Snow in a greenhouse: advantages
In winter, in a closed, unheated greenhouse, despite the absence of plants and crops in it, important processes occur, one of which is freezing of the ground. At this moment, pests and pathogens die. This is a necessary factor, but at the same time the soil dries out greatly. It becomes compacted; water does not pass through such soil. There is no air exchange either. Gardeners often have to change the soil in a greenhouse every spring. This is very costly in terms of money, time, and effort invested.
Snow in the greenhouse acts as a humidifier. The precipitation poured inside the greenhouse plays the role of a cushion: on the one hand, the ground is at sub-zero temperatures, which means there is no possibility of diseases occurring; on the other hand, the soil does not freeze so intensely.
Snow in a greenhouse acts as a soil moisturizer
If perennials are left to overwinter in the greenhouse, then the snow will cover their roots and save them from death. Of course, the snow must be loose; under no circumstances should it be compacted. Under such an airy feather bed, the soil retains its structure. Any soil contains many beneficial microorganisms that are indispensable when growing vegetable and garden crops. With severe freezing, the soil microflora deteriorates. It is not for nothing that it is so important to be able to retain snow on the site. The soil inside greenhouses requires no less care (read how to improve the structure of the soil and increase its fertility here).
And in the spring, when the air temperature begins to rise, the snow will turn into melt water, which is very beneficial for plants. The soil is well moistened. Regular watering cannot achieve this effect. And the more snow, the deeper the soil is saturated. And there is no need to be afraid that the greenhouse will flood. The ground is not very frozen, so it will absorb everything. Abundant moisture helps the soil to stock up on minerals that water carries. This allows the sprouts to form healthy and strong.
Read how to treat a greenhouse in spring here
Snow in a greenhouse is a waste of time, say opponents of this method
Is there a place for snow in a greenhouse? Expert commentary
How did you manage such a valuable gift from nature? Snow is a winter attribute, mandatory for preparing the garden for the new season. Without it, you can’t count on a large harvest—especially in a greenhouse—says SB. Popular
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Snow, as you know, is a poor conductor of heat, and therefore an excellent thermal insulation layer between frosty air and relatively warm ground.
And the looser it is (that is, the more air there is between the snowflakes), the more it protects the soil from cooling. Therefore, a grave mistake is made by those gardeners who carefully trample the snow in the beds after each snowfall. The denser it is, the worse it protects plants and soil. In addition, snow as a natural preservative slows down all microbiological and chemical processes occurring in the soil. And at the same time it effectively protects its top layer from erosion.
Under loose snow, beneficial microorganisms develop much better. And in the spring, when the temperature is above zero, they will begin to awaken much earlier.
In soils frozen to great depths, they are restored very slowly. But it is the beneficial biota that is responsible for fertility and productivity. And even if you thoroughly water the soil in the spring, beneficial microorganisms will still “wake up” much more slowly than in beds that have stood under snow all winter.
And the thinner the layer of insulating warm air, the stronger and deeper the ground freezes. So, at minus 30 degrees, bare soil turns to stone 1.5-2 m deep, and covered with snow, only 0.5-0.7 m.
A snowdrift 70-80 cm high almost completely isolates the soil from cold air. A layer of snow less than 10 cm will not bring any benefit. Quite the contrary. Firstly, it does not protect the soil from heat loss at all. Secondly, it completely reflects the sun's rays.
In early spring, melt water will effectively nourish the soil, saturating it with useful microelements. Scientists have proven that 1 kg of snow contains up to 7.4 mg of nitrogen compounds. And most of them are in the frost. It is no coincidence that there is a popular belief that frost fertilizes the soil. A liter of snow water contains from 20 to 55 mg/l of nitrogen.
The special molecular structure of melt water perfectly awakens the earth. Under its influence, seeds germinate more actively. Therefore, in a greenhouse covered with snow, the plants will be healthier, the soil will be moist and loose, and the harvest will be more abundant.
Since the weather is unpredictable, every time you are at the dacha, throw snow into the greenhouse. You can, in order not to bother yourself, disassemble its top or side parts in advance. If the structure is non-demountable, it is very important to periodically clear snow from the roof.
Many summer residents leave their doors and windows open for the winter. But strong winds (which are not uncommon in winter) can tear out window frames or break a door.
