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Hi Winter Gardenz...
I've attached some photos of the greenhouse (including 'before' and 'after' shots; unfortunately the tomatoes in the after shot are only about two thirds of the size they were a couple of weeks ago!) When I looked at all the bits in the packages I thought there was no way I could put it together by myself. However, the instructions were easy to follow and all the pieces were manageable by one person. As long as the initial platform is level everything fits together beautifully. And, for people like me, there's enough tolerance in the design for it to fit together even if the original platform isn't perfectly level. By having one side for growing (in my case peas and then tomatoes, chilies, capsicum and cucumbers) and the other fitted with two shelves for supporting the containers for growing from seed and cuttings, the greenhouse became both a working and growing area ... and a haven of peace and quiet. Actually, this year I planted both sides with tomatoes as an experiment, but was almost driven out of the greenhouse by the rampant growth and only managed to claim a small section near the door to work on the seeds and cuttings. I'll not do that next year. I'm very please with the strength of the greenhouse too. We get a lot of strong winds in Otago and the only damage done was to the skylight windows because I forgot to close them (and the door) and the aluminium fittings buckled as the wind raced through the structure. The greenhouse of our neighbour (not Winter Gardenz) had its door blown off in the same storm. Thank you. All the best
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More great feedback... "We are delighted with our new shade house which will give us just the conditions we need for some of our special bromeliads. We are particularly impressed with the quality of the components and the construction. The assembly instructions were a breeze; very comprehensive and the detail focused on the trickier steps was great. We particularly enjoyed the built in tea breaks but have to confess to a beer or two also!" Greenhouse Gardening Pest Control Greenhouse gardening pest control is very important and it is becoming a big issue as this will ensure that your plants’ state of health is good. Read on below to learn about this topic and the potential pests you may come across.
Greenhouses provide the warmth and humidity so that plants can have optimum growth. However, gardening problems like having garden pests in the greenhouse are very likely as well because they enjoy the conditions within the greenhouse. They often sneak into the greenhouse via holes and small gaps. So firstly, lets get familiar with some of the pests you may encounter.
Now, without further ado, let`s look at some greenhouse gardening pest control measures that you can apply as soon as possible so that the comfort bed of your plants will not be destroyed by these notorious creatures. Cleaning And Maintenance Just like any other gardening tools, your greenhouse requires cleaning and maintenance as well. Be sure to give dirty spots some scrubbing so that fungus and bacteria will not have a chance of breeding. In addition to this, it would be very beneficial to schedule an annual greenhouse cleaning routine (best done in the summer). For this, you need to transfer all the plants and equipments out. Clean the walls, corners, racks, secluded spots and floor using detergent and warm water so that insects, germs and bacteria will be killed. Scanning Plants Sorry for over-exaggerating the process but you need to make sure that your plants are free from pests infestation before you move them into your greenhouse because once in there, pests will breed at optimum speed. If there are any stems or leaves that are damaged, remove them from the plants. You can also place your plants in water in order to drown these creatures. Chill Pests To Death When you face pest infestation problems that are very serious, you may want to put your greenhouse into chilling effect during the winter so that pests, including their eggs, will be frozen to death. Sterilize Your Gardening Materials Again, this is not a hypocrite move if you really want to prevent any pests that our eyes cannot spot directly. Sterilize your gardening tools using a basic water-detergent solution. Also, instead of using normal garden soil that might contain eggs or small pests, you should use potting soils that are purchased from nurseries as they are sterilized and full of nutrients. Daily Inspection While working on your garden everyday, you must also look out for the signs of pests. If you spot the normal characteristics of a plant being infested, you should immediately remove the plant from the greenhouse and treat it separately. You may also want to segment out your greenhouse so that there is a space for you to treat infested plants. Most of the time, pests will release some kind of chemical substances to attract more of