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Today’s gardener knows that nothing beats home grown organic produce for health and nutrition value. The only thing stopping most gardeners from cultivating produce year-round is the length of the growing season. For most parts of the country this is approximately 150 days. But you can enjoy the benefits of home grown fruits and vegetables in all four seasons with some basic building supplies, a little sweat equity, and a couple rolls of greenhouse plastic sheeting.
Greenhouse plastic sheeting is similar to a roll of visqueen, but it is UV treated and bio-degradable. It can be purchased at garden centers and home improvement stores. It is used for a variety of home gardening applications, specifically constructing wind breaks, cold frames, and even backyard greenhouses. Depending on your climate, greenhouse plastic sheeting will last up to 4 years.
If you are looking to extend your gardening season, a cold frame is the simplest and least expensive alternative. To construct a cold frame, you simply use 2x4 lumber to build a frame large enough to enclose the plants you want to protect. You can also use flexible piping bent into hoops and secured in the ground on either side of a row of plants. Wrap the greenhouse plastic sheeting up one side, over the top, and back down the other side. Hold down the edges of the plastic sheeting using tent stakes or something as simple as old concrete blocks or bricks. Your cold frame will protect your plants from the first frosts and extend your harvesting period for fall crops.
If you’re looking to garden in all four seasons, consider building a backyard greenhouse. There are kits available to purchase that use greenhouse plastic sheeting in lieu of the more expensive glass panels. If you’re really handy and want to build from scratch, you can find plans and instructions on the internet or at your local library. Depending on size, most backyard greenhouses can be constructed in 1-2 days. Once construction is complete, you can run temporary or permanent power to the structure and install lights, heat, and humidifiers. Make it as simple or as elaborate as you want.
Greenhouse plastic sheeting used in a cold frame can add up to six weeks to your growing season by acting as a solar heater for your plants. Not only is the air temperature warmer inside, but the soil stays warmer later into the year. Of course, a backyard greenhouse can transform you into a four season gardener. With a modest investment, you can start your garden earlier, extend your growing season, and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of your labor year round.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about Greenhouse Gardening and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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