Today, the variety of foods on the table is overwhelming. A variety of vegetables, dill, cilantro, raspberries, strawberries in the cold season are not at all a curiosity. But no matter how the store shelves are bursting with a huge assortment of vegetables, first of all, in winter, the hand itself reaches for the native, and so everyone's favorite cucumber. We all throw ourselves at them in the store with the first rays of the spring sun. And many of them are doing business.

In order for us to grow cucumbers in winter, we need, first of all, that there is an appropriate building in which to do such a thing. Such a room is not called a simple greenhouse, in our case it is a capital winter greenhouse. Or not home-made, but professional greenhouses.

The greenhouse operates in a special mode in winter. It is necessary to prepare her for this process from the fall, and when we start from scratch, then from the summer.

It should be noted that initially preparing the greenhouse for growing cucumbers in winter will take a lot of effort, time, and money. Pollination and ventilation are not unimportant problems. Indeed, in winter, bees do not fly, the temperature is as if around Taiga in the Urals.

How a winter greenhouse works:

  • The primary task is to install heating. Cucumbers will not grow in the cold. Heating in greenhouses is mainly electric.
  • The second challenging task is irrigation. For regular, warm watering, you yourself need to additionally install water tanks in the greenhouse. Electric heaters are very dry air, and plants need high humidity to grow.
  • Soil is the third question. Without a soil well enriched with organic matter, you will have a cold, unbalanced soil in which plant roots will not grow stronger, but suffer. Add sawdust and manure to it, the soil will be looser and warmer.
  • Lighting. In the winter season, there is much less sunlight, therefore, artificial lighting devices in a winter greenhouse are very necessary. Moreover, they need to be equipped in such a way that it is possible to lower and raise the lamps as the plants grow.
  • Seedling containers. Would it be wise to "run" the greenhouse in order to plant cucumber seeds for seedlings? It is better to do this in containers, and put them for germination in the house. And then, you can land on a permanent place in the greenhouse. Seeds for seedlings are sown 2-3 months before planting.

How to make a winter greenhouse: construction features

If you are not frightened by the high requirements for the construction of a greenhouse, we begin to figure out how to build it, where, and how best to arrange it.

Making a winter greenhouse, like a summer one, is troublesome and expensive. Serving it is also difficult and expensive, and harvesting will not be immediate. Therefore, you need to calculate the profitability and construction costs in advance.

In addition to the internal equipment of the greenhouse, there are several different requirements for its external decoration, and the correct location. Prepare a business plan in advance and decide what type your greenhouse will be.

Basic requirements for the construction of a winter greenhouse:

  • When choosing a place for our future greenhouse, we pay attention to whether there is a large slope on the site. It is allowed only not large at least degrees, and in the direction of the sun.
  • Do not place your greenhouse on an elevated or low level. In one case, strong, cold winds will blow it. There will be water in the lowland in spring.
  • A lot of water is required to maintain the greenhouse. In view of this, try to have a water supply system or a well near your structure.
  • For covering the surface of a winter greenhouse, glass or cellular polycarbonate is most suitable. A double plastic thick film is allowed only in the south, where winters are milder and warmer.

Nowadays, materials for greenhouses and greenhouses, and the practical greenhouse structures themselves, you can purchase ready-made. But it is also quite allowed to use a greenhouse made by hand.

Growing cucumbers: how to prepare a greenhouse for winter

Modern options for growing cucumbers allow you to remove yields in a greenhouse up to 10, or even 12 kg from 1 m 2. To achieve this, the greenhouse must be properly maintained.

How to prepare your greenhouse for winter? Cucumbers in a winter greenhouse grow no less quickly than in an open field. The most important thing is that it always has the best: temperature, watering and humidity.

If the area of ​​your greenhouse is quite large, say 100 or 300m2, then you just need to use it to generate income. Otherwise, your huge structure will ruin you, because of the costs that are needed to maintain it. To prevent this from happening, you need to comply with modern technologies that allow you to increase yields and reduce the cost of maintaining the facility.

The main techniques that contribute to high yields in the greenhouse in winter:

  • Mulching. The process, when the soil near the plant reduces the growth of weeds, and many times reduces the water consumption for irrigation.
  • Drip irrigation. This system is new and is starting to gain momentum. With its help, it is possible to reduce both irrigation work and the amount of water consumption many times.
  • Soil preparation technology. A well-balanced soil enriched with essential substances is the key to success and high yields.
  • And, of course, the greenhouse itself. You must properly prepare the building for the winter, filling up all the mother-in-law, holes and destruction. Indeed, in winter, depressurization occurs much faster than in summer.

The technology of successfully growing plants in a greenhouse in winter is a very interesting idea. Do not despair, suddenly you did not understand something the first time. Success, especially from persistent, painstaking work, comes with experience. Do not give up, and then one fine day the smell of vegetables grown by your own hands will mix with the smell of the New Year tree.

DIY winter greenhouse: leave in the winter or not

In order to start building a greenhouse, you need to decide on the shape of the structure. When choosing an option, all factors that affect the greenhouse structure itself should be taken into account.

The winter greenhouse that you are going to leave in the winter must be durable, comfortable and multifunctional. Such a structure is usually built for more than one year, so take care of its quality in advance.

Winter weather conditions are much harsher than summer ones, so make your own adjustments to the structure you are about to build.