their species. Thus, moving your plants out of the greenhouse may not be the choice. Mesh Screens To Stop Flying Pests Another greenhouse gardening pest control measure would be to install mesh screens on all air ventilation facilities, if any. However, you must not seal out every air vent of your greenhouse. Setting up mesh screens on all air vents can prevent flying pests such as roaches, hornets, moths and whiteflies from entering your greenhouse via the air vents. Natural Biological Control You can always combat pests by introducing their worst natural predator into your greenhouse habitat. You can always purchase ladybugs and praying mantis egg cases from your local garden center or online stores to be placed within your greenhouse. Here comes the question. What if there is no more pests and your natural helper starts to outgrow the number of pests? Well, they will die off due to the lack of food. They don’t feast on your plants due to hunger so don’t worry about that. Browse through our website for our range of bird netting and insect screening products to keep your greenhouse safe from pests. www.wintergardenz.com.au 3 Exotic Greenhouse Crops
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| The backyard greenhouse is finally getting some respect. Avid gardeners, many of them retired baby boomers, are building greenhouses not just for gardening, but also for crafting, reading and lounging—in essence, a female version of the "man cave." By day, they are sunny, private, plant-filled sanctuaries filled with the sound of classical music or NPR. By night, they are sparkling spaces for cocktails amid exotic foliage. Either way, they are worlds away from the rinky-dink eyesores that backyard greenhouses used to be, all flimsy plastic and wobbly poles. "I love to go out there on a cold January day," says Alice Preyer, 56, whose greenhouse is built of heavy aluminum and tempered glass from an English-imported kit behind her 1930s brick home in Greensboro, N.C. "The sun is beating in, and it feels fabulous," she says. Plants are almost an afterthought. Ms. Preyer's greenhouse is a home for her citrus trees and tall gardenia, but it also contains a comfy garden chair, tucked in a corner and reupholstered in a fern print. She displays her collection of antique water pitchers in the greenhouse and filled shelves by the entryway with garden books and magazines. Pots of blooming pink geraniums are arranged on wrought-iron shelves. "I'll go out there with my magazines, listen to music and make phone calls," Ms. Preyer says. "It is like a fairyland." The latest addition to the backyard is sometimes a greenhouse. Families are finding it's more than a great way to grow plants, Anne Marie Chaker reports on Lunch Break. (Photo: Jay Paul for The Wall Street Journal) James Kirkpatrick, 61, recently added a 22-foot-long "Cape Cod" greenhouse to his property, also in Greensboro. It's mainly for his wife, Jane, 58. She envisioned year-round gardening, tea parties, flower-pressing and scrapbooking with her granddaughters amid African violets and orchids. "I'm just interested in a good-tasting tomato in January or February," Mr. Kirkpatrick says. "I hope she lets me in the door." | 
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Ms. Kirkpatrick plans to decorate using washed-out paint finishes, farm tables and old galvanized-steel seed trays. She has several old baskets to hold tools and clay pots. And she wants to have cabinets built around an abandoned porcelain sink she discovered in her grandmother's house. "I'm now looking for old, ratty oriental rugs to throw on the floor," she says.
At International Greenhouse Co., a commercial and residential distributor in Danville, Ill., sales to homeowners are up about 30% from three years ago, while commercial sales have been "in the dumps," says business owner David George. Hartley Botanic Ltd., a British maker of Victorian-style greenhouses (average price, $65,000), pegs annual sales growth in the U.S. at about 15% for the past three years. Behind the growth is increasing "awareness about growing your own food and getting back to nature," says Johnny Mobasher, Hartley's U.K.-based managing director. Hartley's typical consumer is about 60, "fully retired, their mortgage is paid up, working a couple days a week and with a lot of disposable income," he says.
Brenda Plantz, 65, has been experimenting with different plant combinations in her "Victorian manor" greenhouse from Hartley, which she had built last July at her Charlottesville, Va., home. The cost, including electrical wiring, gas heating and plumbing installation, was about $80,000. Her San Marzano tomato plants, started from seed, are about a foot tall, and mesclun lettuces are ready to pick. She plans to start English cucumbers from seed soon. But more than a vegetable zone, Ms. Plantz's greenhouse is her playroom. "It's a huge sunny spot, and fun to go there in the wintertime, sit at the table and have a cup of tea," she says.
