Features of English greenhouses

Many gardeners know what an English greenhouse is. However, this does not mean that this design is made specifically in England. It can be made both here in Russia and in any other country, for example, in China. Let's try to understand what is meant by this concept and what is the peculiarity of this structure.

It is believed that the first greenhouses appeared in the days of the Great Roman Empire. Then the noble patricians preferred to plant there rare species of flowers and fruits. The most respected plant among the aristocracy was considered an orange. The first greenhouses, where they began to use the stove heating method, appeared in Holland in 1599.

Over time, the initiative to create greenhouses intercepted by English craftsmen, and in the XVII century in England began to massively reproduce heated greenhouses. Around this time, greenhouses began to appear throughout Europe.Glass was used in their construction and they were equipped with an internal heating system, water supply and lighting. And the growth of technical progress made it possible to organize the mass production of such structures.

Today, English greenhouses are used primarily in the construction of winter gardens, as well as for the production of tropical fruits and heat-loving vegetables.

Constructions of greenhouses in the English style are divided into elite structures and ordinary ones. The first type has a greater area, double glazing, as well as increased strength. In addition, elite greenhouses are equipped with internal heating, which allows them to harvest year-round, regardless of the climatic zone. The second type is more affordable, but has single glazing, therefore, it retains heat worse and is designed for more southern climatic conditions.

However, both of these types have a number of common features.

• Be sure to have a basement and basement. In such a greenhouse layer of soil is above the ground. This circumstance promotes the best crop preservation. The base makes the appearance of the building more aesthetic and complete, and also protects the beds from drafts. The foundation serves as a kind of barrier between the cold land on which the greenhouse is located and the beds.

• The English greenhouse necessarily has a transparent glazing - single or double, depending on its type. Film designs have nothing to do with this name. Glass allows not only to preserve the crop, but also to admire it outside. Therefore, in the greenhouses of the English type, they often plant not only crops, but also equip entire greenhouses and winter gardens.

• The roof of the described type of greenhouse necessarily has an angular shape with a double-sided ramp. So that leaves, snow and other precipitations do not linger on the roof, the angle of inclination is from 30 to 45 degrees.

• High walls - another one of the obligatory signs of the English greenhouse. They make it possible to plant shrubs and trees in it.In addition, in a high greenhouse it is possible to equip shelves for pot plants.

• Sometimes the greenhouse building is part of the overall ensemble of the site and the continuation of the house itself. In some cases, they even have a common wall. Then in the wall you can make a doorway and go into the greenhouse directly from the house. Typically, this technique is used for flower greenhouses and winter gardens.

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• In the greenhouses in the English style must be present high-quality ventilation systems and watering. In expensive samples electronic sensors can be installed that monitor the level of humidity and other parameters.

There are many reasons that affect the popularity of such buildings among the masses:

• glass perfectly passes sunlight, so necessary for plants;
• high walls allow you to use the entire space of the greenhouse, and not just its lower part;
• the ability to maintain the specified parameters of the microclimate constantly throughout the year;
• the presence of the foundation increases the strength of the erected structure;
• due to the special shape of the roof and the solid base, the construction in English style is sufficiently robust to withstand bad weather conditions.

With all its undeniable positive qualities, like any phenomenon or construction, the Victorian greenhouse is not perfect.

Consider some of the negative side of it.

• High cost. Due to the fact that this design is a complex mechanism for the interaction of several systems at once, it cannot be cheap. Therefore, not everyone can afford. Therefore, the purchase of a ready-made system of growing crops is more suitable for commercial purposes, and fans can be advised to try to do something like this on their own - this will be much cheaper.

• If ordinary glass is used in the construction of the greenhouse, there is a risk that it will break when hail or stones hit in strong winds. To avoid destruction, it makes sense to choose a structure with anti-shock glass.
• Ready building has a lot of weight because of the glazing, therefore, needs support. And this requires certain knowledge in the field of construction and entails additional costs.
• The glass surface has the ability to transmit far from all types of sunlight that are necessary for the normal growth of plants, which means that additional lighting is needed.
• Difficulties in the care.To maintain the normal capacity of the greenhouse, it should be cleaned regularly. And to wash large glass surfaces, especially those at a height, is quite difficult.