How much snow do you need to put in a greenhouse? It’s still not worth throwing large snowdrifts: they will take a long time to melt, and the amount of moisture will exceed the permissible norms. And under a thick layer, the soil will warm up much more slowly, which means that the planting of seedlings will have to be postponed to a later time.
And the volume of snow that needs to be thrown inside the greenhouse must be “coordinated” with the level of groundwater. If they are far away, then there may be more snow, so that in the spring the melt water will thoroughly saturate the soil. If the groundwater comes too close, especially if the site is located in a lowland, then it is better to reduce the layer of snow so that the beds do not “float” in the spring. Otherwise, you will have to wait a long time until the soil dries properly.
A lot of snow - a lot of bread, a lot of water - a lot of grass. Apparently, based on this, people advised not to ask anyone for snow in winter. The same goes for not lending money to anyone. Otherwise, you will have to work tirelessly all spring, and the harvest will still not be as expected.
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Snow in a greenhouse: cons
However, opponents of this method of wintering make a very compelling argument: just try to haul in as much snow as the soil itself needs. In order to make a snow “blanket” 1 meter high, almost two dozen cubic meters of precipitation must be brought into a typical greenhouse. And all this with an ordinary shovel. Some people leave the greenhouse door open, but this should not be done, as winter winds and snowstorms can damage the structure. In addition, if the site is located in close proximity to a forest, then guests begin to come into the greenhouse - wild animals that leave excrement behind them - this is unsafe from the point of view of sanitary standards.
Even a small greenhouse requires a large amount of snow mass
Another disadvantage: changes in the weather are also provoked by unstable climatic conditions inside the greenhouse. It also happens that melted snow does not have time to sink into the soil, turning into an ice crust by nightfall. Well, if the next day the sun melts it, it may happen that frosts break out, then being under the ice will be very stressful for the ground cover.
Read about how I chose a greenhouse for myself here.
When to throw snow in a greenhouse
It’s better to throw snow into the greenhouse as early as possible...
When you see that the snow on the outside has piled up a meter high and the polycarbonate has begun to bulge inside, it means it’s time to throw snow into the greenhouse, at least in order to create a proportional load on the inside.
You can, of course, dig out excess snow from the walls of the greenhouse from the outside, but this will not give any results while winter is in full swing and the level of snow cover is constantly replenished and rising.
If there is not enough snow, then even more so, start worrying early when throwing snow into the greenhouse, so that in parts and gradually, but throw more snow into the greenhouse. If it is not enough for the soil to absorb the required amount of moisture at the right time, then you may be left without a harvest.
Someone might argue that in the spring you can simply water the beds in the greenhouse so as not to travel out of town in winter.
The fact is that melt water has a different structure than water from a tap or even from a well. It becomes structured and, as in the fairy tale about living water, awakens all living things: bacteria, seeds, plant roots, everything that is in the ground. Under her influence, everything comes into motion. The power in her is miraculous.
Do you need snow in a greenhouse?! Winter work in the garden
The debate around the question “is snow needed in a greenhouse” is flaring up more and more often. Some argue that this is a waste of time. Someone says the opposite - we need snow! Let's look at this issue in more detail.
In winter, the earth is wrapped in a snow-white blanket. Nature has thought out everything to the smallest detail. Snow helps the soil retain heat and not freeze. The plants are securely hidden; they are not afraid of any frost under the thickness of sparkling snowflakes. Thanks to snow, winter plantings are able to withstand low temperatures, the plants do not freeze, and in the spring they delight us with young sprouts. Fruit bushes covered with snow are protected from cold weather, frost cracks and sunburn in the second half of winter. For a gardener, the amount of snow that falls during the winter is of great importance. The future harvest will depend on this. Snowless winters with low temperatures are a real disaster! Trees, shrubs and winter plantings freeze. Therefore, snowdrifts in the garden are a balm for the soul for a gardener. But is it needed in a greenhouse? More likely yes than no.
Throw it in!
A greenhouse is an enclosed space with an already established microclimate. It is always warmer in winter. Snow in the greenhouse is needed to moisten the soil before planting. Melt water, in addition to life-giving moisture, contains a lot of useful microelements. That is why agronomists always point out that it is better to water the soil with rain or melt water.
Snow in a greenhouse will not harm; moreover, it is needed there. Many summer residents begin to carry out such work as soon as permanent snow cover falls. All winter they periodically throw snow into the greenhouse. This is not recommended, since in the spring a real swamp may form in the greenhouse. Indoors, excess moisture takes much longer to evaporate. It is not recommended to throw large amounts of snow if it is close to the groundwater surface. This can create a mess that will dry out until June, which is undesirable for a greenhouse.