Features of the winter greenhouse:

  • In winter, it is common for a large amount of snow to fall, which collects on the roofs of buildings. To prevent the greenhouse from collapsing under its weight, make the roof as sloping as possible. The arched option is most suitable.
  • Winter winds are much colder and sharper than summer ones. Make sure that your design has a minimum of corners and flat planes.
  • Take care of quality heating. In winter, frosts can be very harsh and you should be prepared for anything.
  • Organize watering correctly. Avoid freezing of water on the outskirts of the greenhouse and in it.
  • Lighting is an important factor. In winter, it is especially necessary. Because the day is shorter and the night is longer. In addition, the sunlight entering the greenhouse in winter is very dim.

All these factors speak in favor of an arched greenhouse, which is built mainly from cellular polycarbonate. Provided that the greenhouse is high, the drop option may suit you, which is built on the same principle as the arched one, only sheathed, by joining the sheets in the middle of the roof.

Consider how to make a winter greenhouse: manufacturing and installation

Building an arched greenhouse will not take much work. And especially when this is the most ordinary greenhouse, which has no foundation. But our case is different. For a winter greenhouse, it is advisable to make a foundation.

How to make a winter greenhouse when you intend to grow vegetables in winter? The main requirement is that the greenhouse must meet all requirements, parameters and cold weather conditions.

No projects are required for the construction of summer greenhouses. For the winter, they are needed. In advance, you need to decide what kind of greenhouse you need to build, and from what, buy material and start building.

Stages of building an arched greenhouse:

  • We make the foundation. It must be strong, because it will hold the entire structure.
  • We are preparing the frame. They begin to build it from the foundation.
  • We remove unnecessary details and attach arcs in the form of an arch to the resulting base. Gap - 2 arcs per polycarbonate sheet;
  • From the ends of the greenhouse we fasten the racks and partitions under the doors and vents;
  • We put the covering material on the arcs and fix it along the length of the arc at the base;
  • Sew up the gables with sheets of the required size;
  • At the racks we make homemade fasteners and awnings for doors and vents;
  • We equip doors;
  • We equip the vents.

For strength, reliability, durability and normal operation for the greenhouse, it is necessary to build a foundation, and only then put the greenhouse on the foundation.

DIY winter greenhouse (video)

For those who have private houses, the options and types of winter greenhouses may be different. It can also be a greenhouse attached to the house, arranged like a greenhouse or winter garden. Or you can equip a terrace where indoor flowers or cultivated vegetables will grow, and you can also store garden tools. When choosing the shape, characteristics and design of such greenhouses, read reviews on the Internet. There you will find a lot of interesting things.

Examples of winter greenhouses (photo ideas)

Without resorting to the help of builders, you can build a winter greenhouse with heating yourself, but how? There are several ways to install this type of structure yourself. They include the stages of preparation, collection of materials and installation itself, but in general they are feasible even for a person unfamiliar with construction.

A greenhouse is an important structure for flower growers and vegetable growers. Therefore, the installation of a winter structure will be an additional plus for them and will give them a chance to deal with plants all year round. Assembling a winter greenhouse that will keep warm even in cold Russian conditions is more difficult than it seems at first glance. Wall insulation and underfloor heating are required to achieve this goal.

The first step is to determine what type of building is suitable for the owner's site. Large or small? Solid or modular? Depending on the free space, budget and goals of the owner, you need to choose which characteristic is most important:

  • type of heating;
  • functionality;
  • planting paths;
  • materials used;
  • the location of the building relative to the ground level.

Depending on each characteristic, greenhouses are divided into several types. So, if the owner is going to grow citrus fruits and other thermophilic crops within the building, the functionality should be at its best: there must be an irrigation system to maintain air humidity. There are also greenhouses with less functionality, which are intended only for northern vegetables and herbs.

Double-coated winter greenhouses: photo
DIY greenhouse with a blank foil wall
With a warm electric floor

One of the most significant characteristics is the location of the building relative to the ground level. Structures can be partially buried in the ground to retain heat, located on the surface, or transferred to the structure of another building. The latter type is rare for Russian conditions, but with proper construction it can be a functional and beautiful solution.

The type of self-built winter greenhouse with heating is highly dependent on the materials that are used to build it. PVC is a cheap option that does not provide additional advantages, but polycarbonate is considered a good thermal insulation material. Glass is a traditional material that must be handled with care due to its fragility. The type of material can be chosen regardless of the shape of the future building, which can be gable, shed, flat, and so on.

The choice should be made based on the financial and physical capabilities of the future builder. After determining the shape, materials, location, you need to pay attention to the most important part of the structure: the heating system.

Step-by-step video:

The choice of the heating system and the place of construction

How to build a do-it-yourself winter greenhouse is highly dependent on the type of heating. If brick, matte darkened polycarbonate sheets were used, then less heat will come from the outside, but more will remain from the inside.

If sheets of glass are used, the greenhouse will heat up mechanically, even under the influence of the winter sun. The level of the sun's influence on the greenhouse depends on its location relative to the luminary.


Infrared heating of a winter greenhouse

It is necessary to position the greenhouse in such a way that the sun, passing its daytime circle, constantly hits the walls of the building with its rays. Otherwise, there will be not only a lack of heat, but also a lack of ultraviolet radiation, which is vital for any species of plants.

