not pay attention to the final cost of self-grown seedlings, then it is much more profitable to buy it in the markets or in specialized stores. Of course, except for those cases when work on the plot is carried out solely for moral pleasure.
Various crops are grown in suburban areas, each of them has its own requirements for growing seedlings. In this regard, it is much more practical to make several mini-greenhouses for plants, rather than increase the size of one and try to grow seedlings of various crops in it.
The industry produces many types of polyethylene film: reinforced, resistant to hard ultraviolet radiation, with increased physical strength. In addition, there is a wide choice of thickness and width. When purchasing a covering material, these characteristics must be taken into account and compared with your requirements. It makes no sense to buy expensive film for seasonal mini-greenhouses; the cheapest one is quite suitable for such purposes.
To speed up the growth of seedlings in a mini-greenhouse, two methods can be used: use organic waste and manure as a heat source or warm the soil in advance. We advise you to use the second option, it is much easier, and the results are in no way inferior to the first. To speed up the warming up of the soil in early spring, you need to sprinkle snow in a mini-greenhouse with ash or peat. Black color absorbs the maximum amount of sunlight, heats up quickly and significantly increases the temperature of the soil. At the same time, ash and peat serve as fertilizer for seedlings.
Video - Assembling a mini-greenhouse for seedlings
To grow good seedlings with your own hands, you must have a home greenhouse. To date, a wide range of products of this plan is on sale. The designs of these structures are very different, as well as the sizes. You can buy a greenhouse at any specialized gardening store. Despite the large selection of greenhouses, many summer residents order these structures according to their preferences or make them with their own hands.
Making a greenhouse for seedlings with your own hands is a simple task. Simple greenhouses are generally made using metal or steel arcs with pointed tips (rebar or metal strip) and plastic film. They are set in a straight line. The number of arcs is limited by the size of the greenhouse.
The most optimal is the use of about 10 such arcs. The height of one arc from the soil surface should be no more than 1.2 m, and the width no more than 1.5 m. They are placed at a distance of 1-1.8 m from each other. Such parameters will facilitate convenient access to cultivated plants and seedlings, and this will also make it easy to maintain (water, weed, plant seeds for seedlings for germination, prepare sprouts for planting in open ground).
Seedling preparation begins approximately at the beginning of spring (March). For some crops (flowers, cucumbers, cabbage), these dates fall in February.
By its definition, a greenhouse for seedlings is a structure or structure, with a certain microclimate inside, which is intended for the rapid development and growth of young shoots.
To make a greenhouse for seedlings with your own hands, you need to decide what kind of design it will be. The place for this should be sunny. This is the only way to ensure the effectiveness of the rapid growth of future shoots.
As a material, in addition to metal arcs, wood (timber, boards, beams, window frames) and metal (thick reinforcement, profile or round pipe, wire up to 10 mm thick, metal strip) are also used.
If a greenhouse is made for seedlings of early crops, they need a source of heat. For these purposes, it is most effective to use infrared heaters, heaters, thermal cables or film heating panels. The simplest, but not the most effective, is a barrel or canister of hot water.
How to make a homemade greenhouse for seedlings with your own hands?
Do-it-yourself construction of a greenhouse does not take much time, but it requires certain skills and attention from the owner. Initially, you should read the detailed instructions, which can be found in a large number of information sources.
If we talk about the simplest greenhouses, they can be created without problems right now. These include:
Stationary mini-greenhouse in the form of a box with a window as a screen . This type of structure for the development of seedlings is made in two constructive solutions: brickwork or wood.
In order to make a greenhouse for seedlings of bricks, you need to choose a place and go deep by about 40-50 cm into the soil. The bottom of the formed hole must be compacted, covered with a thin layer of compost and covered with earth (the total layer should be no more than 15 cm). Then the mortar is mixed and brickwork is carried out along the perimeter of the opening. The greenhouse must be oriented in the direction of the sun's rays, so its upper part must be made with a slope of 45 0. When the masonry is completed, a window frame with an opening window is installed on the top of the slope. The final stage of the building will be the installation of a support for the window.
In the case of the wooden version, it is not necessary to knead the solution. Making a mini greenhouse for seedlings according to this principle is considered much easier. To do this, it is necessary to prepare wooden material of appropriate dimensions (the thickness of the boards must be at least 3 cm). It is best to immediately prepare everything you need, then the assembly of the frame and the very foundation of the future greenhouse will be carried out quickly. Wood screws or simple, ordinary nails are used as fasteners.