The optimal time to throw snow into the greenhouse is February. It must be distributed evenly around the entire perimeter. The thickness of the snowdrift in the greenhouse bed should be at least 50 cm, but not more than 80. You cannot compact the snow with a shovel! This will disrupt one of the main properties of snow - breathability. After all, snowflakes are 95% air. Thanks to this, the snow as a whole is able to create a “fur coat” that does not conduct heat well, thereby warming the soil.
You cannot trample in the snow in the garden - in beds and places where shrubs, trees and other plants grow. Do not disturb the air and snow cover, this can lead to poor germination of winter plantings.
If crust has formed in winter, it is recommended to pierce the ice crust around trees and plants. This way, air will penetrate under the crust, and falling snow will linger on the ice crust and not slide off. The crust will gradually move away and become loose, which is very important for wintering plants and trees.
Snow burn
Another property of snow is light reflection. In winter it plays into the hands of the plants, but in the spring the trees may suffer from this. How? When daylight hours become longer and the sun begins to warm up, reflected rays hit tree trunks, which can cause burns. That is why in the fall trees are whitened before the first branches. This reduces the risk of burns to a minimum. At the end of February, many gardeners begin to sprinkle the snow near tree trunks with wood ash. Due to this, the property of light reflection is lost. The orchard will be safe. Moreover, as the snow melts, the ash will automatically fall into the soil and enrich it with useful substances.
In winter, it is not recommended to leave the greenhouse open. This is especially true for unreliable structures that can become unusable under the influence of winds and frost.
After autumn tillage and soil preparation, close the room and leave it alone throughout the winter until February, when it’s time to throw in snow. If you don’t want to swing a shovel and take care of the snow cover in the greenhouse, in the spring, thoroughly water the soil with melt water. It is necessary to saturate the soil with moisture before planting. That's all for winter activities in the greenhouse!
The impact of snow on polycarbonate greenhouses and its consequences
Today, polycarbonate greenhouses are very popular among amateur and professional gardeners. They are easy to use, do not require annual disassembly and assembly, and are durable. Modern greenhouses are made of high-strength polycarbonate and are produced mainly of an arched type, which facilitates the self-cleaning of the greenhouse from fallen snow. Such greenhouses can serve their owners faithfully for many years.
However, if in your region the winter is snowy or, even worse, there is rain in addition to snowfall, there is a certain danger of the greenhouse breaking down. Heavy snowfalls lead to the accumulation of snow at the very top of the greenhouse, forming a snow cap, which increases pressure on the structure as a whole and, in particular, on the polycarbonate.
When a certain critical level of load on the structure is reached, the arcs may bend, which leads to deformation and sagging of the polycarbonate, or to its complete failure. There are also significant risks that polycarbonate itself will not withstand the “snow cap”. This is especially true if the distance between the arcs of the greenhouse exceeds 1 meter.
In addition to the danger of pushing through and breaking the greenhouse frame or polycarbonate, there are often cases when polycarbonate is squeezed into the greenhouse from the sides. This happens, first of all, because snow, rolling off the roof of the greenhouse (thanks to its structural features), settles on the ground near its very walls. During the winter, the snowdrifts near the walls of the greenhouse increase, and their lower layers gradually become compacted under the weight of the upper layers. The result is a powerful and dense snowdrift that presses against the walls and squeezes the polycarbonate inside the greenhouse.
In some cases, the internal “elasticity” of polycarbonate turns out to be sufficient to independently take its original shape at the end of winter, when the snow melts. However, if the winter is particularly snowy, or snow combines with rain, forming not only an ice crust on the roof of the greenhouse, but also an ice ball near its walls, such deformation may be irreversible. In addition, with significant deformation, cracks may appear on a separate polycarbonate sheet, which in the future will undoubtedly lead to its breakage and the need to completely replace the sheet. That is why we recommend regularly clearing the roof and perimeter of the greenhouse from snow.
Unfortunately, many gardeners do not have this opportunity. Therefore, we recommend in the fall, after completing the gardening work and preparing the greenhouse for the next season, to prepare the greenhouse for a snowy winter, that is, to strengthen it.
Why is snow poured into a greenhouse?