The best locations for winter greenhouses are clearings, small hills and hills. Only the elevations will have to be additionally prepared in order to level the surface for installing the foundation of the structure. Lowlands for a greenhouse are extremely undesirable, and surrounding such structures with trees is a gross mistake.

The heating system directly depends on the location. She may be:

  • partially dependent on the sun;
  • completely independent.

Partial dependence on the daylight is expressed both in the absorption of heat from the sun through the walls that amplify this heat, and in the collection of energy through the solar battery.

This type of construction is cheaper, because you do not have to spend additional funds on strong heating, but it is less functional. In winter, you cannot rely on the sun.

It is better for self-construction to choose warm buildings with electric heating, which would maintain the required level of heat at any given time. Less popular, but just as effective methods are heating with gas, water.

Preparation of materials

Having decided on the choice of design, heating, location, the owner proceeds to active actions - the purchase of materials and tools. For various designs you will need:

  • frame beams (metal beams or durable plastic beams);
  • transparent or translucent wall material (polycarbonate, PVC, glass);
  • finishing material for the lower part of the structure (brick, plastic, polycarbonate);
  • screws, nails and other metal fittings.

The exact type and amount of materials is specified depending on the type of construction of a winter greenhouse with heating selected.

Preparation of the area for the greenhouse structure

The place for the greenhouse should not be at least somewhat uneven, because when the structure is tilted, the main moisture, as well as the heating agent, will be unevenly distributed. This will lead to stunted growth of some of the plants. Therefore, before building a building, you need to level the land in one of the convenient ways:

  1. Creation of wood flooring. By driving piles into the ground and installing a small wooden flooring on them, you can get a stable platform for the building. Due to the high humidity around the greenhouse, it will have to be constantly refreshed or well treated in advance against decay.
  2. Creation of a pouring concrete pad. This is the best type: stable, simple, unresponsive to temperature extremes and moisture. Sand, crushed stone is poured onto the leveled area, and a cement mass is poured on top of it. The concrete hardens for about a day, after which the installation can begin.
  3. Simple leveling of the ground. It is carried out using a rake, shovel and other tools at hand.

Main stage: building a greenhouse


Photo idea: underground greenhouses

Now you can move on to how to build a do-it-yourself winter greenhouse with heating. The construction of the greenhouse begins when the space, parts and workers are exactly ready for construction. You cannot stand idle during operation, because the greenhouse should be as tight as possible, and long delays during installation will reduce the level of thermal insulation.

There are several types of greenhouses, but here the construction will be considered using the example of the most popular one - a gable greenhouse with a position recessed into the ground. The building is finished with bricks.

The foundation may already be prepared if the site was previously filled with concrete. If the owner has not done this, a strip foundation is created. You need to place it deeply, half a meter below ground level.

The walls of this building are also made of brick, which occupies 60% of the structure. It is erected in one element with a thickness (about 20-30 cm).

The laying of the first level of bricks is made up to a level of 60 cm above the ground. At this point, it is required to install windows that will give the plants natural light and create a pleasant view.

They are spaced at intervals of about 70 cm. Frames that will be installed inside the openings must be supplemented with vents for ventilation in warm weather.

The roof is made gable and transparent to provide additional heating. It is located at an angle of 20 degrees.

The strapping beams are installed on the roofing board, then the strapping rafters are attached. A roof ridge is mounted to them. To protect the walls from water penetration into the windows, visors are installed.

Step by step photos:


Fill the strip foundation
We build a basement of a winter greenhouse from natural stone
Or brick plinth
Wooden beams for the installation of a winter greenhouse
We install with our own hands a wooden frame from a bar

Building a greenhouse is not easy. It requires special care and consistency. Professional advice will help bring the building to perfection:

  1. To check the evenness of the greenhouse site, it is enough to use pegs and a long thread if there are no other meters at hand.
  2. It is best to combine heating systems: water heating is as soft as possible, but electric heating is stable. Water heating in cold weather can break down, leak out and not provide the required level of heat. For such cases, you need to install spare heating systems.
  3. When building a structure, you do not need to disdain helpers. They will speed up the process in half by holding the assembled structures and helping to mount them together.
  4. If finances do not allow you to buy a metal frame, expensive polymers, you can save money by switching to wood and glass. If possible, it is better to use brick when building. It is an inexpensive thermal insulation material that also gives your DIY heated winter greenhouse a beautiful appearance.

Unfortunately, we live in an era of catastrophically polluted ecology, and the desire of most people to eat organic food all year round is quite understandable. Hence the interest of those who have at least some piece of land in their use in the construction of greenhouses.

Construction of winter greenhouses

Greenhouses are different: seasonal or capital, large or small, factory-made or home-made. But they have the same goal - to get an environmentally friendly crop as early as possible and as large as possible.

Currently, there is a large selection of greenhouses of various designs. . It is very difficult for a beginner to understand what to choose and where to start construction in general. How to calculate the area of ​​the greenhouse to get the planned harvest, whether you need a foundation and what kind, how to carry out heating, which roof to give preference to and much more. So let's start from scratch.

Types of greenhouse structures

Winter greenhouses differ from seasonal ones in many ways.

But the variety of winter greenhouses is especially great in terms of architectural design.

