Greenhouse-breadbasket: manufacturing methods

Pleasing yourself and your loved ones with fresh vegetables from your personal garden plot is a special pleasure. And the sooner this treat appears on our tables, the better. In order to bring the moment of meeting with a fresh, fragrant, crispy cucumber or pouring tomato closer, avid diggers and fans of summer cottages equip a variety of greenhouses in their gardens. But not every summer resident can boast of an earthen expanse: sometimes every meter of the site is already planned and built up.

There is simply not enough space for a spacious and large-sized greenhouse. However, there is a way out! A compact greenhouse-bread bin not only does not take up much space, but also brings the long-awaited harvest closer. And to make it as easy as shelling pears. It is not at all necessary to spend money on a factory-made design.

The greenhouse got its "tasty" name due to the similarity in design with the bakers popular in our kitchens. It has an easily removable flap cover. Modern craftsmen practice several options for making "bread bins" at once, but all of them are united by a number of positive characteristics: you can open and close the greenhouse without any extra effort and even from both sides at the same time (if there are two leaves), the frame of the greenhouse is light and, accordingly, mobile, the greenhouse is covered polycarbonate, which means that rain streams will not wash out the lid and, thanks to the sloping surface, will not damage the plants hidden under it. Since there is no through passage in the greenhouse-breadbasket, the interior of the structure can be used one hundred percent. There is no need to provide space for the furrow and additional strengthening of the inner ridge.

This type of greenhouse is mainly intended for undersized representatives of the flora: for seedlings, growing conditions in this "house" will be just ideal. You will like a greenhouse of greens (parsley, dill, sorrel, garlic), aromatic berries (strawberries or strawberries) and, of course, root crops (carrots, beets). Taller plants, on the other hand, will most likely require higher ceilings. For example, tomatoes can be grown in a bread bin exclusively at the seedling stage. Later you will have to transplant them into a more spacious greenhouse or under the open sky.

The greenhouse design includes several components: the base of the greenhouse, the frame itself and the sheathing. Sash floors move up and down due to hinges. This feature gives the gardener the ability to independently regulate the temperature and light conditions of the greenhouse.

Let us dwell in more detail on the frame of the "bread bin", because the durability of the shelter depends on the strength of this element of the greenhouse. The base for the cladding is a quadrangle with vertically arranged triangular sidewalls. The upper part of the "breadbasket" frame is made of half-arches, which make up two sashes independent of each other. They are attached to the apex of the triangles located at the ends of the base using hinged structures. Each greenhouse sash has its own polycarbonate sheathing. Note that the difference in radius between the flaps gives the polycarbonate depth. Thanks to this, the doors open, easily sliding under each other.

If you still decide to buy yourself the aforementioned greenhouse, but factory-assembled, then folding the frame will not be difficult. Moreover, in addition to the purchase, there is a schematic drawing.Such an acquisition, depending on the "bells and whistles" and features of operation, will cost around 10 thousand. At times it is more budgetary to independently develop a drawing and design a structure from improvised sources. And to boast of a self-made greenhouse on a personal plot is a special pleasure for handy business executives.

Making a greenhouse from scrap materials is an occupation that requires thorough training and professional equipment. Among the tools necessary for construction are a hammer, a drill (screwdriver), metal scissors, a jigsaw, a portable home-use welding machine (if you decide to use welding to fasten the frame elements). From materials for the "bread box" you need to buy bricks, boards or blocks for the base-foundation, metal-plastic pipes or galvanized profiles, polycarbonate (the number of sheets depends on the selected size), self-tapping screws.

Among the stages, on the quality of which the further functionality of the greenhouse depends on, is the correct choice of a place for construction. Be sure to evaluate the quality of the land under the future greenhouse. If there is insufficient looseness or fertilization, it is better to equip the "bread bin" with a warm pillow like a silo pit. To do this, before installing the frame, you need to dig a rectangular trench, the bottom of which is laid out with thick paper to protect against parasites and weeds. Pour humus or household decomposing non-chemical waste on top of the cardboard, such as potato peelings, onion peels. Don't forget about the ash. Thanks to this free-flowing substance, the soil will not only become looser and more airy, but also clear of parasites.

Another equally important episode in the development of a plan-diagram of a future greenhouse-breadbasket is the most accurate measurement and control of the radius of half-arcs. In the event of an error in measurements, all work will be in vain. The design will turn out to be unreliable and skewed. And the wind inside the greenhouse can easily break the fragile branches of seedlings. If all the side elements of the "bread bin" are very tightly adjacent to each other, crops are not threatened by harmful drafts and temperature changes.

When making a bread bin on your own, the frame is made of any pipes, which, in turn, can be both plastic and metal. Choosing a "black" metal should not be, as it can corrode. And if you have already settled on this option, treat it with moisture-repellent paint before installing. The convenience of assembling the frame also depends on the shape of the pipes used. It is better to choose consumables with a square cut. It is much more convenient to work with them, fasten together and connect to the shelter. The frame is made of pipes of maximum strength. Cut polycarbonate is inserted into the finished frame (preferably with UV protection) or the film is stretched.