Is snow necessary in a greenhouse? This coating has a positive effect on the soil layer and helps in the following:
- In frosty weather, plant roots are damaged, and snow in this case allows them to maintain the most comfortable temperature.
- In the upper layer there is a mass of microorganisms that have a positive effect on the fertility of the soil. In the absence of snow cover, frost will directly affect the soil, so microorganisms will die. Why put snow in a greenhouse? Everything is very simple here - this is done in order not to encounter a bad harvest due to freezing of the ground.
- If there is snow inside the greenhouse in the spring, melt water will act on the soil, which significantly improves the yield.
- According to experienced gardeners, the ground must be covered with snow. In addition to microflora, larvae and pathogens of various diseases die. But at the same time, moisture is lost, the beds become dense, which complicates their processing.
- Gradual decline in yield. Is it necessary to add snow to the greenhouse in winter? If this is not done, then the yields will gradually become worse, a trend that will be observed year after year. In the spring, be sure to take measures to activate beneficial organisms - water the soil. But even in this case, the process will go much slower than in the beds where there was snow. The previous state cannot be returned, even with digging and watering. The damage can only be eliminated by removing the soil and replacing it with a fertile layer.
Why does there snow in a greenhouse in winter?
Having a greenhouse complex on your farm, you can extend the growing season of your crops without being tied to the season.
However, not every greenhouse owner takes full advantage of its capabilities. This is often due to ignorance of all the aspects and subtleties of using and maintaining a greenhouse.
Many people ask questions: is snow needed in a greenhouse in winter and should the door be left open?
What is the benefit of precipitation on closed ground?
Any gardener knows that snow cover has a beneficial effect on the soil. There are some points about proper cultivation of all kinds of vegetables and flowers, namely:
- thanks to such precipitation, the roots of the plants are protected from frost, and the plant itself from the cold winter wind;
- the soil contains various microorganisms that play a significant role in the ripening of the crop, and if it freezes too much, they can die, which will affect the harvest;
- if a large amount of precipitation fell during the winter, in the spring the soil will be well saturated with moisture, which will have a positive effect on the harvest;
- the content of high humidity in the soil has a positive effect on the formation of sprouts; rain and melt water are most beneficial.
During winter, up to 70% of the pathogenic flora manages to die.
A gardener or summer resident grows vegetables on most of his plot, so the correct conclusion should be made - white cover is important for the soil in the garden, but is it necessary to put snow in the greenhouse?
VIDEO: Why throw snow into a greenhouse
Is it bedding or will it baste itself?
More often than not, gardeners keep their greenhouse complex closed during the cold weather, and precipitation does not fall into it. And here there is a completely opposite opinion that pathogens and pest larvae will die without snow cover on the ground.
So is it necessary to throw snow into the greenhouse? Even without taking into account the air temperature, the soil, left without shelter, in winter loses the moisture it contains and dries out, turning into stone. Also, due to the loss of moisture, the soil becomes compacted, and if the soil freezes quite strongly, not only harmful bacteria will die in it, but also all beneficial microorganisms.
If you don't have a snow removal machine, you'll have to throw it with a shovel.
The harvest on such soil will only get worse every season.
Even if you water such soil abundantly in the spring, beneficial microorganisms are activated much more slowly than in beds covered with snow in winter.
Even digging and thorough watering will not be able to return the soil to its previous state. To correct the situation, you will need to completely replace the top layer of soil.
We need snow in the greenhouse in order to get rid of unnecessary hassle. By throwing powder into the greenhouse in early spring, in moisture-saturated and warm soil with already activated beneficial bacteria, you can plant seedlings or sow the first greens.
A greenhouse, unlike a vegetable garden, is significantly smaller in size. Snow is needed in a greenhouse to have a beneficial effect on the soil, but how can it get there? It happens that gardeners make the mistake of leaving the door to the greenhouse open in winter. Why you don’t need to do this:
- In winter, strong and gusty winds often blow into the greenhouse, and the greenhouse may not be able to withstand such loads: the door and windows for ventilation may simply come off.
- An open greenhouse can be chosen as a winter shelter by wild or domestic animals, which can pollute it and ruin the coating inside.
Naturally, some points can be taken into account when preparing the greenhouse for cold weather, but the risk of damage to the structure cannot be avoided. Therefore, it is better to leave the door and windows in the building closed during the winter, and in order for the snow cover to cover the soil inside, it is worth choosing windless days and working a little with a shovel, throwing in the required amount.
