The Profitable Greenhouse

The preparation would be done in order to sell them when spring time comes. You may also use these types of greenhouses to start growing any plants which you could start growing in a glass glazed cold frame.

And there are many uses for plastic inside the glass house. I use thin sheets of transparent plastic to cover flats of seedlings or cuttings. It helps to maintain constant moisture and cuts down the time spent on watering the plantings. I like plastic bags for storing tubers and bulbs. Also, I fasten sheets of transparent plastic inside the glass house to provide insulation against cold and so cut down on heating costs.

Fiberglas House in Illinois

Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Reh of Belleville, Illinois, have pioneered in Fiberglas greenhouses, and their experience is valuable for every grower. In their first plastic greenhouse, the Rehs used 40- by 140-inch sheets of corrugated plastic for the roof.

A clear mastic was used to seal the plastic sheets together. (The sheets can also be “cemented” together with a weatherproof adhesive tape.) An overlap of one corrugation was used. The sheets were fastened to the various supports with galvanized screws, set with lead washers.

In this greenhouse, there are no provisions for vents in the roof, but four screened ventilators at ground level allow air intake. Top ventilation is provided by a thermostatically controlled low-speed fan. This fan makes an air change in the house every 7½ minutes without creating any drafts.

The pieces of glass located within the plastic and the crinkly surface area of the plastic, allow it to diffuse the light much more effectively. It diffuses light better because it diffuses the light without casting shadows, thanks to the pieces of glass. This greenhouse was very impressive because there wasn’t one inch of space that was wasted inside the greenhouse.

Every conceivable space was being used to grow plants. This greenhouse was also impressive because a very large amount of the visible light, approximately 85% was allowed inside. However, the infrared rays, the bad rays for plants, were for the most part blocked out. Inside the greenhouse was like being outside during a small overcast day.