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Posts Tagged ‘Affordable’

Eating Healthy During The Winter With Your Greenhouse Kit

March 15th, 2011

The cold winter can affect more than our moods and aching backs. Dieting has always been a battle during the winter months, mostly due to the convenience of less healthy, ready-made foods; and the lack of quality seasonal produce at the market that our bodies benefit from in the summer. However, with a lot less effort than most think – you can enjoy the comfort, convenience and health benefits of having produce readily available nearby in your own greenhouse kit.

With some proper attention to detail, a greenhouse kit in the winter can provide all of the benefits and satisfaction of a greenhouse garden in the warm weather. Here are some important tips and facts to consider when growing herbs, fruit and vegetables in the winter with your greenhouse kit:
- Consider an artificial light source to compensate for darker days during the winter months
- Occasionally wipe-down the interior walls of the greenhouse to allow more sunlight in
- Have a back-up heating plan in case your primary source of heat breaks down
- ‘Patience is key’ but consider that if results are not being achieved, you may want to re-work your arrangement(s), heating method or even plant new or different crops
- Research the proper method(s) and time periods to plant certain crops. Lettuce and Spinach, for example, hold true through cooler planting months like January while Tomatoes and Cucumbers are better suited to a late-winter month like April
- Replenish tired soil with composting from the previous summer’s harvest
- Speak with an expert about air ventilation and routinely monitor it

Some of the easiest and more popular vegetables to grow over the winter are: Arugula, Cabbage, Sweet and Hot Peppers, Chives, Broccoli, Garlic, Lettuce and Asparagus. These vegetables, among many others, are able to thrive in cooler settings because the plants do not require much more care than adequate water, modest sunlight, relatively warm temperatures, and good-quality soil. The variety of vegetables and fruit able to grow over the winter in greenhouse kits still require individual maintenance needs, yet boast well for success if properly attended to.

There are incredible communities of gardeners out there who are just like you! Share ideas on how to make the most of your greenhouse kit over the winter. Discuss tips and strategies for achieving better crop results with local experts and connect with others over social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

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Growing Rare and Tropical Plants in Your Home Greenhouse

March 8th, 2011

Cultivating rare plants is a rewarding activity that has a number of personal and environmental benefits. Aside from the enlightening task of caring for plants, growing certain species can help to keep them off endangered plant lists. With a home greenhouse kit, gardeners can admire the beauty of rare colours and shapes while playing a part in conservation and biodiversity.

In order to properly care for plants foreign to your greenhouse kit environment, you must research and simulate the native growing conditions of those respective species. Temperature, light, air ventilation, maintenance and proximity in relation to other plants are important factors that influence the health abundance. Remember that specific types of plants cannot properly adapt to conventional soil mixtures and instead require solutions like 3-part soil to 1-part sand and peat. More commonly, tropical plants will only flourish in soft soil beds.

Ferns, Begonias and Orchids are just some of the easily accessible tropical seeds available at your local greenhouse supply depot. Popular Ferns such as: Maidenhair, Staghorn and Boston thrive in humid, low-lit conditions. Begonias, native to South America, Africa and Asia will spoil you with year-round blossoms if they are properly nourished in shaded areas. Orchids are delicate and need frequent ‘misting’ to sustain health; humidity trays are an excellent method to help ensure this.

Palms, Bamboos, Jasmine, Hibiscus Flower, Lantanas, Gardenia, Ginger and Citrus Plants are able to sustain with relatively low maintenance in less favourable conditions. These are some plants that a less-skilled (yet no lack in passion) gardener can achieve great results with. A great tip to help boost the results of your winter garden is to seal-off any unused area of your greenhouse kit. This will help you more accurately control variables such as heat, ventilation and moisture.

Above all, when considering tropical and rare plants in your greenhouse kit plans, it is important to conduct research and understand the needs of the individual plants. Cater your greenhouse kit environment to properly suit the needs of your rare and tropical plants. Investigate local botanical policies and speak with local gardeners about rare and tropical plant sustainability and cultivation. Connect with other passionate gardeners in your area and share ideas on how to better enjoy your gardening experience.

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2011 Community Garden Greenhouse Give-A-Way Contest Deadline Extended!

February 22nd, 2011

You still have time! We’ve decided to extend our deadline for entries into the 2011 Community Garden Greenhouse Give-A-Way Contest!

If you are part of a community garden and still want to enter for your chance to win a Cultivator Premier Greenhouse Kit you can now enter your application until February 28, 2011 at midnight! Our winner will be announced on March 15th after we have had time to review all the fantastic applications we have received.

It is great to see that so many communities across the country are promoting healthy lifestyles and educating people of all ages through the power of gardening. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to add a new greenhouse kit to your community garden; allowing all of those involved the chance to garden year round!

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Planning for a Hobby Greenhouse

November 25th, 2010

The right greenhouse can make it possible to grow most things in almost any climate. Even if you live in an extremely hot and dry part of the world or in a cool and wet location, a greenhouse is able to provide the protection you need to create perfect growing conditions for almost any plant.

There are many benefits of having your own hobby greenhouse but you need to do some planning when you decide to start your project. Here are several things you should consider when setting up
your own hobby greenhouse kit:

Size and Available Space:
Greenhouse kits can be designed to fit almost any space, big or small. If you have room for a garden than you easily have room for your own greenhouse. There’s also a variety of different styles from freestanding to lean-to’s that make it possible to have a greenhouse in almost any
situation.

Time:
A hobby greenhouse creates the opportunity to spend as much or as little time as you like with your garden. You no longer need to worry about constant weeding or having to protect your plants from
invasive creatures. If you’d rather spend time in the garden than the grocery store a greenhouse might be a great fit.

Budget:
Getting started with your own hobby greenhouse costs less than you might think. With a quality plan in place you should be able to begin growing your fruits and vegetables while staying on budget. In the long-run it is possible to save money with a greenhouse since you will be growing your own fruits and vegetables. A package of seeds is usually far cheaper than buying that same vegetable or fruit in a grocery store.

Types of Plants:
Nearly any plant can be grown in a greenhouse, however some thought needs to be put into what types of plants you hope to grow. When you have decided on the type of garden you want, a greenhouse will allow you to control the environment to provide ideal growing conditions for your plants. Doing some research before hand will ensure that you know how to effectively use your greenhouse and create optimal growing conditions.

Accessories:
It is a good idea to become familiar with greenhouse accessories before you get started. The more you know about climate control, watering devices, temperature control and basic gardening tools
the more likely it is that you will be able to stay on budget.

Once you have setup your hobby greenhouse, most of your work is done. When your garden becomes established, you don’t have to worry about environmental elements such as drought, too much precipitation, frost or snow. Greenhouses protect your plants from pests such as deer, rabbits, raccoons, or insects and can completely eliminate any weeds from choking out your delicate plants.

If you research, plan and design accordingly, your hobby greenhouse garden will be more productive and require very little maintenance. A greenhouse allows for experimentation with various fruits and vegetables and allows you to express the joy you receive from gardening all year long.

For further information: www.nationalgreenhouse.com
Contact: andrewg@nexuscorp.com
Phone: (800) 303-1543 ext.533

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