It should be noted that when using screws, the structure will be much stronger.
You need to assemble the frame in sections. As a result, they should get 4 units. The front wall is made slightly lower than the back, which should create an angle of inclination of up to 45 degrees. The side walls are adjusted according to the angle. When the box is ready, it is placed in the created opening in the ground of the appropriate size.
The base of the window frame is attached to the upper part of the frame (rear wall), and the support is strengthened to the front wall. It is most effective to orient the entire structure to the south. At the same time, growing seedlings in a greenhouse will be more efficient.
Frame greenhouse . It is also called tunnel for the way it is placed almost underground. It is intended for growing seedlings of plants that are difficult to tolerate cold and frost.
It is created by digging a hole with a depth of 0.5 to 1.8 m and installing a wooden frame. The length and width of the greenhouse is selected individually, depending on the number of seedlings, but not more than 2x2m. The structure must have a gable roof.
The main supporting columns are installed at the corners, additional ones - every meter. They must sink into the soil by at least 50 cm. When the supports are installed, you need to tie them with jumpers. The top lintels are made of wooden beams. The whole structure rises above the ground by only 10 cm.
The basis for the future frame micro-greenhouse for seedlings is ready. Now you need to create a litter layer that will act as a heat insulator. To do this, it is necessary to sprinkle up to 5-8 cm of fine gravel and the same amount of sand on the bottom, but not mixed, but in layers (crushed stone-sand). The third layer should be a ball of compost, straw or humus. An excellent natural biological feed when growing seedlings in a greenhouse is manure. Therefore, the fourth layer will be cow dung. The fifth layer is filled with earth in a ball up to 5-8 cm.
Next, you should mount the gable type roof. For this, beams and a central beam are taken, which is attached in the center. Side beams leave it, connecting the ends of the frame. The final step will be the installation of window covers with double glass, wooden frames with two-layer film or metal frames with polycarbonate.
Frameless greenhouse
. Perhaps this type of mini-greenhouse for seedlings is the simplest and easiest. To create it, you only need to purchase a metal mesh with a cell of 5x5 cm or 10x10 cm and go deep 10 cm into the ground. The mesh is spread on the prepared area in such a way that its edges protrude 15 cm beyond the edges of the dug opening. Then a dense film is laid on top of the mesh, the edges of which are pressed with soil, wooden beams or boards.< 
When the seedlings grow up, it is necessary to raise the entire structure up above the soil surface. This can be done by installing stones or wooden blocks of the same size around the mini greenhouse.
An innovative solution in creating a mini-greenhouse for seedlings
Gardening keeps pace with technological progress, as a result of which successful decisions are made that are aimed at simplifying and improving the quality of growing seedlings. This idea was the creation of small greenhouses using a metal frame and polycarbonate.
Polycarbonate is a synthetic material that is produced using the extrusion method. Simply put, it is a high-strength plastic that is used in the construction of modern greenhouses. It is much lighter behind the glass and more practical to use. 
To make a mini-greenhouse for seedlings of this type, you need to prepare the material, have special skills and design thinking.
The main advantages of polycarbonate are:
- Resistant to heavy rainfall. Thanks to its arc shape, it can withstand heavy loads of snow, rain and even minor hail.
- Heat resistance. The created microclimate inside will be kept at the right level without significant loss of heat and moisture.
- Ease of work. If polycarbonate has been damaged due to mechanical impact, it can be easily replaced with a new one.
- Availability. Today, polycarbonate is an inexpensive material option, so almost every summer resident can afford to buy it.
Whatever the mini-greenhouse for growing seedlings is, it will perform its functions if you follow all the rules for its installation and creation. A self-made greenhouse will bring double pleasure when using it.
Growing seedlings is a troublesome and rather laborious process. It is very important to provide her with the right microclimate, the necessary conditions for growth and development. At the same time, everyone wants the plants to develop as quickly as possible, and the wind and cold do not threaten them. It is for growing seedlings that summer residents use a mini-greenhouse. It comes in different types and will help provide care for seedlings both at home and in the garden.
Every gardener needs a mini-greenhouse, and why is not difficult to guess.