When and how much to quit?
As soon as the sediment cover in the garden is more than a meter thick, and the greenhouse cover bends inward to reduce the load, you need to start filling the greenhouse with snow. You can, of course, simply tilt it away from the outer wall of the greenhouse, but this will be ineffective, since there will be more and more snow in the winter.
The beds must be at least 0.5 meters deep
If, on the contrary, the winter is not snowy, then you should worry about when to throw it, because you will have to throw snow into the greenhouse gradually and in small parts, because you will need a large amount of it.
If at the moment of absorption by the earth there is not enough moisture, you may be left without a crop at all. Usually, they begin to fill the greenhouse with snow cover in January, as this will allow freezing to destroy pathogens and pest larvae, and preserve the nutrient layer of the soil.
They throw snow with a shovel; this will require a lot of time and effort.
In order to pour snow one meter thick into a greenhouse measuring 3 meters by 6 meters, you will need to transfer about 18 cubic meters of snow.
You can, of course, object to watering the beds in the greenhouse in the spring so as not to throw snow into the greenhouse in winter. However, melt water differs from tap water and well water in its structure. It has miraculous power and under its influence all living things in the soil come into motion: microorganisms, seeds and plant roots.
To understand how much snow your complex needs, you need to take into account the location of groundwater on the site. If they are deep, then you should throw as much snow cover as possible. If the site is located on marshy soils, where groundwater is high, then it is important not to aggravate the situation and throw a thin layer of frosty precipitation into the greenhouse, protecting the ground from freezing.
A good harvest can only be harvested on fertile, living and loose soil, so snow cover must be thrown into the greenhouse in winter. If the powder saturates the soil with life-giving and structured moisture in the spring, the seed sprouts will be strong and healthy.
Do I need to remove mounds from my roof?
Periodically during the winter, a large amount of snow cover accumulates on the roof of the greenhouse, so gardeners have a great desire to remove it from there so that the support of the greenhouse does not break. It is possible to remove it from the roof, and sometimes it is even necessary, but the covering material is taken into account here.
The result of late snow removal from the roof
For a polycarbonate roof, there is a possibility of breakage, since its plasticity becomes lower in cold weather. Snow cover should be removed only with plastic tools, and the operation itself should be done very carefully.
There is no need to completely remove it; a small layer should be left (about 10 cm). If any fragment bursts over the winter, the damaged sheet will need to be replaced in the spring, since polycarbonate cannot be repaired.
With the correct shape (arched, domed or gable) of the structure, the snow cover comes off the roof on its own. And if you choose the right material for the construction of the complex, it will be strong enough and will withstand snow in winter in a layer even one meter thick.
Why is there snow in the greenhouse? To regularly get a good harvest from greenhouse crops. It is very important to properly care for the greenhouse during the winter. Whether or not to add snow to your complex is up to the owner to decide. Alas, there are myths that cause the destruction and damage of greenhouses.
For example, when figuring out why to throw powder into a greenhouse in winter, many gardeners believe that this equalizes the pressure outside and inside the structure. And if you don’t cover it with snow, it will collapse.
Now we know that this is not so and why actually throw snow into a greenhouse.
VIDEO: Snow in a greenhouse is the key to a good harvest
Source: https://www.portalteplic.ru/aktualnie-voprosi/nakidivat-sneg-v-teplicu-nado-ili-net/
Finding out whether snow is needed in the greenhouse: 3 advantages
The presence of snow in a greenhouse depends, as a rule, on the plants that are planted there. Is snow needed in a greenhouse - a rhetorical question, which every summer resident is accustomed to answering in his own way.
There is simply no consensus on this issue! Every gardener makes a fateful decision independently.
After all, no one else knows the individual characteristics of a particular garden plot and the selected plant varieties.
Life hack: why do you need snow in a greenhouse?
By creating a polycarbonate greenhouse, many summer residents create truly greenhouse conditions for plants. The seeds germinate well in them, but what will happen in the future? It’s not enough just to get beautiful green tops, it’s also important to wait for a delicious harvest. And ordinary snow can help in achieving this goal.
It’s not for nothing that perennial plants sent to winter rest are covered with snow. It serves not only as a nutritional aid, but also as a reliable protection against cold weather.
