National Greenhouse News

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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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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Gardening is one of those activities that is great for a person with a green thumb and those who want a fun and exciting hobby to pass the time; but that doesn’t mean you have to toil away alone at it. Gardening is a great way to meet new people and create a fantastic way to spend time and see positive results.

Communities all across the United States have developed gardens that are run and maintained by volunteers. They can be a small garden in an apartment complex or a large garden in a public park, size doesn’t matter, it’s all about the message they send. A community garden’s message is different from community to community but ultimately renowned scholar, Marshal McLuhan, said it best; “The medium is the message,” and in this case that medium is gardening. Gardening can help guide at-risk youth stay out of trouble, provide seniors with a hobby that keeps them active, and help teenagers and adults become teachers and learn in a practical hands-on environment all while building a positive centerpiece that communities can take pride in.

While scholars sit and debate that famous quote, that’s not what this article is about. We want to put the focus on how community gardens aid in building strong communities and how a greenhouse kit can help those gardens operate year round. Community gardens are an excellent addition to any community.

A community garden provides a place for hands-on education for people of all ages and helps to establish leaders and teachers. Community gardens are often found, but not limited to, lower income neighborhoods where children may be at a higher risk for dangerous behaviors. In the garden they can learn not only horticulture skills but life skills including healthy nutritional habits, teamwork, responsibility and finally practical skills; as they can be taught cooking skills using the fresh produce being grown in the garden.

While some states have a year round outdoor growing season that is not true for all the states and that is where a greenhouse kit becomes so valuable. If at-risk youth are able to continue maintaining the garden inside even a small hobby greenhouse, they will continue to learn and help them avoid those high-risk situations that they may otherwise find themselves in.

Greenhouse kits are often very affordable and are a great way to increase the attractiveness of the garden and the surrounding community. A hobby greenhouse kit is a great focal point for the garden and can help increase the sense of pride and accomplishment of the volunteers who have worked hard to create a welcome and inviting place for anyone to enjoy.

There is also the secondary benefit of the produce that is grown in community gardens. Often that produce is sold at local markets to help raise funds for new projects in the garden, or it is used to teach the garden volunteers how to cook and utilize fresh produce, or donated to local shelters to help feed those in need.  A community garden not only provides an entertaining hobby to those who participate in it but often times helps those in need by helping them to establish new skills or through the donation of produce grown. Adding a greenhouse kit to the mix will help to ensure that the pride, skills and donations can continue to grow, learn and contribute every month of the year.

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Northglenn, CO – Jan 3, 2010 – National Greenhouse Co. is proud to announce that it will be donating one Cultivator Premier Greenhouse Kit to a deserving community garden for its 2011 Community Garden Greenhouse Give-A-Way Contest. All communities across the United States are encouraged to enter the contest.

Starting in January 2011, entrants will be required to fill out an application explaining the story behind their community garden, the community it serves, any extraordinary volunteers and why the community garden is deserving of a new Cultivator Premier Greenhouse Kit. Applications will be accepted until 11:59am (PST) on February 15, 2011.

The winner of the Community Garden Greenhouse Give-A-Way Contest will be announced on March 1, 2011 on the National Greenhouse Co. website. The winning community will receive one (1) Cultivator Premier Greenhouse Kit and have an article written highlighting the positive effect the community greenhouse garden is having on their community. It will be featured on the National Greenhouse Co. website.

According to Andrew Gillespie at National Greenhouse Co., “This Community Garden Greenhouse
Give-A-Way Contest is a great way for us to acknowledge those who selflessly serve their communities; by promoting a positive message and attitude utilizing gardening as a tool in that endeavor these people help to bring together communities. We hope that this will help to inspire other people and communities to follow the same path and create vibrant communities all across this country.”

For complete details, rules and regulations please visit:
www.nationalgreenhouse.com/community-garden-greenhouse-giveaway.php

Contact:
Andrew Gillespie
andrewg@nexuscorp.com
National Greenhouse Co.
10983 Leroy Drive
Northglenn, CO 80233

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