The main functions and advantages of this facility:
- protects seedlings from negative influences, including drafts in the apartment (if the panic is home), rain and wind on the street;
- does not block sunlight, but provides the correct microclimate for seedlings (the desired level of humidity, temperature);
- allows you to carefully harden seedlings;
- does not interfere with plant care procedures;
- It has a low cost, it is installed in almost a few minutes.
On a note! By the way, many build mini-greenhouses even on the balcony, and not just on the garden plot.
The principle of operation of a greenhouse is easy to understand - it provides plants with heat due to the fact that it covers them from all sides from wind and draft and is installed in a well-lit place. The warm air accumulated under the film is not carried away by air currents in an unknown direction, and therefore the temperature in the greenhouse is much higher than in open space. This is very important for plants that like warmth and cannot stand excessive coolness. And the structure that is small in size will warm up faster and better - the mini-greenhouse fully meets all these criteria.
What is recommended to grow in mini-greenhouses? First of all, this, as already mentioned, is seedlings of various horticultural crops that need warmth and care. As a rule, containers with seeds for germination are placed in home greenhouses that are built on windowsills. Peppers, some types of flowers respond very well to the use of a mini-greenhouse. In the spring, plants can be moved to an outdoor mini-greenhouse for hardening. Thanks to the use of these structures for germination and seedling cultivation, crops will begin to bear fruit earlier than usual.
GrowBox - greenhouse for home
On a note! A home mini-greenhouse is, in fact, a structure that performs almost the same functions as a regular film stretched over boxes with future seedlings. However, work in it is much easier and more convenient.
By the way, another advantage of using garden mini-greenhouses is that their miniature size allows you to install them in a small garden area. However, when the seedlings grow up, they will have to be relocated to a greenhouse or open ground. But a mini-sized greenhouse will not be empty - you can plant other crops in it that do not require large spaces for growth and development.
Ordinary radish per season can produce 3 or more batches of crops, since in a mini-greenhouse you can start planting it very early, and finish growing much later.
In early spring or late autumn, onions, dill and other greens will feel great in the greenhouse, which will decorate your table and add vitamins to culinary dishes. In a small greenhouse, you can even grow, which will bear fruit throughout the summer.
A mini-greenhouse will also help in rooting some types of plants. For example, it has all the conditions for giving roots in the country and taking root cuttings of raspberries, currants, roses.
On a note! In order to root shrub plants in the garden, it is best to make a separate mini-greenhouse, since this process is far from fast and lasts about a year, and a greenhouse may be needed for new seedlings.
Types of mini-greenhouses
Such greenhouses can be of various types, shapes and sizes - from very tiny, domestic, to quite spacious, outdoor. Consider the main types of these structures.
Table. Types of mini-greenhouses.
| Construction type | Description |
|---|---|
| It has a small size, can even fit on the windowsill. Seedlings begin to be grown in the first days of spring, or even in winter - it all depends on the growth rate of a particular type of crop. To reduce the development time of plants, and the seeds germinated and grew faster, such greenhouses are often used. Roughly speaking, these can be exact copies of street, familiar to us greenhouses with arcs and film, even multi-storey ones, or they can just be film shelters - it all depends on your wishes. You can make such a mini-greenhouse yourself or buy it ready-made in the store. |
| It consists of several small arcs installed in a row, covered with a film or agrofibre. In principle, it is no different from a regular-sized greenhouse, with the exception of very small dimensions. You can install in any lighted place. |
| It is a small box that does not have a bottom, but has a lid covered with glass, film. This type of greenhouse is easy to move and install on any bed. It is usually used to protect plants planted in open ground during unexpected frosts. Not bad for rooting cuttings of various fruit and berry and flowering crops. |
| This is a greenhouse installed in a trench dug on the site. Its "sides" are made with the help of strapping, a fertile bed is arranged in it, and on top of this whole structure is closed with a lid made of polycarbonate and film. The soil itself serves as a heat-insulating material, in addition, it is possible to equip the greenhouse with additional heating using biofuels, which we will discuss later. Often such a greenhouse is made single-sided. |
| This is an outdoor type of mini-greenhouse, which differs in the way it opens. It has two wings, which, when open, resemble the wings of a butterfly. In fact, such a design can have absolutely any size, but is usually small. |
| This type of greenhouse can also be quite large. The name "bread box" was born because of the special way of opening the structure, which really looks like a full-fledged bread box. The structure provides convenient access to plants and makes their care pleasant and easy. |
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Description and characteristics of materials
Before we start studying the instructions for creating the simplest mini-greenhouses, we will deal with the basic materials from which they are built. Each of them has certain pros and cons.