The main thing is to correctly distribute it over the entire area of the greenhouse before the first shoots appear. Otherwise, the plants will become stressed and may even die from hypothermia.
With the help of snow, you can sufficiently replenish the soil with useful microelements
With it you can:
- Bring plants closer to typical garden conditions;
- Feed them with useful microelements;
- Solve the watering issue.
Of course, the implementation of the task requires an expenditure of effort, but there is no need to worry about it. Ultimately, the summer resident will receive tens of times more than he was willing to spend initially. Sometimes snow is an order of magnitude healthier than the most expensive chemical fertilizers. So, without significant effort, the summer resident gets excellent results from his garden.
Where does snow come from in a polycarbonate greenhouse?
It is necessary to stock up on snow for the greenhouse in advance, starting in December.
You can do this in several ways:
- Manually, throwing the snow mass with a shovel;
- Use an electric motor for these purposes.
You can use a shovel to throw snow into the greenhouse.
The first option is simpler, because in order to get the required volume of snow, you only need to have a shovel. Gradually, throughout the winter, the greenhouse will probably be filled with snow. However, manual cleaning is good for those who do not complain about health conditions. Everyone else should save themselves and get an electric motor.
With the help of such a simple device, the snow will automatically move to the desired plane. You just need to connect it to the electrical network and press the appropriate button.
The disadvantage of this process is its “cumbersomeness”. You need to install the electric motor, connect it, and position it correctly.
As a rule, energy consumption when pumping snow exceeds standard indicators. Is it worth undertaking such global changes for the sake of a small greenhouse? The question remains open for each individual summer resident.
However, before making a purchase, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.
How to “make friends” between snow and a greenhouse
At first glance, it seems that snow in the greenhouse is completely unnecessary, but the correct approach to the matter is designed to convince even the most notorious skeptics of the opposite. So, consistency is important in everything, including in such a simple and unprepossessing issue.
The operating technology is as follows:
- Preparing a vegetable garden in a greenhouse in the fall (cleaning, planting winter crops);
- Adding fertilizers;
- Selecting an area with the cleanest snow in mid-winter;
- Transporting snow to greenhouse gardens.
For a greenhouse, it is best to choose the cleanest snow that is in the garden
If the greenhouse is small, then it won’t take long to add snow, no more than a couple of days. Over time, it may begin to melt a little, but there is no need to worry about this.
By the time of planting seasonal vegetables and, especially, seedlings in the spring, there should be no more snow! Moreover, it needs to dissolve about a month before the potential landing.
In winter, if desired, the layer of snow can be gradually increased, but its layer should not exceed 10 cm. Otherwise, by the time spring comes, the snow defense simply will not have time to melt and the ground will not have time to warm up. Plants will take a very long time to sprout or will remain underground altogether. But the summer resident is unlikely to expect such a development of events. Excess snow will have to be cleared off in order to start the season on time.
Opinions and reviews: is it necessary to put snow in the greenhouse?
Even the most experienced expert cannot say unequivocally whether to throw snow into a greenhouse or not. Every nuance is important here, which is why it can be very difficult to make a decision.
Many experts recommend correctly calculating the amount of snow before laying snow.
And in this case it is better to try several variations at once:
- Divide the greenhouse into sectors, throw snow into one of them;
- Clean the second part of the greenhouse from all excess;
- Observe where the best result will be.
This approach to the matter allows you to understand how much effort is worth investing in the garden and whether it is worth filling the greenhouse with snow at all. If the option without snow is clearly more advantageous, you can remove the remaining snow and continue working as before. But, in the end, the summer resident will know for sure whether to bring snow into the greenhouse for next year or clean it immediately after it appears.
Advice from gardeners: why bring snow into the greenhouse in the spring
In the spring, when nature wakes up, a small percentage of snow may appear in the greenhouse, which will not put any stress on the plants.
Snow can be brought into the greenhouse in the spring to replenish life-giving moisture
In this case, the snow will serve:
- Replenishing life-giving moisture;
- A storehouse of useful microelements;
- The ability to protect plants from external factors.
The most important thing is not to cover the fragile sprouts with snow and work to ensure that proper protection is provided for them. Sunlight will penetrate through the glass, which will easily melt the ice ingots. The main thing is that the dense mass does not crush the tender sprouts! Whether to throw snow into the greenhouse or not, each summer resident must decide for himself.
