How to build microgreen greenhouse
You already know much about microgreens, mesmerized by their nutrition benefits, but something is probably holding you back. They are beyond your reach! More than half of your town is not into a microgreen farming business. Growing microgreens indoors on your own is the only option you have, but wait. You can do it on a large scale and supply your whole region if possible. Be careful, though! One wrong move and your microgreen business may crash shortly after takeoff! The first step towards an earning microgreen business is to set up a greenhouse. Why a greenhouse? It provides a conducive environment for healthy microgreens. Here is a well-detailed guide.
Learn from a Skilled Practitioner
Experience is the best teacher! Nothing replaces real-world experiences, not even studies. However, always have the right framework and expectation before embarking on any expedition. Look around, and try to find someone who is running a successful microgreen business. Find out their first-hand experience before they became successful. Some experts offer online resources and training programs for beginners. You can also download our free e-book.
"I really appreciate their awesome selection of information about microgreens and their tips about how to market my microgreens are outstanding."
MATT B.
Indoor microgreen farming is a profitable business, but you have to make a smart investment to save you money, time, and frustration. By listening to podcasts from experts or visiting any indoor or greenhouse microgreen farmer, you’ll realize they’re smart and aware of what they are talking about.
Getting Started
The first thing to consider when building a greenhouse is the growing space you’ll need. A greenhouse is a long-term investment, so think wisely. It should provide ample space for years to come. Many greenhouse owners have ended up wanting more space than they thought they would. Greenhouses for matured cruciferous greens are generally large than those of microgreens.
If you intend to grow vegetables in the same greenhouse, you can enlarge it, and be sure to provide plenty of headroom and maximum light, especially if you intend to hang plants.
Best Lighting for microgreens
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Site Selection
The closer the greenhouse is to your house or garden, the more you’ll like it. Whenever you want your family to have these superfoods for dinner, it will take less effort to harvest and serve them. Also, consider proximity to electricity and water source, which you’ll need.
Chose an area where the greenhouse will be getting exposure to the sun for at least 6 hours daily during the winter. Orient your greenhouse from east to west to ensure it gets maximum exposure. If you can’t settle in an area with enough sunlight, you can add glow lights to compensate.
Your greenhouse also needs shade in the summer. It’s therefore advisable to set it up under deciduous trees, which may provide shade during summer and shed their leaves every fall. They won’t give any shade in winter.
The surface where you are placing your greenhouse doesn’t matter, but adequate drainage is vital. Even though you are growing microgreens, weeds will damage your greenhouse. Therefore, lay a landscape cloth over the place you intend to erect your greenhouse and cover it with 1/4-inch gravel.
Just for Emphasis, Make Sure the Site Can Access Water and Electricity
What’s the use of a greenhouse without utilities? For convenient microgreen gardening, you’ll need to access water, electricity, and heat. The watering system is important in gardening, especially where rain and groundwater are restricted. Also do not forget about right pH level in your water.
What is the best ph for watering microgreens?
Microgreens don’t require much water, but a water source inside the greenhouse would be essential. Study your land profile before laying out the watering system. In matters of energy, you will need it for outdoor and indoor lights, fans, and greenhouse heaters. The installation must be done carefully to avoid fire and electrocution.
Freestanding or Attached?
Many people are never sure about the type of greenhouse to go with. A freestanding greenhouse provides the opportunity of having a completely new space with few restrictions. Attached greenhouses, on the other hand, utilize one side of your house, known as the north wall, which means reduced construction costs because of that wall, and it can share your home’s heating.
it makes no sense building a small freestanding greenhouse
Building a heavily insulated north wall can be costly, and it makes no sense building a small freestanding greenhouse since they tend to be overbuilt and inefficient. You will also need backup heat depending on the climate zone.
Attached greenhouses can be of any size, and they don’t necessarily require the extra paths and infrastructure that a freestanding one would. But they also have their disadvantages. An attached greenhouse will not only obstruct the outside view but also introduce insects to your home if you leave your doors or windows open. So, choose wisely.