What can the frame of an arched greenhouse be made of? The easiest option is plastic or metal arcs, someone even manages to make greenhouses from wooden arcs. If we compare these materials, we will immediately understand that metal will last much longer than wood, since it does not rot. However, it is prone to corrosion in high humidity conditions. To slow down both processes, the wood is treated with special protective agents, and the metal must be painted.
On a note! Unlike a greenhouse, when installing a mini-greenhouse made of metal, you do not need a welding machine. Metal rods can simply be bent and stuck into the ground.
Plastic arcs are good because they are not afraid of either rot or corrosion. But it is a more fragile material than wood and metal, and breaks easily with the slightest effort. But also the cheapest.
By the way, a greenhouse box is usually made of wood, especially if it is a portable greenhouse or a "butterfly". But still make the “snail” out of metal - it’s easier and more convenient.
To cover the structure, you can use:
- polycarbonate;
- agrofibre;
- polyethylene;
- glass.
Polyethylene film is the simplest version of a covering material. It is easy to fix on any frame, and it is inexpensive. However, it quickly breaks and - even if it is removed for the winter - becomes unusable in 2-3 seasons. But on the other hand, in apartment conditions, greenhouses are closed with a film.
Agrofibre is a very good material that transmits enough light and provides plants with a favorable microclimate. This is a fairly dense, but porous material that allows moisture to pass through, but does not release heat. It can be washed, and agrofibre serves with careful storage for many years. It costs more than polyethylene.
- a material that has long been known to all gardeners for its positive properties. It is quite strong, light, easy to work with. They can cover both a small greenhouse and a huge greenhouse.
- good, but still not the best option for a greenhouse. The fragility and complexity of working with glass significantly limit the possibilities of its use. It is unlikely that gardeners will suffer with this material for the sake of a small greenhouse - except to cover the greenhouse.
Advice! We recommend using film, agrofibre or polycarbonate for mini-greenhouse equipment (depending on the type of product). So, for “bread boxes”, “butterflies”, buy polycarbonate, for outdoor greenhouses, agrofibre is better, and for home indoors - film.
Prices for cellular polycarbonate
cellular polycarbonate
Heating a mini-greenhouse with biofuel
Biofuel will help to insulate the greenhouse and provide it with additional heat. Its role is perfectly performed by manure, straw, old leaves. To equip such a heated greenhouse in the country is quite simple.
Step 1. In the place where the greenhouse will be equipped, make a small hole or trench in the shape of the future structure.
Step 2 Fill the hole about 2/3 full with biofuel mixture. To do this, mix leaves, straw, manure with soil.
Step 3 Spill the "bed" with water and cover with fertile soil, filling the trench to the brim.
Attention! The soil layer must be thick enough for planting horticultural crops into it.
Step 4 Put a greenhouse on top of the structure.
Due to the decomposition processes, the biofuel will heat up and give off heat more actively, and the greenhouse will accumulate it. This is how the natural heating system will operate in any greenhouse.
So that the greenhouse is not blown away by a strong gust of wind, and the whole structure is sufficiently rigid and stable, it is necessary to make a foundation. This will take quite a bit of time and will allow, if necessary, to easily transfer the greenhouse to a new location. More details.
We make mini-greenhouses of different types
Depending on the type of construction, greenhouses can be made in various ways. Let's consider some of them. Let's start with the simplest option - a frameless greenhouse. This is just covering the ridge with seeds planted in them and covered with plastic wrap or agrofibre. Just cover the ground with material and press it down along the edges with bricks or stones, protecting it from blowing winds. And this simple structure will already be considered a greenhouse.
You can also make a tunnel or arched frame greenhouse yourself.
Step 1. Purchase or make yourself several arches of the same size (usually they choose arcs made of metal or plastic). You will also need polyethylene, wire and clamps.
Step 2 Set the poles about 40 cm apart by simply digging or pushing the ends into the ground 30 cm.
Step 3 Using a wire, a wooden slat, connect the arcs to each other at the top point. This will give the structure stability.