Any greenhouse, claiming to be called English, must have a solid base, transparent glass walls and frame.

The foundation, which serves as the basis for the subsequent construction, is usually made into a ribbon and is cast from concrete. A brick base is installed on it, and only then the greenhouse frame itself is installed. Without compliance with all necessary technologies, the building may not survive the winter and collapse the next year after installation.

The frame is the bearing part of the greenhouse. The safety of the crop depends on its strength. The frame can be made of metal or wood. For the metal version using aluminum profile. It practically does not need additional care, and its service life can last several decades. Despite its apparent lightness, this material is quite durable and is able to withstand not only glass, but also resist under the weight of snow.

The wooden frame is also strong enough, but it needs constant care - it needs to be painted or varnished every season so that the wood does not absorb moisture and does not rot. To protect the wooden frame from harmful insects, use special protective preparations. For greenhouses use different wood species. Most often it is oak or walnut. Less often use mahogany.

Special requirements are imposed on the glass itself. For greenhouses use several types of glass.

• Double. It has a thickness of 3.2 mm and is convenient in that you can order a large size, which is necessary for greater light permeability.
• Showcase. Its thickness can be from 6 mm to 2.5 cm. If you want to make a greenhouse in the English version with your own hands, you can buy second-hand display glass from the store owner to be dismantled. Its strength, as well as its weight, is very high, therefore it requires an especially strong support.
• Laminated glass is a structure of several glasses, combined in a PVC frame (clip). Between them, the space is filled with dry air, which retains heat. In the greenhouse can be installed single and two-chamber packages.Single-chamber package consists of two glasses and is suitable for summer greenhouses. If a warmed version is required, a two-chamber double-glazed window consisting of three glasses should be chosen.

• Strained glass 4 times thicker than usual. When breaking, small fragments are obtained, which almost exclude the possibility of injury. It can not be cut, but you can order at the factory the desired size. It is used for the construction of greenhouses in areas where there are often storm winds.
• Heat reflecting. The uniqueness of such glass is that it transmits infrared rays that are useful for plants, but at the same time delays harmful ultraviolet radiation. Its capacity can be about 80%.
• Storm glass consists of two glass layers, between which there is a layer of polycarbonate. It is able to withstand wind gusts up to 65 km / h, however, while its ability to transmit light is somewhat reduced. Moreover, its price is far from democratic.

When choosing glass, it should be borne in mind that a surplus of light, as well as its disadvantage, is detrimental to plants. Therefore, the optimum is considered to be a glass with a 10% darkening.Or you can darken it yourself, varnishing.

Regardless of whether you buy a finished structure or do it yourself, you need reliable fasteners and locking mechanisms. And the high-quality accessories will give the product completeness and attractive appearance.

This English greenhouse must be equipped with a drain pipe. It can be used as a container for collecting water and for subsequent watering.

Modern manufacturers of greenhouses and greenhouses are constantly improving their products and developing projects of new buildings, taking into account the latest achievements of scientific progress. The highest quality products are considered by European companies. One of these manufacturers is a Danish company. Juliana. Greenhouses produced by this company can not only retain heat. They have the opportunity to create a special zone of comfort for the plants, maintain the set values: temperature and humidity, metered water supply and other parameters.

However, in recent years, Russia has also learned how to make high-quality greenhouses. For example, a domestic company Britton declares itself as an honest manufacturer who offers quality products that can compete with many European brands not only in price but also in quality. The uniqueness of its products lies in the fact that it was created according to English technologies, but taking into account Russian climatic conditions.

The company is constantly expanding its range and relatively recently released a new product: the greenhouse Maiden with increased inclination of the roof. Thanks to the annex building has an interesting T-shaped. This greenhouse model has 10 different color options, and the price is several times lower than that of European luxury class counterparts.

You can see a small review about the greenhouses of the domestic company Britton in this video.