Tag Archives: Greenhouse

Mini Greenhouse Kits Give You Gardening Power in Tight Spaces

If you are looking for a greenhouse, but aren’t sure if you will have the space, we can help! In addition to our full size greenhouse kits, we also offer more small space friendly varieties. Our cold frame greenhouse offer 5 sq. feet of growing space and is only 18″ high. The larger double cold frame has 9 sq. feet of space and is 21″ high. Our Grow Deck is just like a cold frame, but raised off the ground for easy access.

If you are looking for something larger, our 4-tiered mini greenhouse is 62″ H x 27″ L x 19″ W with 4 tiers that are each 12-1/2 inches high. It is completely enclosed with a plastic cover to keep your plants warm and safe. The Grow Station is a combination cold frame, a workbench and a storage unit to maximize your space saving potential. Our Plant Inn offers maximum capacity in a compact space. It measures 46″W x 46″D x 58.5″H and includes plant hangers, garden bed trays, and built in drainage!

Know When to Start Your Spring Vegetable Garden

Are you planting a garden this spring? Vegetable gardens are a great way to utilize space in your backyard. If you are new to vegetable gardening, you are probably wondering when you should start. Below, you will find a handy guide to help you understand when you should plant in your area of the country. When you start your plants, you can either start them indoors or use a cold frame greenhouse to start them outdoors. Cold frames act as a protective barrier, creating the perfect amount of sunlight and ventilation. This allows you to start your plants outdoors earlier than normal. Whether starting your gardening indoors or out, use the handy guide below to get started now!

Vegetable Growing Guide

You base when to start your plants (indoors or in a cold frame) on the date of the expected last frost in your growing zone. A “growing zone”, also known as a hardiness zone, is determined by the climatic conditions of the location where you live. It factors temperatures, rainfall, humidity, general soil conditions, and other factors to give you zone number. Your zone can also be used to help you determine which plants will thrive best where you live. The approximate date ranges for the last freeze in your zone is below.

  • Zone 1           June 1 – June 30
  • Zone 2          May 1 – May 31
  • Zone 3          May 1 –  May 31
  • Zone 4          May 1 – May 31
  • Zone 5          March 30 – April 30
  • Zone 6          March 30 – April 30
  • Zone 7          March 30 – April 30
  • Zone 8          February 28 – March 30
  • Zone 9          January 30 – February 28
  • Zone 10       January 1 – January 31
  • Zone 11        Frost Free Year Round

Below is a list of commonly grown vegetables and how many weeks before the last frost you should start your plants.

Vegetable                                                  Number of Weeks Before Frost to Start

Okra                                                            2-4 Weeks

Cucumbers                                               3-4 Weeks

Squash                                                        3-4 Weeks

Broccoli                                                     5-7 Weeks

Cabbage                                                     5-7 Weeks

Lettuce                                                       5-7 Weeks

Eggplant                                                    6-8 Weeks

Tomatoes                                                  6-8 Weeks

Spinach                                                      6-8 Weeks

Peppers                                                      8-10 Weeks

Onion                                                           10-12 Weeks

 

Happy gardening!

Replicate These Multi-Million Dollar Backyards!

1721 Coldwater Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills, Calif.

Photo by Coldwell Banker Previews International

I recently read an article titled Pools, Patios, and Gardens to Die For which featured some pretty spectacular homes. The $25 million Aspen, CO home includes a patio, heated pool, and breathtaking mountain view. For ONLY $4.8  million, you could go with the Beverly Hills home with a custom fire pit, pool, and hot tub (pictured above). These homes and backyards are gorgeous, but they are also out of the price range for most Americans. Recreate these scenes at your own home with the products below!

  • Steamer Deck Chairs are a beautiful way to lounge pool side. They will create a similar look to the Aspen home’s pool area. They offer a multi-position back, beautiful durability, and exceptional strength in their Eucalyptus frame. They will last for years and are a great investment. Add your favorite cushions for colorful custom look.
  • The Malibu home mentioned in the article above ($3 million) features an sprawling garden and impressive greenhouse. Create a stunning garden at your own home with the addition of pergolas, garden arbors, and hobby greenhouses. Flowering and lush green plants will create an eye catching escape.
  • Love the pirate ship play house in the Westlake Village home? Add a wooden swing set with tons of features to create fun and adventure for your little ones. A rope ladder, monkey bars, rock wall, telescope, steering wheel, and spiral slides will encourage creative play and healthy exercise year round.
  • Custom fire pits, like the one in the multi-million dollar Beverly Hills home, can cost thousands of dollars to install. Produce a warm, inviting atmosphere on your patio with an easy to use, pre-built fire pit or fire bowl. They are affordable, durable, and easy to operate.

Steamer Deck Chairs Hobby Greenhouse Kit Swing Set Kit Fire Pit

Greenhouse Ventilation

Did you know that proper ventilation is one of the most important factors to consider when you select a greenhouse for backyard gardening?  The job of a greenhouse is to warm the air inside the greenhouse and prevent it from escaping, thus extending the life of your garden to three, and sometimes four, seasons.  Without proper ventilation, though, a hobby greenhouse can become too humid or too hot for your plants, flowers, and vegetables.  Good ventilation is key, and this usually means circulation of new air every three to four minutes inside during the summer.  Without this circulation in the summertime, the greenhouse temperature will rise and can damage tender plants.  Fans contribute to mixing the air along with vents in the greenhouse roof and side walls.  In the spring and fall, these vents can usually cool the greenhouse without the need for circulating fans, which keeps your electric bill lower.  During the winter, opening and closing the greenhouse vents will allow plants to grow accustomed to the colder weather without freezing. 

With just a little practice, properly ventilating your hobby greenhouse will become a breeze, and you’ll benefit with a bountiful harvest.

Greenhouse Kit