Step 4 Cover the resulting structure with a film and secure it on one side with plastic clamps or wire. On the other side of the film, fasten a wooden lath with clamps or wire - the latter will help to roll the material while opening the structure.
Step 5 The ends can be closed separately with pieces of film, or you can simply take a film of greater width and, while closing the greenhouse, lower its sides onto the ends.
Step 6 Fix on the film with stones or bricks.
This is one of the simplest options for a mini-sized greenhouse. But there are others.
You can also make a small portable greenhouse. To do this, you will need lumber, screws, glass or polycarbonate, awnings and a handle.
Step 1. Put together a small frame without a bottom, resembling a beveled box.
Step 2 Put together a wooden frame from thin bars - this will be the basis of a transparent cover.
Step 3 Insert a sheet of glass or polycarbonate into the frame.
An alternative option is to use old window frames.
Step 4 Attach the frame to the awnings on one side of the box (higher side).
Step 5 From the bar, make a support for the frame. It is also possible to provide the frame with a hook for closing. The mini greenhouse is ready.
On a note! By spending a little more time and putting together a few polycarbonate frames, you can make such a greenhouse completely transparent.
This design is easy to move from place to place. The main thing is that she completely hides the beds with seedlings.
For a serious gardener, the presence of a greenhouse pavilion on the site is mandatory. But for the construction of a stationary structure, not everyone has the place or resources, so a mini-greenhouse is an ideal way out - a simple and effective shelter for plants that can be easily assembled from available materials.
For all their simplicity, these structures provide an optimal microclimate for the plants planted in them and allow not only growing seedlings, but also getting an early harvest.
If you ask a layman who is not privy to the secrets of building greenhouse structures, how greenhouse shelters differ from greenhouses, then most likely you will hear in response - small in size. But this is not entirely true. Among them, there are indeed mini-greenhouses suitable only for growing seedlings, but this is only one small group.
A small shelter in the country can be built independently
The main difference between these two species lies in the way the microclimate is formed under the shelter.
If in the greenhouse the microclimate and biorhythms of plants are close to natural, then a humid warm climate is formed in the greenhouse, saturated with oxygen during the day and carbon dioxide at night. The soil serves as the main source of nutrition, therefore it is quickly depleted and needs regular fertilization. Plants in greenhouse conditions grow intensively due to the rapid accumulation of plastic reserves.
A polycarbonate greenhouse can be compared to a small greenhouse.
- for thawing and warming the beds in early spring;
- growing seedlings;
- distillation of early greens and radishes;
- early planting of crops with a long vegetative period;
- protection of plants in the garden from late frosts;
- acceleration of fruiting;
- getting several harvests per season;
- creating an optimal microclimate for heat-loving crops.
Types of greenhouses for beds
Mini-greenhouses for beds are very easy to build yourself. To do this, it is enough to choose a covering material - a film, agrofibre, polycarbonate or glass, prepare supports and correctly orient the entire structure.
Ground covers for insulation
Beds under agrofibre warm up faster
One of the annoying problems of the gardener is the discrepancy between the timing of warming up the soil and the timing of sowing crops. This can be easily corrected with the help of soil shelters. This is done as follows: after the snow melts on the site, the beds are covered with a greenhouse film or agrofibre.
The soil under the shelter warms up 10-14 days earlier, and the temperature under the film is 10 ° C higher than the ambient temperature, which allows you to plant seedlings earlier, sow greens or vegetable seeds when the weather has not yet settled.
The simplest tunnel shelter on arches
Tunnel shelter on arches
This small greenhouse of the "Snowdrop" type is easy to build from improvised means - agrofiber, PVC film or polyisopropylene. Suitable for growing seedlings, forcing greenery and for early planting in the ground. Arches are used as supports, which can be made of thick steel wire, galvanized profile, metal-plastic pipe or long rods.
How to make a homemade mini-greenhouse with your own hands:
- Prepare a site for construction. If necessary, lay compost or manure under the bed, pour 30-40 cm of fertile soil on top. It is better to make the width of the beds 0.6-1 m, length - 2.5-3 m, orientation - from north to south. Along the perimeter, you can protect the bed with boards so that the earth does not slip.
