Plans to Build Ridge and Furrow Greenhouses
If you are planning on creating a section of greenhouse on your property, chances are the style you are planning on making will be the ridge and furrow greenhouse.
This is a type of greenhouse that connects at the eaves and will typically be connected to additional greenhouses that surround it.
While you will find that most instructions recommend plastic for these buildings, while some people recommend that you use glass.
Your budget will have a considerable impact on the route you go with the types of siding that you use, but be sure you also consider the benefits of both types.
Glass is the most traditional choice used, but it doesn’t have the same insulation benefits that plastic can have.
In fact, plastic does offer less breakage and when using thicker choices, it can add better insulation, without increasing the weight of the structure.
Typically, this approach to greenhouse designs is used by those who are looking to growing in a larger space for individuals to grow in by offering some structures that can be double the size of a standard greenhouse.
Usually, these structures will offer a dome or gabled roof, depending on the building materials that were being used in their construction.
When mapping out the area you will be building in, you need to plan for an even number of greenhouses that will all run the same length.
You can either have the materials in place to build these on your own, planning for three individual walls and a shared wall, or you can have prefabricated greenhouses that will line up with each other.
Running through the structure, you will need to also plan for a gutter system. These gutters are going to be run through each of the houses and are designed to effectively move water through the system.
Because of their nature, you will want to ensure that you have a good quality gutter in place that will be easy to clean regularly, should any build up form in them.
The gutters do cause some problems in the ridge and furrow greenhouse.
The biggest problem that is often encountered is the gutters in the home can cast shadows that will impact the plants that are growing in them.
To help reduce the impact that they will have, you should plan on building your greenhouses so that they face a north and south direction, when possible.
One of the things that you must keep in mind is that your greenhouses must all be the same size for the ridge and furrow design to work.
Oddly sized structures can cause structural concerns and that can lead to weakened protection for the plants you are growing inside of them.
While planning, take into account that the connected walls all have to be the same size and shape and that the connecting sides will need to be a reflection of the dimensions as well.
While you are planning the ridge and furrow greenhouses, you may want to also consider the Venlo style. The layout of these greenhouses is very similar to the traditional ridge and furrow design, with the main difference being that the gables ends use narrow bars for the structure, while a single pane of glass is often installed in the roof.
Individuals who are using their greenhouse more for the winter months are going to find that this is perhaps the better route to go.
The reason is that the thinner glass on the roof will allow more light to come in for their crops. This means a longer period of sunlight they can count on and healthier plants during the colder season.
Venlo structures are part of the Dutch culture, but many areas in the Northern part of the United States have started to use them as they have proven to be more effective with growing healthier and stronger crops in the area.
The post How to Make a Ridge / Furrow Greenhouse Plans appeared first on DIY Greenhouse Gardening Plans.
