Reasons to Use a Patio Grow House
- Inexpensive
- Provides a microclimate for plants and seedlings.
- Protects against strong winds.
- Provides protection from insect damage.
- Provides protection from extreme temperatures.
- Compact size perfect for anyone with limited growing space.
Greenhouse vs. Grow House
Full size greenhouses can cost hundreds of dollars, or more, and require more space than many gardeners have available. Portable, miniature greenhouses are cost effective and perfect for even the smallest of spaces. When empty they are small enough and lightweight enough to be moved by one person to any location desired.
These miniature greenhouses are more commonly referred to as a covered grow rack, patio grow house or apartment grow house. They are available with either 2, 3 or 4 interior shelves. The 4-tier system can usually be purchase for between $50 and $75. The grow houses can even be used indoors if they are placed in front of a sunny window. Their compact size makes them perfect for the patio, deck or balcony of anyone living in a condo, townhouse or apartment.
Anatomy of a Grow House
A grow house consists of a powder-coated, steel frame, wire mesh shelving and a clear plastic covering. The plastic covering has a zipper going down the middle which enables it to be unzipped and rolled back for venting on hot days. The grow house can also be vented to allow excess moisture to escape, which will be evident by the condensation covering the inside of the cover. The zipper also allows easy access to the plants that are growing inside. During the summer, the plastic covering can be completely removed, folded up and stored until it is needed again in the fall.
The shelves are typically 27 inches wide and 19 ½ inches deep, which are large enough for two utility gardening trays. There is 13 inches of space between each shelf offering plenty of growing room. The grow house measures just over 5 feet tall and the entire 4-tier system offers the gardener over 14 square feet of growing space. Grow houses require no tools to assemble and can easily be put together by one person in less than one hour
Deluxe versions of the grow houses are available which come with a shade cloth cover in addition to the clear plastic cover. The shade cloth provides protection from the hot, summer sun and will allow the gardener to grow delicate crops, such as lettuce, in even the most demanding of climates.
Grow House Benefits
The temperature inside the grow house will be between 7 and 20 degrees hotter than the outside air temperature. Grow houses allow the gardener to start seedlings sooner so that by the time the garden has warmed up enough to start planting, the seedlings should be well established, vigorous transplants. The grow house can be used to get warm weather crops, such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumber, off to an early start. Grow houses allow the gardener to start gardening approximately 3-4 weeks earlier in the spring and 3-4 weeks later in the fall.
