How to install a glasshouse made of polycarbonate? Cultivation in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate

Even those who are far from agriculture know that in greenhouses the vegetables ripen much earlier than in the open ground. Previously, polyethylene film or glass was used for their construction. Now science has created polycarbonate for greenhouses and other structures, which was immediately appreciated. If you still hesitate with a choice, let's analyze in detail what good new material is and how to work with it.

Polycarbonate

This material is a thermoplastic made of polyester and phenol. It is made monolithic, that is solid, and honeycomb made in the form of cells filled with air. Polycarbonate for greenhouses is only used by the cellular, as it is the air contained in the cells that keeps the heat. In color it is transparent, blue, turquoise, green, golden. Each has its own sphere of application, but it is more reasonable to cover the greenhouses with a transparent one. In addition, polycarbonate is available in the form of sheets of various thicknesses (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 25, 32 mm). Of course, the thicker the material, the stronger it is, but for small-sized designs, sheets with a thickness of 4 or 6 mm are used successfully. Of great importance is the brand of the manufacturer. Chinese polycarbonate is cheaper, but the quality is much inferior to European counterparts, which are produced with minimal addition of recyclable materials and a mandatory anti-UV protective layer, which increases the service life of the greenhouse. All this determines the cost.

Advantages

Recently, the use of polycarbonate on the greenhouse has become not so much fashionable as it is profitable, because this material has many advantages over traditional glass and film. The main advantages are:

• Polycarbonate better saves heat (achieved by cells with air);
• Well passes light rays and delays ultraviolet (if there is a special coating);
• It can scatter light, which improves plant growth;
• Compared with glass has a low weight without loss of strength;
• Plastic (can bend, which is used to create arches);
• Withstands temperatures from -40 to +120 degrees Celsius, that is, it is quite suitable for most regions of Russia;
• It is unusually strong, does not break at impacts, does not tear, does not leave splinters;
• It is easy to install (it is easy to cut and drill), polycarbonate is easy to install, no special equipment is required for this.

disadvantages

Before making a greenhouse made of polycarbonate, it is not out of place to get acquainted with its shortcomings. Unfortunately, while scientists did not come up with the material, the ideal is one hundred percent. In this case, you need to take into account the following:

• Polycarbonate is not devoid of temperature deformation (in other words, it expands in the heat, it compresses in the frost, and the gaps can reach up to 3 mm);
• Combustible (it melts during combustion, but does not spread fire);
• Abrasion resistance is not particularly high (it is easy to scratch);
• Can be damaged by a large hail.

Where to begin

So, the right choice of material is made. We will analyze how to install a greenhouse made of polycarbonate. You need to start by choosing a place. Since light is one of the main stimulators of plant growth and development, it is preferable to have a long side from the east to the west. However, in regions where strong winds are regularly observed, one must also take into account the wind rose so that the vector of maximum air movement (squalls) is not perpendicular to the widest side of the greenhouse. According to the creators of polycarbonate, this material has increased wind resistance, but the strength of the frame is not guaranteed by anyone. Therefore, it is better not to take risks.

Calculation of material

The second stage of preparation is the calculation of the required number of sheets. They are available in a standard width of 2.1 m, and the length is 6 or 12 m. Horizontally they can not be mounted, only vertically, that is, in the base you need to place a side length of 2.1 m. The number of sheets will depend on the desired length of the entire structure. Greenhouses for polycarbonate put two types - arched and type of "house". In the latter variant, the roof is made both symmetrical and asymmetric. On strength and yield it does not affect who likes it. The width of such a design depends on the type of project. For an arch structure, as a rule, it is 3.8 meters. This is for 6-meter sheets from the calculation of their curvature when bending (the optimum radius is 1.9 m). As a result, for an arched greenhouse of 12.6 x 3.8, 12 sheets of 6-meter length on the wide part and 2 more sheets on the sides are needed.

Choose the type of frame

Before installing a greenhouse of polycarbonate, you need to determine the frame. Apply 3 types: wooden, from metal pipes and profiles. The wooden frame is the cheapest and most convenient to use. Factory demountable greenhouses are most often represented as parts of pipes, which in the process of assembly are combined into a single structure. It should be noted that it is not recommended to drill holes in them, because this reduces the strength of the bearing part. With any choice, the carcass material must have an anti-corrosion coating, because in the greenhouse there is always a rather high humidity. As for the tree, it is impregnation with copper sulfate and an antiseptic. Pipes should be at least 20 mm in diameter, with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm. Remember, designs from light metals are deformed from snow loads and do not withstand strong winds.

Foundation

Any capital structure is installed on the foundation, stationary greenhouses including. There are several types of foundation, differing in price, reliability and labor costs. The most common are:

1. From the wooden beams. It is very simple, cheap and mobile (you can move to a new place), but the most short-lived, even with careful anti-corrosion treatment.
2. Brick. For him, dig a trench, fill with concrete, after hardening (after 7-10 days) a brick is taken out. During the laying in advance insert bolts, which are then used for the installation of the frame.
3. Blocked. It differs from the previous one in that after pouring a trench with concrete, special blocks are heated in it.

