Jorgensons build their own greenhouse

Mark and Lanis Jorgenson of Deweese had dreamed of having an abundant garden for years. Between their busy schedules and the Nebraska weather, it was not always an easy task. They wanted something closer to the house and easier to maintain. Last spring during their quarantine, they got to work on building a greenhouse. It turned out to be the solution to their gardening woes.

The structure is built from a wooden frame anchored to the ground. PVC pipe rounded over the top forms the roof structure and is covered in plastic. Mark used a heavy-duty plastic to cover the outside. Inside they have footpaths between several raised garden beds and 4x4 beams to stabilize the PVC roof. The greenhouse has allowed them to plant earlier and keep their garden growing later in the season. It also provides a warm, moist environment for their garden to grow without worrying about the ground drying and plants withering in the sun.

They constructed cold frames to start their plants early in the season. A cold frame is a transparent roofed enclosure built low to the ground to protect plants from adverse weather. The transparent top traps heat and moisture inside. It keeps heat from escaping in the night. If you are still using your cold frame once the weather warms, you may want to vent the top so as not to burn the plants.

There are many benefits from having your own greenhouse. Weather conditions such as heavy rains, extreme temperatures and drought will not cause any serious or adverse effects to the garden. With a greenhouse, the plants are protected against wind and serious insect infestation. Also, a greenhouse creates the optimum environment for plants to thrive.

There are several ways to create your own greenhouse, big or small. You can find an abundance of articles and information online to help. If you are not internet savvy or do not have a computer, head on down to the local library, they will be happy to help!