2022 Greenhouse Tour

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares their experience of owning and using a greenhouse since October 2020. They offer a detailed tour, discussing various plants, setup, and modifications like adding shelves and using grow bags. They highlight how the greenhouse extends their growing season, with early-start tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. The speaker emphasizes how the greenhouse provides a peaceful place to garden, read, and relax. They also explain the practical aspects, such as ventilation and heating, and recommend investing in a greenhouse for anyone considering it.

Takeaways

• 🌿 In October 2020, I got my first brand-new greenhouse, fulfilling a long-held dream.
• 🌱 I've been learning how to use the greenhouse and love spending time there, often escaping from the house to relax and garden.
• 🌻 The greenhouse allows for extended growing seasons, with early crops like loofah, sweet potatoes, and chamomile thriving inside.
• 🍅 I planted tomatoes in grow bags to get an earlier harvest, with some varieties specifically grown for fresh eating rather than canning.
• 💺 I made the greenhouse a comfortable space, with a sitting area for reading, planning, and enjoying peace and quiet, especially during colder months.
• 🎋 I use the greenhouse to acclimate plants to outdoor conditions by placing them near windows for natural wind exposure.
• 🛠️ My husband built mobile shelving for the greenhouse, providing more flexibility and extra space for plants.
• 🚰 One challenge is not having a built-in water source, requiring me to use a water jug or hose for irrigation, though I am close to the house.
• 🔥 A new addition this year is a heater, which helps maintain warmer temperatures at night and extend the growing season for warm-weather crops.
• 🏡 The greenhouse is 12x16 feet, purchased from Yoder Built, and delivered fully assembled. It's been a wonderful addition to my gardening routine, especially in Arkansas' 7b zone.

Q & A

What inspired the speaker to get a greenhouse?

The speaker had dreamed of owning a greenhouse for a long time, and in October 2020, they finally fulfilled that dream.

What benefits does the speaker enjoy from having a greenhouse?

The speaker enjoys the ability to extend the growing season, start plants earlier, and have a peaceful space to garden, plan, and relax.

What crops is the speaker currently growing in the greenhouse?

The speaker is growing loofah, cantaloupe, watermelon, milkweed, sweet potatoes, chamomile, tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, basil, and peppers.

How does the speaker use the greenhouse to acclimate plants to wind?

The speaker places their plants near the greenhouse windows to allow them to strengthen with the natural breeze, which helps them get accustomed to wind.

What modifications did the speaker make to the greenhouse for better space utilization?

The speaker added wire shelves, repurposed shelves from a pop-up tent greenhouse, and used rolling workstations that can be moved for more flexibility.

How does the speaker handle irrigation in the greenhouse?

While the speaker wishes they had a water source inside the greenhouse, they use a water jug for small irrigation tasks and bring a water hose in when needed.

What is the function of the ventilation system in the greenhouse?

The greenhouse has an automatic ventilation system using beeswax that expands and opens windows when the temperature exceeds 70-75°F, allowing air to flow through.

Did the speaker build the greenhouse themselves?

No, the speaker bought the greenhouse from Yoder Built, a company based in Arkansas, and had it delivered and installed.

What size is the greenhouse and why did the speaker choose this size?

The greenhouse is 12 by 16 feet. The speaker chose this size to have more room for plants, space to walk around, and an area for sitting and relaxing.

How does the speaker use the greenhouse to extend the growing season?

The speaker starts plants earlier and keeps them warm longer by using the greenhouse, allowing them to push the season boundaries for crops such as tomatoes and beans.