  1. Wall mounted. Good for a small conservatory or vegetable garden. The presence of a common wall with the house allows you to reduce the cost of construction.
  2. Arched. The traditional dimensions of such structures are 2 x 4 x 3 m. Low-growing crops, herbs and vegetables feel comfortable in them. Arched greenhouses are not suitable for growing climbing and tall plants.
  3. Single-slope, double-slope, three-slope.
  4. Farming. These are multifunctional devices designed for year-round operation in almost all climatic zones. They differ in a large area, sometimes they are entire mini-plantations, allowing you to grow a large amount of products (not only in the ground, but also by the hydroponic method).

Photo gallery: types of winter greenhouses

Wall-mounted greenhouses are small and economical to build It is convenient to grow undersized crops in arched capital greenhouses.
Farm greenhouses are used in all regions and are designed for large yields Droplet-shaped gable roof withstands heavy loads and removes snow well in winter

But whatever the configuration, it should be remembered that a winter greenhouse is a solid structure with heating and lighting. And frankly, its construction is not a cheap pleasure. On the other hand, once you spend money and effort, you will enjoy quality products for many years throughout the year. And the result of your work will no longer depend on the vagaries of the weather or on the soil, but only on your efforts and skill.

Greenhouse thermos: pros and cons

A thermos greenhouse is especially popular among domestic gardeners, primarily because it allows you to get a high yield, while minimizing the cost of its maintenance (lighting and heating). It got its name for the fact that it is a structure completely isolated not only from atmospheric conditions, but also from cold soil.

The thermos greenhouse fully justifies its name, because it is a structure isolated from the external environment, in which even the most exotic plants can be grown

Advantages of a greenhouse thermos:

  • getting an excellent harvest all year round;
  • the ability to use in any climatic conditions;
  • high light transmittance;
  • good thermal insulation performance (energy saving);
  • the ability to retain heat received through solar energy for a long time. This is what creates the effect of a thermos;
  • the ability to grow any crops, even such capricious ones as grapes.

Disadvantages:

  • labor intensity and cost of construction;
  • the need to have at least basic skills and understanding of the heating, ventilation and utility lines.

It is easy to see that this design has more advantages than disadvantages, therefore, in today's realities, this is perhaps the best option for all-season growing of greens, fruits and vegetables not only for your family, but also for sale.

Video: do-it-yourself greenhouse thermos made of wood

DIY greenhouse construction

Before starting construction, answer yourself a number of questions:

  1. Do you really need a capital greenhouse and why?
  2. What result do you expect from using it?
  3. Where are you planning to build it?

Agree, if you live in a private house and will build a greenhouse on your personal plot - this is one thing, but building a greenhouse on a summer cottage where no one lives in winter is quite another.

If you are building a greenhouse on an area that remains uninhabited in winter, it is hardly worth making it an all-season

An important criterion is your financial capabilities at the moment and their at least the slightest degree of security for the future, so as not to get a long-term construction instead of the planned harvest.

If you have thought everything over and decided, then there is a certain sequence of construction, which you need to know.

Preparation for construction


The amount of materials is calculated individually, depending on the size and configuration of the building.

Stages of construction of a winter greenhouse

  1. Laying the foundation. The winter greenhouse must be installed on a foundation. It not only securely fixes the structure, but also protects crops from weeds, and also prevents atmospheric water from outside from entering the greenhouse. The choice of the type of foundation depends on the nature of the soil, the depth of groundwater, the presence of a drainage system at the site and the size of the future structure. For small-sized winter greenhouses, any foundation is suitable: block, brick, point, tape, on piles, etc. For overall structures, a concrete base is laid (sometimes a bar is used). When pouring the foundation, soil sampling from the foundation pit should be carried out to the depth of the freezing layer (80–90 cm).

    Shallow strip foundations ideal for small greenhouses

  2. For capital greenhouses, the frame is assembled from a profile pipe, a corner, a hat profile. The corner is considered the best (galvanized corner profile). Since the hat profile and the profile tube cannot withstand a large amount of snow, they are best used in regions with little snow, despite the fact that they are easily and quickly assembled. The angle profile is assembled without welding on bolts, withstands snow cover up to 100 kg per 1 m². The finished frame is attached to the foundation using anchor bolts. They provide sufficient strength and rigidity to the fastening, and the difference in the heat capacity of the materials protects the structure from the negative effects of heat or severe frost. In order to save money, you can make the frame not galvanized, but aluminum, but here you need to take into account the weather conditions in the region (wind and snow cover). The aluminum structure can deform under their influence.

    The metal frame of the winter greenhouse can be reinforced with transverse stiffening ribs

  3. Shelter of the frame. Most often used:
  4. Roof arrangement. The most common is the gable form with a slope of 20-25 °. The angle of inclination is individual for different roof shapes. The runoff of rainwater and the bearing capacity of the greenhouse in relation to the snow load depend on it. Therefore, this indicator should not be neglected. It is not difficult to make such a roof yourself. For this, the lower strapping beams in the amount of 2 pieces are laid along the side walls. A ridge bar is attached to them using paired rafters. For wooden greenhouses, it is recommended to use a bar with a section of 120 x 150 mm for the ridge and strapping and 70x100 mm for the rafters. In metal greenhouses, the roof is made of the same elements as the main frame.

    The angle of inclination of the roof must be selected based on the requirements of aesthetics and the ability of the greenhouse to withstand layers of snow on its surface

  5. Heating device. In fact, you need to decide on heating at the very beginning of construction, since this is perhaps the most expensive and most important item of expenditure. It is heating that allows us to grow crops all year round in our latitudes.