But more often small structures do without a foundation with the use of asbestos-cement pipes. Before installing a greenhouse of polycarbonate with a foundation or without, on the ground pegs and cord mark the angles of the future structure. Further, either dig a trench about 100 x 200 mm (for a foundation), or drill pits with a depth of 1 meter. They put pipes in so that their ends stick out of the ground. For stability, sand is sandwiched between the sand and sand in the gap, which is densely rammed.

How to install a greenhouse made of polycarbonate. Fineness of mounting

If the frame is made of wood, sharpen the beams from one end so that they fit tightly into the pipes protruding from the ground. For strength to the supporting (corner and intermediate) pillars at the bottom and at the top of the frame frame from the beams or boards. Growing polycarbonate in a greenhouse of any vegetables and obtaining good yields is possible if there is one, or better, two doors and several ventilators, or you can install ventilation. If a greenhouse without a foundation, along the perimeter (bottom) tape is attached from the galvanized iron with a width of 250 mm. They must overlap one another at a width of at least 50 mm. If a brick or block foundation is used, a layer of waterproofing is mandatory. Now you can proceed with the installation of polycarbonate. It is very good, if rubber or rubber gaskets are attached to the frame. In the holes drill holes and attach them to the frame with the help of screws (a variant of wooden rafters) or screws that are screwed to iron gaskets. Then the load is distributed more evenly. Joints and corners are sealed with special polycarbonate profiles. Doors and windows are performed in a classic way using hinged loops. If desired, you can install heating and additional lighting.

Exploitation

Caring for a greenhouse made of polycarbonate is simple. The main thing, nothing, even a sponge for washing utensils, does not damage the protective layer of the material and does not scratch it. For this purpose, wash the greenhouse both inside and out only with water and a rag or a soft side of a dishwashing sponge. Sometimes it is allowed to use a soap solution, but not chemical detergents. Such disinfection is carried out before each planting. Well growing greens, tomatoes, radish, cucumber in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate, as well as any seedlings. But we must not forget about the careful cultivation of the soil from various types of pests, especially fungi and all kinds of rot, for which the humid microclimate is very favorable. On this spring care is exhausted. In the summer, it is advisable not only to ventilate the greenhouses, but also to shade. For this, tents are used or a chalk solution is sprayed onto the walls. It is also very important to ensure that the soil does not dry out. In autumn, in addition to the main cleaning, in the greenhouses, the supports are installed so that the construction can withstand the snow load. Some summer residents generally disassemble polycarbonate. In winter, it is necessary to sweep the snow with a soft broom regularly.

Planting plants

Having established a long-awaited greenhouse, everyone dreams of early and necessarily high yields of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, radish and other crops. To make it so, planting in polycarbonate greenhouses should be carried out in compliance with the rules of plant compatibility and taking into account the specifics of care for them. So, tomatoes like potassium soils and relatively low humidity, and therefore, frequent airing. Bakchev, who can also grow in a greenhouse, drafts are contraindicated. Pepper perfectly grows in the shade, that is, it can be planted densely, about 6-7 shrubs per 1 sq. M. Salads need organic and moisture, and cucumbers respond well to both organic and mineral top dressings. Some gardeners before sowing greenhouse seedlings, so that the land is not empty, are sown early ripening grades of radish, greens, lettuce, Peking cabbage. But all this must be removed at the time of planting the main crop. In general, it is quite difficult to grow several types of vegetables in one greenhouse at once. Experienced gardeners recommend newcomers to learn on any one and only with the acquisition of experience to switch to mixed planting.

Cultivation of cucumbers

Cucumber is a delicious, useful, but extremely capricious vegetable. In open ground, it has a bad inclination to "burn" under the direct rays of the sun. The same happens after insufficiently environmentally friendly rains, from which no gardener is insured. From all this protected cucumbers in a glasshouse made of polycarbonate, so they bear fruit there for as long as possible. The main difficulty of growing is to maintain the correct temperature and humidity. Airing cucumbers do not like, so there is no need to do this often if the temperature in the room does not exceed +25 degrees Celsius. The soil for cucumbers should be regularly loosened so that the roots can breathe. Top dressing is carried out with organic and mineral fertilizers, but no more than 4-5 times a season, the first must coincide with the beginning of flowering. The scourge of all greenhouses is pests. For cucumbers it is aphids, powdery mildew false, hothouse whitefly. Against them it is recommended to carry out treatment in time with special preparations, infusion of bitter pepper or walnut leaves. And lastly - grown-up plants must be tied up, so that the harvest was higher, and the fruits in time to tear.