Agronomist's answer: is snow needed in a greenhouse (video)
Useful ideas are worth adding to your piggy bank and be sure to try in the very near future! It will be possible to say for sure whether they work or not only after personal testing.
Moreover, first it is better to do this on a small piece of land as an experiment. If everything works out, you can strengthen your knowledge and bring to life simple, but at the same time, effective ideas.
In any case, the snow can always be quickly cleared.
Source: https://oteplicah.ru/obustrojstvo/nuzhen-li-sneg-v-teplitse
Do you need snow in a greenhouse: useful tips
A greenhouse on a summer cottage allows you to significantly expand its capabilities. The greenhouse extends the growing season of plants, regardless of the season. True, not many summer residents who have installed such structures on their site can take full advantage of their capabilities.
Snow inside a greenhouse in winter
This happens because they do not know some of the intricacies of operating and maintaining the greenhouse. Why, for example, do you need snow in a greenhouse in winter, and when is it better to install a greenhouse? In this article we will give some useful tips for operating a winter greenhouse.
Snow inside the greenhouse
As you know, soil contains various microorganisms that play an important role in the process of crop ripening. At low winter temperatures, the soil can freeze very much, which subsequently affects its properties.
The process of filling a greenhouse with snow
Tip: Outside the greenhouse, snow prevents the freezing of the soil, but precipitation does not fall inside the greenhouse. Therefore, it is recommended to throw snow into the greenhouse in winter, and be sure to remove it in early spring, when the temperature becomes more moderate, to speed up the thawing of the soil.
Another important point why snow is needed in a greenhouse is the fact that in the spring it will melt earlier and well moisten the soil for the upcoming planting of garden crops.
But provided there is a moderate amount of it, snowdrifts inside are unnecessary and even dangerous!
In spring there should be very little snow left in the greenhouse
How to maintain a greenhouse during the cold season
In order to be able to regularly harvest a rich harvest during the warm season, you need to know how to properly maintain a greenhouse during the cold season. Unfortunately, some dacha myths do not contribute to the preservation of buildings, leading to their damage and destruction.
For example, when figuring out whether it is necessary to throw snow into a greenhouse during the winter cold, many summer residents are faced with the erroneous opinion that this is necessary to equalize the pressure. It is believed that a greenhouse without snow inside will collapse because of this.
Greenhouse deformation is the price to pay caused by errors in strength calculations
In fact, the strength of a structure depends on compliance with technical calculations and the correct selection of materials for its construction. And then you won’t have to rack your brains over whether you need to throw snow collected from its roof into the greenhouse, or leave everything as it is until spring.
How to balance temperature differences
Quite often a situation arises when the difference between the daytime temperature in a greenhouse and the nighttime temperature can reach 20 degrees or more.
This may happen:
- in early spring;
- late autumn.
To prevent such temperature changes from damaging plants, you need to stock up on heat.
Photo of a country greenhouse
You can do this with water:
- You need to bring a barrel of water into the greenhouse;
- Or place plastic water bottles between the plants.
Their warmth inside will be enough to make the plants comfortable.
Advice! If you need to shade the greenhouse from the bright sun, you can “whiten” it with a chalk solution by spraying it on the surface.
When is the best time to water plants in a greenhouse?
The best time to water is:
- Morning hours;
- Evening hours.
Not recommended:
- water during the daytime so as not to cause plant burns;
- Late evening watering after sunset can introduce some diseases such as downy mildew.
The best time for watering, after all, is considered to be early morning. However, you need to remember that each type of plant has its own watering instructions.
How to prepare a greenhouse for the new season
Soil preparation
Preparing a farm greenhouse for the new season involves performing the following actions:
- The soil in the greenhouse should be cleared of plant debris.
- The top layer of soil, 5 cm thick, must be removed to clear it of pests and diseases.
- Disinfect the greenhouse using a sulfur bomb.
- Dig the soil in the greenhouse to a depth of 25-30 cm.
- In autumn it is necessary to apply organic fertilizers.
As you can see, caring for the soil in a greenhouse is not very difficult, but it is absolutely necessary in order for the greenhouse to fully justify its purpose.
What should be the composition of the soil in the greenhouse?
The soil used in industrial greenhouses has a certain composition. Usually it includes:
- Humus;
- Turf;
- Peat;
- Sand.
The percentage of these components depends on the types of plants grown.
The main purpose of the land in a greenhouse is to provide the necessary:
- thermal,
- air,
- water regime for plants.