Video: stages of greenhouse construction

  1. Greenhouse foundation and frame. First you need to drive out the base not lower than 90-120 cm. You can monolithic (solid) or brick (ceramic) at your discretion. Fix the frame on it (metal-plastic, wooden, metal) and sheathe the walls with cellular polycarbonate (preferably 8-10 mm thick). Greenhouse frames must be equipped with transoms for access to atmospheric air and, if necessary, equipped with special valves (supply ventilation).

    The ventilation windows can be opened manually or with an automatic system that analyzes the atmospheric conditions inside and outside the greenhouse

  2. Greenhouse cover. To cover the frame, double glass with a thickness of 4 mm or cellular polycarbonate is used, which has undeniable advantages over glass. First of all, they consist in the fact that when using polycarbonate, heating costs are reduced, therefore, with the current energy tariffs, you can save a lot on the operation and maintenance of the greenhouse.
  3. Glazing. If glass is nevertheless chosen as a coating, then the scheme of its attachment is as follows. You need to start glazing from the strapping beam, moving up in the direction of the ridge. Glasses are placed on putty up to 2 mm thick and fixed with wooden (or plastic) glazing beads using metal studs. Between the glasses themselves and the glazing beads, putty should also be applied, as which modern plastic mixtures or sealants are used.

    After the glass is inserted into the frame, it must be smeared along the contour with a sealant, and then secured with a wooden or plastic glazing bead

  4. Water drainage. A visor will help protect the walls of the greenhouse from water infiltration. On its inner side, a drainage gutter is laid, through which excess condensate is removed. A galvanized profile is used. Correctly installed canopy should recede from the plane of the wall by about 6–8 cm.

    Various canopies and gutters are used to protect the greenhouse walls and collect rainwater

Greenhouse heating

Heating is the most important engineering system for a winter greenhouse. When constructing it, it is important to observe a compromise between economic feasibility and providing the necessary microclimate for the crops grown.

For small greenhouses, the usable area of ​​which is within 15–20 m², it is enough to equip a stove heating. For heating larger greenhouses, use:

  1. Water heating. This is the most traditional type of greenhouse heating. The system consists of a water heating boiler, pipes (direct and return flow) and an expansion tank. The pipes are placed in the ground or under the container racks (if the plants are grown in containers, not in the ground).

    The water heated in the boiler spreads through the pipes, where it gives off its heat to the surrounding soil

  2. Electric heating - infrared, cable or air. This type of heat generation is most often used when water connections are cumbersome (for example, in suburban areas where water is supplied on schedule) or in areas where there is a reduced night electricity tariff. The connection diagram for such heating resembles a warm floor system - electrical cables are laid at the bottom of the pit, which are covered with a layer of sand and then soil. The undoubted plus of such heating is additional soil heating, and if a sensor and a controller are installed, then the required temperature can be maintained automatically without human intervention.

    Electrical heating is produced by cables that heat up when an electric current passes through them

  3. IR heating. This is a kind of electric heating system, which is much easier to implement: heating elements such as UFO or fan heaters are placed under the ceiling of the greenhouse.

    To heat the greenhouse, you can hang electric heaters under the ceiling

  4. Heating with biofuel. This is the most economical type of heating for today type of heating. The use of biofuels is as easy as shelling pears - organic matter is laid on a layer of fertile soil. Next, you need to provide and maintain the necessary humidity (up to 70%) and aeration (air flow). The spent waste is subsequently used as humus. The soil and air in the greenhouse are heated due to the decomposition of organic matter:
    • horse manure is able to maintain temperatures up to 38 ° C for three months;
    • cow dung provides heating up to 20 ° C for 100 days;
    • straw gives temperatures up to 45 ° C, but not for long (within 10 days).

When using organic matter, it is imperative to take into account the level of its acidity, so as not to ruin the soil, and, accordingly, the crop.

Video: water heating of a greenhouse using a gas boiler

Useful systems to increase yields in the greenhouse

So, you have decided and decided - to be a greenhouse! Then you need to think about the illumination of plants in order to artificially extend the daylight hours. This is especially true for the northern regions, where natural sunlight is not enough for plant photosynthesis.

It is not difficult to do it yourself. The main thing is to correctly calculate the total power of special lamps, calculated for the area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe beds and set the time and duration of operation on the light sensor and timer.

It will not hurt to do automatic drip irrigation for timely replenishment of moisture for the plant root system. The principle of operation of such automation is simple, if desired, any owner can cope with this. Water is drawn into a container where a heating element is installed, and then, using a pump, strictly according to a timer, through supply hoses, compensated droppers and root pegs, it flows to the plants.

To have fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables all year round, not only on your table, but also to quickly recoup the financial costs of construction, you need to have a greenhouse with a usable area of ​​at least 50-60 m², and ideally 100 m².

Video: building a winter greenhouse

In this article, we have highlighted the main aspects of building winter greenhouses with our own hands. We hope that now you will be able to quickly build a winter greenhouse and enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years.

If you have your own summer cottage, and you are engaged in gardening - sooner or later, you will need a greenhouse. Thanks to this simple structure, you can harvest several times a year, including in winter.

Despite the apparent simplicity, this type of work will require certain skills and knowledge. Thanks to this article, you can find out everything you need to build a greenhouse with your own hands.

