By agrimag
A greenhouse is beneficial when it comes to protecting your crops from excessive cold or heat, as well as unwanted pests. However, it can be pricey, and not everyone can afford to buy one. Luckily, it is possible to create your own mini greenhouse. It requires few and affordable materials; a container with soil, seedlings, and a transparent mini umbrella.
Humid temperature is usually not a problem when it comes to planting, but in cold or chilly weather, a wooden container is a great option to house your seedlings in. The moisture can move through the wood and a large container will provide warmth to the seedlings.
Soil
If you have a container with soil, you can mix it using a shovel or garden claw. Dig in a layer of compost six inches below the surface. The soil will prepare nutrients that the plant needs. Cover the top layer of the soil with moisture-retaining material like peat moss or coconut coir. The seedlings will generate moisture needed to be able to germinate.
SeedlingsÂ
Plant seedlings in a container with the soil mixture. The process of the seedling developing into a new plant is known as germination. The germination rate depends on the time of the year and the climate in a certain area. During winter or cold weather, growing time is much slower. It is advisable to plant densely in a single container so plants can take up space to warm each other. This will increase their chance to thrive in cold or chilly weather than when planted alone.
Cover
Look for a transparent umbrella, small or big enough to fit on top of your container. The umbrella will serve as an improvised greenhouse that will protect your seedlings from from drowning during the rainy season. The transparency of the umbrella plays an important role as it will allow the seeds to absorb sunlight even when the container is covered.
Venting and Watering
Since seedlings are already covered by a mini greenhouse, as a gardener you need to regularly check the plants for airing and watering. The rain will no longer water your plants, it is up to you to decide what your plants need and when they need it. If it gets too moist or hot inside, you can lift the greenhouse slightly from the base where it is placed.
Harvest
When the seedlings have their first true leaves, it is advisable to remove the cover for a few hours each day, slowly increasing their exposure to outside air until they can last a full day without the cover. This will improve the structure of your plants until they are fully grown. When fully-grown, you can now harvest crops by cutting at their base and making room for other plants to grow bigger.
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