Dimensions should not be very cumbersome, because we are not facing a permanent shelter of plants from bad weather, but a temporary greenhouse. It is undesirable to equip an eight-meter greenhouse. And not only for reasons of space saving. First of all, the design of impressive dimensions will create shade on the site, which will adversely affect the rest of the out-of-green harvest.

It is advisable to be guided by the following guidelines:

• with one lid - width up to 1.5 m;
• with two slopes - width up to 2.3 m;
• greenhouse length - 3-4 m;
• height - up to 1.6 m.

• The first step is to familiarize yourself with the installation diagram in detail. You can find a huge number of them on the Internet. The frame is installed on a flat surface (a level is very useful here). In order for the seedlings to get more sunlight, it is advisable to place the greenhouse in accordance with the cardinal points: the length to the south side.
• If you firmly put the "bread box" on the ground and secure the base with pins or stakes, you do not need to fill in any foundation, because the structure itself is light. The rungs of the base must be bolted to each other.
• However, if the site is located in an open space and strong gusts of wind, it is still better to build a simple but weighted foundation. To do this, you can lay a row of bricks or put beams in a shallow ditch around the perimeter of the frame, while the tree is better treated against decay with a protective coating. By the way, a wooden base is a good option for making a foundation; if desired, such a base is very easy to disassemble in order to change the location of the greenhouse.

• After installing the frame, cover it with 4 mm thick polycarbonate. or a film, but in this case the structure will be less durable. Polycarbonate sheet should be leveled in a comfortable and clean area without bulges and the necessary elements should be marked. It is best to divide the sheet into blanks with an electric jigsaw. Be sure to cover the edges of the material with special plugs. This will keep the polycarbonate from getting dirty from the inside of the cells. The cover is fixed to the frame with self-tapping screws. The excess parts are cut off. Please note that when assembling the frame, there should be no tightening of bolts or distortions. Otherwise, the structure will simply be unstable and at the first gust of wind it will fall on the neighboring beds.
• If a gardener plans a removable cover, it is put on last, fixed either with hinges or bushings. A greenhouse covered with a covering material should be checked for ease of opening and closing. If the work is done correctly, the flaps will open easily and without hindrance. Also, the convenience of opening and closing the greenhouse will provide comfortable fittings. It is advisable to choose a handle for a greenhouse from light and durable materials. You need to attach it to the frame with self-tapping screws.

Typically, such structures function smoothly for several seasons. There are no special comments or complaints about their operation from the owners. Basically, the majority of users of "bread boxes" note the efficiency of the greenhouse. After all, a modern greenhouse is an expensive pleasure.

Of the special wishes voiced by experienced gardeners, the following are worth noting:

• For an excellent harvest to the envy of the neighbors on the site, as well as for the health of your plantings, try to avoid shrubs or trees near the greenhouse, which not only obscure the area, but also complicate the process of soil cultivation with their roots;
• Observe the distance from large buildings (baths, garages, country houses), as well as from a cesspool (at least 20 meters);

Mini-greenhouse "snail" generally has only positive reviews. For buyers, you can grow a lot more products in it.

Professionals give several recommendations for operation.

• It is better to put organic fertilizers, dry foliage or grass under the base of the greenhouse. All this will rot, providing the seedlings with additional heating.
• Green spaces will be grateful for the constancy of the climate under the arches of the structure. Polycarbonate, on which a specific protective film against ultraviolet rays is applied, is obliged to guarantee such stability. When purchasing cladding materials, be sure to consult with the seller on this topic. At the time of choosing a cover for a greenhouse, each owner must decide what purpose is being pursued. If you want to save money, it is better to buy maximum strength plastic wrap. Now on the market, these products are presented in the widest abundance. The film will also perfectly cope with its covering duties. But, perhaps, it will give way to polycarbonate in durability.

• Since this greenhouse is particularly light, with a strong and gusty wind with a speed of 7 m / s, it can overturn, especially when open. Pay special attention to anchoring the structure to the ground.
• Lubricate the hinge system with oily substances periodically to reduce squeaking and friction.
• The slopes can be equipped with an additional "gadget" - brushes for cleaning natural dirt: twigs, leaves, dust that have fallen or settled on the greenhouse during operation.
• With the onset of spring, fill the "bread bin" with snow. Moistening the ground with melt water has a beneficial effect on the quality of seedlings.

If used correctly, the "bread box" will delight you with functionality, versatility, compactness and environmental friendliness. The miniature appearance of such a structure will harmoniously fit into the landscape of any personal plot, without violating a single author's decision. Have a great harvest!

For methods of making a greenhouse-breadbasket, see the next video.