Choosing the type of building

To describe all types of winter greenhouses, you will need several such pages, so we will focus on the main and popular ones. We will also describe the features of each type of structure, so that even a novice gardener understands what is best for him.

First of all, the winter structure is suitable for most crops - from various vegetables, fruits and ending with mushrooms.

The citrus and exotic harvest in winter will surely delight you and your loved ones. Before construction, you need to imagine in advance what plants you plan to grow.


There are three ways to build a greenhouse with heating - built into the ground, built on the ground and on special heights.

Construction Materials

Another classification of greenhouses depends on the materials used - it can be brick, wood, metal profile, polycarbonate and glass. It is not excluded, too, a combination of several in one structure.

It is worth choosing based on several criteria, such as the chosen design, resistance to weathering, physical activity, cost and service life.

The glass greenhouse is the most classic option. They transmit light well and keep warm. Despite this, the popularity of this material is falling - the market is being replaced by new, lighter, cheaper and stronger products.

A polymer greenhouse will also transmit light well and will not require much effort to install. But, it is worth considering the formation of excess moisture - ventilation is required. Also, this material will quickly lose its appearance.


Glass and film are very successfully combined in cellular polycarbonate. This material has excellent properties, which are just suitable for building a greenhouse for the winter.

Heating

This factor is equally important for a winter greenhouse - you will create a favorable climate that will positively affect the growth of plants. Here, you also cannot do without special knowledge, but first, let's consider what popular heating options are offered by the modern market.

The sun is the most affordable and easiest way to maintain temperature. Keep in mind that for year-round plants, this will not be enough.

Biological waste or fertilizers generate heat, which is great for creating a microclimate. Thus, two issues are solved at once - saturation of the earth and heat. But here, as well as sunny, it will not be enough for winter.

Electricity is one of the most common options. Moreover, the modern market offers a huge variety of devices, such as convectors, infrared heaters and others.

By combining gas heaters and ventilation, you can get another way to maintain a microclimate. Also, stoves that run on wood, coal and wood waste are sometimes used. They are quite fire hazardous, so this option should be considered very carefully.

Mounting

Polycarbonate greenhouses are the most optimal construction option for winter crops. The material retains heat well, transmits light, and is also light, flexible and durable. For the installation of such a building, you need to develop a project, apply all dimensions and calculate the required number of all tools.

We install the strip foundation, and after it hardens, you can erect a wooden frame. It must be reinforced with stiffeners. Then the base is sheathed with polycarbonate using self-tapping screws.

It is better to put perforated self-adhesive tape at the joints of the material. Additional vents and windows will help avoid condensation. We offer several photos of winter greenhouses so that you get better acquainted with these buildings.

Photo of a modern winter greenhouse

At first glance, the organization of a year-round greenhouse economy does not differ from seasonal vegetable growing. It seems that it is enough to put a stove in a standard greenhouse, and we can assume that the winter greenhouse was built with our own hands. However, experienced greenhouses warn that it is impossible to grow certain crops in winter without proper preparation of the construction of closed ground. What are the differences between a fully functioning greenhouse in the cold season and what algorithm should be followed in order to competently build a reliable shelter?

Features of winter greenhouses

If you intend to get a high-quality harvest at any time of the year, it is not enough to build a greenhouse, even from polycarbonate - take an example from industrial complexes. We are not talking about sizes, although they are also important, but about the internal arrangement. The use of units that are almost irrelevant for summer buildings, but extremely important for winter ones, avoids many problems that usually negate all the efforts of amateur vegetable growers.

Reliable shelter for winter crops

The difference between winter greenhouses and summer ones

The device of a winter greenhouse in modern agricultural complexes provides for the installation of high-tech equipment that performs the following tasks:

  • space heating and cooling;
  • supplementary lighting and shading of plants;
  • humidification, support of air exchange and soil irrigation;
  • fertilizing with fertilizers and carbon dioxide;
  • disinfection and treatment from pathogens;
  • monitoring of microclimate and planting conditions.

Greenhouse equipment

An ordinary summer resident cannot afford full automation of an all-season greenhouse, and he must be ready to independently perform most of the processes. However, there are some problems that are extremely difficult to resolve in manual mode. It:

  • insufficient sealing and thin walls in comparison with the capital structure cause high heat losses and exorbitant monthly heating costs;
  • due to the reduction in daylight hours, the plants do not receive the required amount of light, they grow poorly, get sick and bear fruits of a non-marketable type;
  • in the cold season, natural ventilation leads to a sharp cooling of the air, and the high cost of energy resources required for heating makes it possible to limit the use of this ventilation method.

Thermal insulation of a greenhouse structure

Thus, the heating system, as well as ventilation and lighting equipment, must be included in the scheme of a winter polycarbonate greenhouse. In addition, it is required to take measures to insulate the building and minimize heat loss by choosing the optimal design.

The main types of winter greenhouses

Unlike seasonal greenhouses, warm greenhouses, especially in northern regions with low levels of insolation, are almost independent of the source of natural light. That is why you can see winter protected ground structures, almost completely or half hidden underground - the so-called thermos greenhouses.

In addition to thermoses, the following types of structures have proven themselves well in year-round operation:

  • arched (tunnel) under a double layer of film;
  • single-slope adjoining house with a common power supply system;
  • insulated gable under polycarbonate cover.

