Maximum Yield USA February 2017 | Page 128

The primary factor in deciding how to construct , control , and cultivate a prospective winter greenhouse operation is which sort of climate is being engaged .”
wintertime greenhouse gardening

Driven by ever-expanding technological innovations , the complexity and sophistication of greenhouse cultivation operations are practically boundless . However , it is safe to assume that increased automation is jointly tied to increased expenses and decreased labor . The less money one is willing to spend on a wintertime greenhouse crop , the more human attention it will require . With these notions in mind , here are a few guidelines covering the basics of wintertime greenhouse gardening :

The primary factor in deciding how to construct , control , and cultivate a prospective winter greenhouse operation is which sort of climate is being engaged .”

CLIMATES AND GREENHOUSE FRAMES The primary factor in deciding how to construct , control , and cultivate a prospective winter greenhouse operation is which sort of climate is being engaged . Correspondingly , the colder a geographical location is , the less options there are for growing a successful crop . Along this line of thought , for both cold and temperate climates in North America , ‘ hot frame ’ greenhouses are the only option for wintertime cultivation . Hot frame greenhouses are generally permanent structures that can hold up to the intense demands of wintertime gardening , providing the platform and infrastructure for effective climate control . Greenhouse frames can be custom built by professional carpenters and builders , but the majority of horticulturalists prefer the simplicity of greenhouse kits . In conjunction , wintertime gardening requires well-insulated , thick , greenhouse walls . Depending on one ’ s budget , these walls can be constructed with fiberglass , glass , Sollex , and polycarbonate . 126 Maximum Yield USA | February 2017