Farming is not easy especially if the person is just new to the business. Since this individual is just new, it will be a great idea to do some research and read up to be ready to face what lies ahead.
The greatest threats most farmers encounter are the pests, the diseases that may affect the crops and the weather. Since people cannot control the weather, then that person must focus on the other two.
The best way to do this if the person doesn’t have the much money yet is to buy a second hand greenhouse. This structure regardless if it is new or old is still able to do the same function. That is to help the farmer grow crops in a controlled environment and make money in this business.
The first thing the farmer should do is measure the area. By knowing how big is needed, the person can then write it down for easier reference later on when searching for the right greenhouse.
Another thing to think about is the kind of greenhouse that is dependent on the type of weather in the farm. If the area always experiences strong winds, it will be advisable to get the kind made of metal. This will keep the greenhouse on the ground and will not blow over due to a storm.
Panels make up the other half of the greenhouse since it controls the amount of UV light that enter. It. This should also be strong enough to withstand bad weather if it also happens often.
The best kind to have around is the kind made of Plexiglas or plastic. This will save the farmer money in the future since glass often shatters and breaks after a storm.
Another thing that the farmer must anticipate aside from bad weather is the cold winters and the hot summers. The second hand greenhouse should have a heater. If there is none, then the person will just have to buy one.
This can be powered using electricity, gas or oil and the size of the machine will depend on the size of the greenhouse.
Since it could get very hot in the summer, it will be a good idea to have ventilation system installed. This will ensure that there is sufficient oxygen and carbon dioxide for the plants to grow.
The farmer should also attend conferences and conventions about farming to keep up to date on the latest trends. One technique that the farmer can use on the second hand greenhouse is hydroponics farming.
This is done by planting and growing crops using water instead of soil. Tests have shown that this is more effective than traditional farming done on the soil since the plants are able to absorb nutrients faster in the form of liquids.
The farmer will just have to buy certain systems that can mix the nutrients and the water together that will make it easier for the plants to absorb.
In the absence of the farmer who might be busy doing other activities, a timer can also be purchased which will release the liquids at the proper time.
Farming isn’t something that people can earn money from monthly. It takes time to plant the crops, let it grow, harvest it then sell it at the market. Buying a second hand greenhouse may speed up the process since it enables the farmer to grow it all year round.
By spending a little money since these greenhouses are a bit expensive and looking at the long term goal, that farmer will be able to compete with those who have been doing it for years.
A second hand greenhouse is only temporary until the farmer has enough money to invest in a new one. Until that time, the farmer should be patient and work hard because eventually, everything will fall into place.
The person can find these in the classified ads of the newspaper, browsing through the internet and talking to fellow farmers and suppliers. By going around these places first and doing a comparison, the person may just find the right kind that will do the job until a new one can be constructed.
Plant breeding and plant production is a very productive hobby and livelihood. It is good way to earn some living by producing high-valued crops. It is also a good way of contributing to the environment. The best way to sustain this endeavor is to get a solar greenhouse. Read on to learn the basics of the solar greenhouse.
What Is a Solar Greenhouse?
The very purpose of any greenhouse is to collect solar energy whenever the sun shining high. However, solar greenhouses serve a more specific purpose. It is able to do more than collect the solar energy. The solar greenhouse is able to store heat that can be used during nighttime, cloudy days or the cold season. It provides adequate heat that the plants will need for their growth even during the night time or the cold seasons.
The good thing about solar greenhouses is that there are choices to choose from and to suit the needs of the owner.
They can stand alone. This is very ideal for big production greenhouses. The freestanding ones are ideal for commercial production. These are used to produce ornamentals or vegetables. They have two primary designs, the shed type and the Quonset type.
The shed-type has a long axis running from the east to the west. It has a south-facing wall glazed to collect maximum amount of the energy from the sun. The north-facing wall on the other hand is very much insulated to avoid heat loss. These features are what contrast a solar greenhouse from the ordinary ones.
The Quonset type can sometimes look like an underground pit. This is a low-cost greenhouse. It has a Quonset-shaped frame and looks like a tunnel. It has a layer or two of plastic film. This can save as much as 40% of the heating fuel.
They can also be merely attached to the greenhouses, very ideal for backyard use. The attached solar greenhouses are structures that form some sort of a room protruding from a house. This is a good space for transplants or herbs.
Passive or Active
The solar greenhouse is classified into two. It can be the passive solar greenhouse or the active. These two makes use of different resources, but still serve a same purpose.
The Passive Solar Greenhouse
In some places, where colder seasons tend to endure longer, there may be a need to resort to passive solar greenhouse, using gas or electric heating system. This is the only way to protect the plants from getting too much cold.
This is very ideal for growers as it can still give way to so much productivity despite the conditions. The use of heating systems for greenhouses to be cost-effective is best utilized if there are high-value crops to be produced.
The Active Solar Greenhouse
The active solar greenhouse makes use of supplemental energy. It transfers the solar heated air from the storage area to the other parts of the greenhouse.
Designing a Solar Greenhouse
Most would claim that managing and maintaining an ordinary greenhouse does not differ much with the solar greenhouse. However, there are a number of ways that they differ. These are significant distinctions.
Solar greenhouses, unlike the ordinary ones, have oriented glazing to get utmost solar heat, even during winter. Its materials are designed to minimize loss of heat. It uses heat storing materials. It also has insulation especially useful when there is no sunlight. The solar greenhouse also depends heavily on natural ventilation for cooling during summer.
Solar Heat Storage
This is one main feature in designing a solar greenhouse. To remain warm even during cool nights, there must be sufficient amount of solar heat stored. One common method used to store this energy is to put rocks or concrete directly receiving the sunlight to absorb the heat.
Cinder block walls at the north side of a greenhouse are also used as good heat storage. Dark-colored ceramic floorings can also be used to store the heat. Any wall or flooring not used for heat absorption is supposed to be colored light. This should be designed to reflect the heat and light and distribute it to the plants.
The management of a greenhouse can also determine the amount of heat stored. A greenhouse that is full of plants and structures can store heat easier compared to an empty one. Composts can also complement the heat storage goal as they help produce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Furthermore, the microorganisms in the compost also contribute to the increase in plant production.
Some would rely on any structure that would resemble a greenhouse to accommodate the plants. However, to be efficient and cost-effective, aim for the optimum setting in your solar greenhouse.
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