- Depending on the length of the ridge, prepare 6 or 7 pieces of pipes about 2 m long and 12-14 pegs (50 cm) for hammering into the ground and fastening the arches. If there are no pegs, then it is better to take pipes half a meter longer in order to securely fix them in the ground.
- Bend pipes into arcs up to a meter high. You can make a special template on the board or use a large iron barrel of a suitable diameter.
- On the long sides of the future twinkling greenhouse, drive in pegs every 50 cm. Fix arches on them (or stick arcs into the ground 25-30 cm below the soil level).
- Install a connecting bar on the arches or simply tie the arches together with a cord or wire.
- Fix the film or agrofibre. You can use clips or just tie.
- On the north side, collect the hanging end of the covering material, pull it and fasten it, on the south you can leave it free.
- Fix the film on the soil around the perimeter. It is better to take stones for this, and not to sprinkle with earth, since from time to time you will need to lift the film to access the plants.
Approximate installation scheme for an arched tunnel-type greenhouse
Box with transparent lid
Cassette mini-greenhouse is ideal for growing seedlings and early radishes. A box 40-50 cm high is made for it from boards, the width and height of the frame are chosen according to the size of the upper shelter. For early sowing of seeds into the soil, it is recommended to choose soil in the box to a depth of 40 cm and fill the hole with biofuel. The fertile layer is 20 cm of ordinary soil. For pallets with peat tablets, it is better to make the frame small - 0.5 m * 1 m.
Cassette greenhouse with peat tablets
For the cover, you can take old window frames or tighten the top with a film (or better, with agrofibre). You can also use thick glass or triplex, but in this case you need to ensure that the edge is sealed or carefully sanded. After seedlings under cover, you can grow young greens - onions on a feather, herbs, watercress.
It is better to orient such a structure from south to north.
Modification of a cassette greenhouse - a box with a transparent lid. Its difference is that the upper frame is set at an angle with respect to the soil surface. They are arranged along the length from east to west, the southern side of the frame is usually twice as low as the northern one. The dimensions of the box are arbitrary, and for better illumination of plants, it can be made of polycarbonate roof.
Drawing of a wooden greenhouse under glass
Butterfly house - a convenient portable shelter
A mini-greenhouse like a "house" or "butterfly" is suitable not only for growing seedlings. Depending on the height, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cabbages, cucumbers and other vegetables can be planted in it for early harvests. You can assemble such shelters from improvised materials - boards, slats, films, agrofiber, polycarbonate.
Butterfly greenhouse scheme
The easiest way to make such a design is to mount a frame of slats and cover it with a film or sheathe it with polycarbonate. Under polycarbonate, the frame can be assembled from a galvanized profile.
A distinctive detail of this type of greenhouses - the gable "roof" is made movable on both sides. This makes it easier to ventilate and care for the plants.
Cucumbers in the greenhouse "house" under the film
To grow cucumbers, you need a mini-greenhouse of a slightly different design:
- At the chosen place, prepare a bed for two rows of plants and make a wooden harness. Such a "house" can be arranged on the south side of the house, but the seeds in it must be sown in one row.
- Fasten the racks for the side walls on the harness. The height of the central pillar is 1.5 meters.
- Connect the central racks with a longitudinal bar. Twine for gartering cucumbers will also be attached to it, so you need to make it strong.
- Sew up the sides with film, glass or polycarbonate.
- A removable roof can be made in the form of a frame with sheathing, or a film, which, if necessary, is simply rolled up and tied up.
Original solutions for country beds
Home greenhouses are not only a significant help for the gardener, but also a way to realize their creative ambitions. These designs once again prove that a thrifty owner will find use even for a piece of straw or the remnants of a film.
Straw-protected crops
Greenhouse made of straw and window frames
In horticulture, straw is often used for mulching beds and as a material for warming perennials in winter. In this design, straw bales act as building material for the box. Due to the properties of straw, it is good to retain heat and moisture.
The air under the glass warms up quickly, and the plants get a head start in two to three weeks. Window frames or polycarbonate are used as a cover.
Straw bales and frame with film - efficient design
Film protective umbrellas
Late frosts are a serious threat to the crop. Sometimes you have to literally save the beds from death - to spud all the plants or urgently cover especially valuable specimens with straw. But the problem can be solved in another way.
Individual "umbrellas" of two arcs and a piece of film or agrofiber are able to protect against frost. The arches are fastened with construction tape, the film is fastened with clips.