Underground greenhouse principle

The main advantage of using trench greenhouses is savings on technical heating and guaranteed protection against sudden temperature changes. Since the temperature of the soil at a depth of two meters is practically unchanged throughout the year, heat is well stored in the structure - at –25 ° C and the boiler is turned off, a positive temperature inside is maintained within 3 ° C.

However, an underground greenhouse in winter, and sometimes in summer, needs additional lighting, and for ventilation it is mandatory to equip it with a system of supply and exhaust fans. As a result, energy costs increase so much that it becomes unprofitable to build a complex and expensive trench greenhouse.

Greenhouse-trench

Film winter greenhouses are good for their versatility. On the eve of the onset of frost, they can be insulated without much difficulty, and with the arrival of heat, they can be quickly opened. Nevertheless, the problems of ordinary summer greenhouses are not alien to them - the film must be changed as it wears out (and it breaks much faster in the cold), installation is inconvenient, besides, single film shelters are suitable only for southern regions.

As for single and gable polycarbonate greenhouses, these are the most popular solutions among amateur vegetable growers. They are built with their own hands everywhere - and this despite the high cost of components. The main reason is reliability and ease of construction. Although in the case of a winter structure, this simplicity is deceiving, and before starting construction, calculate well the project on paper for specific conditions.

Heated construction

How to draw up a project

With a serious approach to business, it is better to order design from professionals - they will prepare a full package of technical documentation, accurately calculate the construction estimate and thereby save you from force majeure situations and unforeseen expenses.

It is also possible to draw up a plan for the device of a greenhouse for growing vegetables in the winter. This will help you "Guidelines for the design of greenhouses and greenhouses" (attached to SNiP 2.10.04-85), containing calculation examples:

  • foundation,
  • frame,
  • heat shields,
  • snow protection, etc.

Arched frame

Of course, in the manual you will not find a method for calculating a winter polycarbonate greenhouse - in those days, honeycomb sheets were just being introduced into experimental greenhouse plants. However, there are online and offline computer programs by which you can roughly determine:

  • useful area of ​​the structure;
  • the full glazing area of ​​the roof, walls and facades;
  • the total length of the frame materials.

To get this and other data, set the preconditions:

  • the shape of the structure - rectangular or semicircular;
  • width, height and length of the greenhouse;
  • number of wall and roof sections.

Greenhouse project for summer cottages

Determine the dimensions of the structure based on the following factors:

  • for what purposes (personal consumption, sale, type of crops, in what quantity) do you want to build a winter greenhouse with your own hands;
  • what is the area and shape of the available land plot, where it is located;
  • is it possible to attach a technical room;
  • how many people are ready to work and in what mode;
  • what are the possibilities of the family budget.

Ground heating system diagram

The next crucial moment in drafting a year-round greenhouse is the calculation of heating, for which you first need to determine the level of energy consumption according to a simplified scheme (you will find it in the book by V. V. Klimov "Equipment for greenhouses for subsidiary and private farms"). Now calculate the heat capacity of the carrier and the total amount of heat energy, and then, taking into account the type of the most available fuel, select the type and power of the boiler.

Winter greenhouse construction technology step by step

A greenhouse device is considered correct, which provides plantings with a warm and humid microclimate under any changes in the weather. Therefore, before building a winter greenhouse, carefully read the step-by-step algorithm based on the principles of energy conservation and compliance with building codes.

Choosing a place on the site

Any structure for year-round operation (with the exception of a thermos greenhouse) should be as open as possible from the south and protected from the north. Based on this rule, examine your site plan and determine the area where it is respected. Ideal if you can attach a greenhouse to the southern facade of a heated building, such as a house. However, this is far from always realizable.

Greenhouse extension

It is possible that the southern site is well lit, but at the same time is completely open to the north wind. To prevent a greenhouse built with your own hands from losing excess heat in winter, equip it with a protective screen (monolithic fence, gazebo) and / or isolate the northern wall to the maximum. Here are a few more theses, the implementation of which can significantly reduce heat losses in the future:

  • there should be no monumental buildings and plantings near the building - they threaten not only with shading the greenhouse, but also with snow or ice falling onto its surface;
  • it is highly undesirable to install a free-standing greenhouse on a hill or hill;
  • the natural slope of the site is permissible only to the south, otherwise some of the plants will receive less sunlight.

Site planning

Please note that the construction of greenhouses is subject to the requirements of land legislation specified in SNiP 30-02-97 "Planning and development of territories of horticultural associations of citizens, buildings and structures." According to him, the greenhouse structure is recommended to be installed at a distance:

  • at least 5 m from the red line of the street and passage;
  • 3 m from the border with the neighboring site;
  • 15 m to any wooden building if the greenhouse frame is made of wood.

For the sake of ease of operation of the site, it is advisable to place the greenhouse in a garden zone, including a vegetable garden, a garden, a greenhouse, a garden house, etc.

Preparation of materials

As an example, consider the stages of building a year-round asymmetric greenhouse with your own hands. According to the project, it is insulated from the north side, and from the south it is equipped with transoms for ventilation. In order to maximize the use of sunlight, the north wall is covered with reflective material from the inside. Outside, the entire greenhouse is covered with polycarbonate or, as an economy option, with a double layer of film.