How to place a greenhouse
Having decided to build such a structure on their site with their own hands, many summer residents have no idea which place is best suited for this.
The main indicator of a well-chosen location is good lighting:
- Sunlight should appear, first of all, on the site chosen for the greenhouse in the morning and linger there the longest in the evening.
- When building a greenhouse, it is advisable to have its side facing south. Since the side surface area is larger than the end area, more sunlight will enter inside.
Advice! There is no need to place the greenhouse next to a building or fence. This can prevent snow from melting and contribute to the destruction of the greenhouse. In addition, the mass of snow in close proximity to the greenhouse will cool the soil, which will negatively affect the capabilities of the greenhouse.
Strengthening the greenhouse - step-by-step instructions
We recommend both vertical and horizontal strengthening of the greenhouse. This will add additional strength to the structure and help protect your greenhouse from damage during heavy snowfalls and snowy winters.
To strengthen a standard six-meter greenhouse with a height of just over two meters and a width of about three meters, you will need the following materials:
- wooden block measuring 30x50x2000 mm - 5 pieces,
- wooden block measuring 30x50x3000 mm - 5 pieces,
- board size 20x200x3000 mm - 6 pieces,
- self-tapping screws – 49 pieces,
- twine – 20 meters,
- bricks for lining - 5 pieces.
Step one. Preparing the poles
Since it is recommended to strengthen both the roof and the walls in the greenhouse, it is necessary to prepare 3 poles of 4 meters each: one for the roof and two for the walls. To do this, you should take 4 boards, one of which must be cut into three equal parts. The result is 3 boards 3 meters long and three boards 1 meter long. You also need to take another board (the fifth one) and make 2 cuts, each about 25 centimeters long. The resulting cut is used as a backing strip for fastening the poles. Next we make poles for the side walls. To do this, we connect the long and short boards using a backing and two self-tapping screws. The result is a pole with a total length of 4 meters. Since the greenhouse has 2 walls, it is necessary to make 2 such poles.
For now, we leave the pole to strengthen the vault in the form of separate boards 3 and 1 meter long, without fastening.
Step two. Preparing the support posts
First you need to prepare the so-called upper substrate strips. To do this, take the board left after sawing off two backing strips for fastening the wall poles and saw off another 5 pieces of it, each 25 centimeters long.
To each wooden block 2 meters long at one end, using 1 self-tapping screw, we attach one backing strip. This is necessary so that the racks can be fixed later. The result is 5 support posts.
Step three. Preparing the spacers
The preparation of the spacers is carried out in a manner identical to the preparation of the support posts with the difference that the backing strip is attached to each side of the bar. First you need to prepare the backing strips. To do this, take the board remaining after sawing off seven planks and cut it into 5 equal parts (it turns out 25 centimeters each). Next, we use the remaining three-meter board, sawing off another 5 pieces of 25 centimeters each.
After this, to each end of a wooden block 3 meters long, using 1 self-tapping screw, we attach one backing strip. The result is 5 spacers. The prepared spacers should be brought into the greenhouse and first placed in the places of intended fastening - next to each arc of the greenhouse, starting from the second.
Step four. Installation of poles
We fix the poles prepared to strengthen the walls of the greenhouse on both walls of the greenhouse at a level of 70 centimeters from the floor, starting from the second arc of the greenhouse. To do this, we tie them with twine to each arc of the greenhouse, starting from the second.
We hang the boards, prepared as poles to strengthen the vault, from the vault of the greenhouse in the very center. To do this, we tie them with twine to each arc of the greenhouse, starting from the second.
Step five. Installation of support posts
The prepared racks should be installed one by one strictly vertically in the center of the greenhouse so that they support the arcs of the greenhouse. We fasten the backing strip of each rack to a pole suspended in the center of the arch. To achieve the required height, we use bricks, placing them under the racks. Installation of spacers should begin from the end of the greenhouse, moving towards the exit. As a result, we get 5 installed supports that restrain the arcs from deformation under the weight of snow and sagging of the polycarbonate.
Step six. Installation of spacers
Alternately, opposite each arc, using self-tapping screws, we fasten the pole and the backing strip installed at each end of the spacer. Installation of spacers should begin from the end of the greenhouse, moving towards the exit. As a result, we get 5 installed spacers that keep the walls of the greenhouse from sagging.