Elevate the Surface within the Greenhouse
It’s no brainer that water is essential for plant growth, but flooding is equally harmful to those plants. During a heavy pounding, water coming off the roof and the surroundings can flood the greenhouse damaging the microgreens in the trays in the lower shelves. It’s therefore advisable to elevate the ground so that runoff water flows away from the structure.
You may have asked yourself, why not orient the greenhouse on a slope instead? A smart thought, but not a good idea at all! Avoid doing since it will frost pocket your tent especially in winter.
Use High-Quality Materials to Build the Greenhouse
The greenhouse is a long-term investment. When setting up a greenhouse, it's advisable to use high-quality material to ensure your greenhouse serves you for longer and you focus more on your microgreens. Most greenhouse frames are built of either wood or metal.
Wood is less expensive and suitable for small to medium-sized structures. Though costlier, metal is stronger and more resistant to weather than wood. Aluminum is a better choice since its light, strong, and corrosion-resistant.
BEST CHOICE PRODUCTS 4-TIER MINI GREENHOUSE
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The floor of the greenhouse can be made with bare dirt, wood decking, or concrete, but gravel is recommended. It’s not only inexpensive but also drains well, and you can refurbish the floor easily by merely adding more gravel.
Doors and Covering
A greenhouse should have functional entry and exit ways. There are many door options in different sizes. Ensure you pick a well-insulated door to help prevent heat from escaping the greenhouse. However, if you are planning to erect an attached greenhouse, one exit door would be enough.
Proper covering is another crucial step in building a greenhouse structure. Coverings come in different materials and thickness, and you have a variety of options to choose from. The coverings should be strong and durable, and able to endure harsh weather conditions such as wind and snow. The company that you buy the polycarbonate coverings from may offer to help install the coverings, for free or a small fee. You should take the offer. Installing them is not a stroll in the park.
Cooling and Heating
Cooling methods are used in humid places especially in summer when the air is too hot and steamy for your microgreen plants to handle. Some plants require cooler weather to thrive and that’s where the cooling system comes in. There is a variety of methods usable, such as shading, fans and vents, water damping, and evaporative cooling. Shading is one of the most applicable options. Roll-up screens, vinyl plastic shading, paint-on materials, or tree shades are just a few examples of shading to help lower temperatures and keep your microgreens from burning.
There is a variety of methods usable, such as shading, fans and vents…
Another more applicable alternative is the fans and vents. Excessive heat can be trapped in the greenhouse. Ventilation and fanning boost the circulation of air inside the structure. While the ceiling and exhaust fans cool down overheated plants, roof and side vents create a through air-flow. The only drawbacks with fans are that it can over-dry the planting media if overused, and your electricity bill will shoot up.
There are times of the year when the outdoor temperature is too cold, especially when it’s time to throw snowballs. Heating will help your microgreens thrive even when it's chilly outside. Install an electric heater that features a thermostatically controlled fan. You can also stack concrete blocks inside the greenhouse: they absorb heat from the sun during the day and release it at night.
Finally, the Tables
Microgreen trays are normally placed on tables. The type of tables you use depends. Some prefer wooden ones that are cheaper to install, while others use metal tables with meshes. Though they cost more, aluminum tables with mesh are the most convenient. What’s more, they can be built in racks, giving you more space to grow your microgreens commercially.
Ensure there’s space between the tables where you can walk through
Ensure there’s space between the tables where you can walk through, and also allow air circulation. You can have a water source close to every table. After everything is set up, now it’s time for you to find microgreen trays.
Lets summarise this up!
Setting up a greenhouse to grow your microgreens for home and commercial use is an uphill task, especially if you don’t have any slightest idea of how it should be done. It’s obvious you are planning run a long-term business, and much money is going to be spent on construction. One sure thing is that nothing comes easy! Once your microgreen business takes off, your community will thank you. The fact that microgreens nutritional benefits solve a myriad of health problems cannot be swept under the carpet.
You can also find information:
How to grow microgreens at home?
Buyers Guide: Top 5 Best Greenhouses
Hydroponics and Indoor Gardening
Which microgreens regrow after cutting