The same devices can be used for glasses with seedlings during the hardening period - during the day the plants are hardened, and at night they are securely hidden from hypothermia.
Two arcs and agrofibre will save you from frost
Old plastic barrel - in business
If the farm has an old plastic barrel of 200 liters, then in half an hour you can build a roomy greenhouse mini-greenhouse. You can grow seedlings, herbs, even mushrooms in it. The design retains heat and moisture well. In addition to the barrel, you will need construction scissors, film and construction tape. See the video for detailed instructions.
Grids and pallets - an excellent frame
The framework for the simplest tunnel shelter can be assembled in an hour from waste materials. Grids, pallets, regular slats or thin boards will come in handy. The finished sections are fastened with adhesive tape and covered with agrofiber. The soil in the beds warms up quickly, and seeds can be sown.
Sections are held together with adhesive tape.
Under such a roof, the soil warms up quickly
Using a tree helps to avoid any negative - it does not rust, does not emit chemicals, does not react with fertilizers and herbicides.
Second life for old refrigerators
Good mini-greenhouses are obtained from old refrigerators, which are easy to get in landfills or from neighbors.
The engine, cooling system and door are removed from the body. The lid is made of glass or polycarbonate. Refrigerators keep temperature and humidity well, so an ideal microclimate is created inside. The only other thing you need to worry about is the drainage holes under the ground, because without them, excess moisture will lead to rotting of the roots and death of crops.
Greenhouses from old refrigerators in the country
Polycarbonate for mini structures
Small polycarbonate greenhouses are light, durable and comfortable. From this material it is easy to build almost any model of a mini-shelter. The only drawback is that such construction can be expensive. But it is not necessary to buy specially whole sheets. You can use the pieces left after the large-scale construction of a gazebo or greenhouse.
In addition to polycarbonate, you will need material for the frame (rails or galvanized profile), screws and a suitable scheme.
Scheme of a simple polycarbonate greenhouse
Polycarbonate box
Small greenhouses for the apartment
For a keen summer resident, the garden season begins in February. And it does not matter that the entire area is covered with snow - seedlings can also be grown on the windowsill. And small homemade greenhouses made from improvised materials will help in this.
Trays for peat tablets
Popular peat pellet trays can be bought, but it's cheaper to make your own from an egg tray and plastic containers (bottles or cake boxes). Water the seedlings in tablets through the pan.
Operating procedure:
- Drill a hole for drainage in each recess of the tray.
- Choose a suitable plastic packaging (tray and cap). If there is no large container, then the egg tray can be cut. You need to drill several holes in the cap for air exchange.
- Put a peat tablet in each cell and water it.
- After 10 minutes, the tablets will swell and seeds can be sown in them.
- Place the seed trays in trays and close.
The egg tray will replace the peat tablet tray
If there is no suitable container, then the cap for a mini-greenhouse can be made from plastic plastic bottles:
- Carefully cut transparent bottles.
- From the panels cut out 5 rectangles for the box (do not forget the allowances for gluing). Choose the size so that the tablet tray fits freely inside.
- Glue the box cap with tape.
- Use a tray as a pallet.
plastic box
Cake or cookie containers can also be used to grow seedlings. Holes are drilled in the walls for drainage and ventilation, the soil is filled up - and the mini-greenhouse is ready for sowing.
Mini greenhouse made of plastic containers
Plastic bottles as greenhouses
Waste material - plastic bottles, in the skillful hands of a gardener, often turn into useful devices. In addition to irrigation devices, mini-format greenhouses are often made from plastic containers.
Method 1. Greenhouse-glass for seedlings:
- Cut two bottles in half
- Put the upper part into the lower glass of the first bottle and fill with soil.
- Sow the seeds and close the bottle with the second top.
- Don't forget the drainage holes.
Growing in a bottle
Method 2. Seedlings in bottles:
- Cut a bottle of 6-10 liters lengthwise, leaving the thread intact.
- Drill holes in both halves
- Fill the bottom with soil and sow the seeds.
- Close and seal the cut with tape.
Plastic bottle greenhouse
Home mini-greenhouses are a good alternative to industrial polycarbonate and tunnel structures. It is easy to build them, and you can use them both in the apartment and in the beds, so show your imagination and be creative, then your harvest will always be rich.