Greenhouses let in light and contain heat—meaning on a sunny, frigid day, temperatures inside can easily run 50 degrees higher than outside, says Shane Smith, author of the book "Greenhouse Gardener's Companion." In winter, that can be ideal for growing tropical plants, which thrive in temperatures in the 80- to 90-degree Fahrenheit range. But watch out in spring and summer, when interior temperatures can be unbearable for plants and humans, climbing up over 120 degrees. Crack open a few windows or run a fan so plants don't overheat. On winter nights, to protect plants from frostbite, it may be necessary to run a space heater.
Mold and mildew thrive in greenhouses with overwatered plants or inadequate ventilation. The fan or the heater will help, but running them also will add hundreds of dollars a year to the electric bill. "It's kind of like having a pet," Mr. Smith, the author, says. "If you disappear for four or five days, you can have problems."
Ms. Plantz appreciated the risks of ownership last August, when an earthquake rattled the East Coast a month after construction ended. "I looked over to the greenhouse and the very end pane moved," she says. "We were petrified that the whole thing would come crashing down." The structure remained standing.
When Dan Schwenker, 57, and his wife, Deb, 55, built their long-dreamed-of outdoor pool, Mr. Schwenker thought of a way to swim year-round. "An idea popped into my head—greenhouse," says the retired vice president of a Burlington, Iowa, construction company. "We usually go for a swim at night, after we get off work." Even in the dead of winter, he says, "you can just go out there, turn on the pool lights, see the blue water— it's just really nice."
From the Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/articles/
By Anne Marie Chaker March 7, 2012
At International Greenhouse Co., a commercial and residential distributor in Danville, Ill., sales to homeowners are up about 30% from three years ago, while commercial sales have been "in the dumps," says business owner David George. Hartley Botanic Ltd., a British maker of Victorian-style greenhouses (average price, $65,000), pegs annual sales growth in the U.S. at about 15% for the past three years. Behind the growth is increasing "awareness about growing your own food and getting back to nature," says Johnny Mobasher, Hartley's U.K.-based managing director. Hartley's typical consumer is about 60, "fully retired, their mortgage is paid up, working a couple days a week and with a lot of disposable income," he says.
Brenda Plantz, 65, has been experimenting with different plant combinations in her "Victorian manor" greenhouse from Hartley, which she had built last July at her Charlottesville, Va., home. The cost, including electrical wiring, gas heating and plumbing installation, was about $80,000. Her San Marzano tomato plants, started from seed, are about a foot tall, and mesclun lettuces are ready to pick. She plans to start English cucumbers from seed soon. But more than a vegetable zone, Ms. Plantz's greenhouse is her playroom. "It's a huge sunny spot, and fun to go there in the wintertime, sit at the table and have a cup of tea," she says.
Greenhouses let in light and contain heat—meaning on a sunny, frigid day, temperatures inside can easily run 50 degrees higher than outside, says Shane Smith, author of the book "Greenhouse Gardener's Companion." In winter, that can be ideal for growing tropical plants, which thrive in temperatures in the 80- to 90-degree Fahrenheit range. But watch out in spring and summer, when interior temperatures can be unbearable for plants and humans, climbing up over 120 degrees. Crack open a few windows or run a fan so plants don't overheat. On winter nights, to protect plants from frostbite, it may be necessary to run a space heater.
Mold and mildew thrive in greenhouses with overwatered plants or inadequate ventilation. The fan or the heater will help, but running them also will add hundreds of dollars a year to the electric bill. "It's kind of like having a pet," Mr. Smith, the author, says. "If you disappear for four or five days, you can have problems."
Ms. Plantz appreciated the risks of ownership last August, when an earthquake rattled the East Coast a month after construction ended. "I looked over to the greenhouse and the very end pane moved," she says. "We were petrified that the whole thing would come crashing down." The structure remained standing.
When Dan Schwenker, 57, and his wife, Deb, 55, built their long-dreamed-of outdoor pool, Mr. Schwenker thought of a way to swim year-round. "An idea popped into my head—greenhouse," says the retired vice president of a Burlington, Iowa, construction company. "We usually go for a swim at night, after we get off work." Even in the dead of winter, he says, "you can just go out there, turn on the pool lights, see the blue water— it's just really nice."
From the Wall Street Journal http://www.wsj.com/articles/
By Anne Marie Chaker March 7, 2012
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