For such a design, you need to stock up on the following building materials:

  • metal profiled pipes 60x40 (frame racks) and 40x25 (supports) with a wall thickness of 2 mm;
  • cement, sand, crushed stone and reinforcement (for arranging the foundation);
  • foil-clad thermal insulation and polycarbonate (or two types of polyethylene film: for the first layer - from frost-resistant polyethylene, the second - from air-bubble);
  • foam for insulating a cold opaque wall;
  • clamping cables for fastening the cover.

Greenhouse structure under the film

Choose the number and parameters of materials based on the area of ​​the future greenhouse, snow and wind loads typical for your region. Foil is not ideal, but it will last 2-3 years and then you can install polycarbonate. In this way, many budding greenhouses reduce the start-up costs of very expensive construction.

If you plan to make a do-it-yourself greenhouse frame from wood, be sure to prepare it:

  • make sure that the tree is well dried - remove the shavings with a plane and crush it in your hands (dry material crumbles, and wet material crumples);
  • if necessary, dry the timber - use a professional dryer or stack lumber under a canopy, creating a gap of 2-3 mm between each timber;
  • Treat the wood with an antiseptic agent that prevents decay, by dipping in solution or by spraying it with a spray bottle.

Result of savings on polycarbonate

And remember, in winter the greenhouse will be exposed to numerous loads, so you should not skimp on the quality of components.

Selecting the type of heating

How to build a winter greenhouse with heating with your own hands so that it is efficient and inexpensive? To answer this question, first check out all the possible options:

  • biological heating - for its organization, organic matter is needed, for example, horse manure, the decomposition of which leads to an intense release of heat;
  • electric heating - heat is produced by electrical appliances (convectors, cables, heat guns, pumps, etc.) equipped with heating elements;
  • gas systems - provide for the installation of a gas boiler and piping, thanks to which thermal energy is distributed throughout the entire volume of the greenhouse;
  • heating with solid and liquid fuel materials - it is provided by installing a home-made or purchased stove that runs on coal, wood, pellets or waste oil.

Soil heating

To determine the type of heating for the winter, consider what type of energy is most readily available in your area - gas, wood, coal or electricity. Also consider the pros and cons of each type of heating system:

  • the use of biofuels leads to a rapid, but short-term increase in heat in the room, so this option is not suitable for winter greenhouses;
  • the high cost of electricity nullifies the main advantages of its use (ease of installation and operation). However, electricity can be used for heating in an emergency;
  • gas is still the cheapest energy source, but in order to connect it, a project and its approval with the controlling service are required, and the greenhouse itself must be located in close proximity to the gas main.

Stove heating

Thus, for most greenhouse farms, the most acceptable way of arranging a heating system is to use solid fuel equipment. Its cost varies widely, maintenance is quite simple, and the necessary supply of firewood can be made in advance.

Greenhouse construction step by step

To make your winter greenhouse solid, mark out an area for your foundation. For the sake of cheapening and simplifying the construction, you can use not a strip base, but columnar supports made of concrete, in which the racks will be walled up. The distance between them is 1 m, the diameter of the supports is 180 mm at the top and 250 mm at the bottom. Each of them is reinforced with three 10 mm diameter reinforcement rods.

Holes (burki) for arranging a point foundation

Concrete poles

The next stage of construction is the installation of the frame, consisting of the northern and southern parts. His algorithm looks like this:

  1. Bend the pipes on the pipe bender to the desired radius.
  2. Install the center pillars on the north side.
  3. Tie them with the top harness.
  4. Weld the bent pipes to the piping on one side and the other.
  5. Install and weld the sides of the frame.

The central pillars and the southern part of the frame are installed

The north side has been assembled, insulation has begun

Now insulate the structure from the north. To do this, cover the north wall with reflective insulation from the inside, and install foam sheets in two layers of 5 cm thick on the outside. Cover the outside with a layer of greenhouse film 150 microns thick. Attach the top to the timber or plywood strip pre-attached to the frame, and press the bottom with the ground.

It remains to paint and cover the finished frame from the south and at the ends with a solid sheet of film or polycarbonate. Remember that plastic panels must be installed with ribs along the frame posts. It is recommended to fasten them with self-tapping screws, complete with thermal washers with rubber gaskets. For the stability of the microclimate under the first layer of the shelter, lay the second one - from an air-bubble film.

Important! For regions with snowy winters and for buildings with stove heating, the film is not suitable!

When the structure is ready, start the installation:

  • underground heating pipes;
  • ground heating registers;
  • drip irrigation.

Attach the heating registers to the supply and return pipes through flexible joints on heat-resistant washers, and install a ball control valve on the back side.

Video: construction of a winter greenhouse in the country

As you can see, the principle of constructing a winter greenhouse with your own hands is quite different from the construction of an ordinary greenhouse. Several times increased loads (snow, wind), sudden temperature changes, a minimum amount of natural light require compensation due to the installation:

  • reinforced frame and polycarbonate shelter,
  • high-quality insulation and uninterrupted heating,
  • installation of ventilation and lighting equipment.

Considering the high cost of building materials and market instability, be sure to calculate the possible benefits and risks yourself or contact a specialist with this question. If you are confident in your own abilities, find out the additional subtleties of the project from the video and start implementing it.

Video 1: Polycarbonate Vegetable Winter Greenhouse

Video 2: Gas heating

Video 3: Artificial lighting with LED and HPS lamps