The Hydroponic Greenhouse can turn Winter into Summer
There is a place for doing your hydroponic growing in a greenhouse. Let’s call it a hydroponic greenhouse, because the regular kind have been around for a long time. I remember when I was younger, my parents had this big house in the country. The house had a large back garden. It was called the kitchen garden, and it had a twelve foot wall on three sides. The walls were covered with fruit trees trained
The Greenhouse stood in a corner. From this garden came a substantial volume of fruits and vegetables, but, what I remember in particular was the greenhouse, which stood in the corner, facing south and beside the cold frames. A necessary piece of the food chain. The essential link in the supply of produce year round. The greenhouse was also the place where kids could play, and another place to eat, because inside were growing, strawberries, peas, welsh onions and the sweetest tomatoes imaginable, and it was warm.
To me the biggest advantage of a greenhouse is that it extends the gardening season where plants are started under the glass moved to the cold frames to harden off and eventually to the main garden. It helps if you have a hired gardener who’s job it was to keep the garden under control. My parents did have a gardener named Geordie Walker. He always had a pocket of 'black bullets,' we kids thought he was a pretty cool gardener! 
We have a better idea.Organize a greenhouse for organic hydroponic gardening. The greenhouse offers a place where you can extend the season, control the climate, the light, the temperature, the ventilation. A place to grow vegetables, fruits and even flowers, and where you can work in comfort and in many cases without soil. Before you even think about planning a hydroponic greenhouse be sure you get advice. Make sure you know the cost. Take into account everyday operating expenses, and, there will be some extra work to get started. With some systems and particularly with a hydroponic garden, supplemental heat might be needed to keep the temperature in the 60 degree F, range 15 C. . In any event, above 45 degrees F./ 7C. Local weather conditions always come into play in any kind of gardening venture but with a greenhouse you have some control.
Greenhouses come in a variety of sizes and prices. It might be sensible to start small, but think about how you might add on at a future time. This is not a glorified garden shed! Where you position your new purchase in your garden will have a bearing on the level of success you will achieve. Ideally you will want as much sun as possible during the winter months and you will want to shelter the structure from prevailing winds, especially in the cold northern hemisphere. Try to situate your structure close to services. Think water, electric and gas, to make life a little easier. The growing conditions are controlled by you. In the summer months or where the climate is hot, you will have to consider shade. In the olden days, I remember we used whitewash on the sun bearing side of the greenhouse. There are a variety of modern methods which include blinds, shades made of fabric which can be rolled up and down. Waterproof shade paint, but make sure it is easy to take off when the summer is over. In the winter you can get what’s called low-e paint to put on the glass which prevents heat loss and it doesn’t block the sunlight. In any case you will have to try and keep the glass reasonably clean especially in the winter. How complicated you get with your ventilation system is a matter of choice, but, you will need an easy to manage method eventually, something automatic and thermostatically controlled is a good choice. Start small, grow something easy. A good idea to start your hydroponic greenhouse growing project is to separate an area in the greenhouse until you get the hang of growing hydroponically. Start small, grow something easy like tomatoes or herbs. Important to the hydroponic greenhouse gardener is the ease by which he can provide superior lighting and watering. The goal is to provide optimal growing conditions resulting in better plant growth and better yields, and doing it organically. Your alternative might be high pressure sodium or metal halide lamp fixtures in the spare bedroom, or a drip irrigation system in your basement. In a greenhouse the more elaborate hydroponic systems can be placed exactly where the plants will benefit most and where they are convenient and easy to manage. Since water and light are so critical to hydroponics ease of operation is essential. It’s the gardener who is in control not the plants. Try some old fashioned tomatoes. You may be lucky. You may have the experience and determination to stick with the hydroponic greenhouse until you get it right. Requirements of plants will vary and will test your resolve and ability to compromise. I would suggest starting with tomatoes. I know; everybody grows tomatoes but they don’t all grow the old fashioned varieties, the ones that taste sweet and juicy, they are much better. Someone wrote a book about the old fashioned tomato varieties. I will have to get a copy. In any case it is sensible to grow what you enjoy, or what you remember as a kid. After-all we do this for fun don’t we? Just like a bunch kids!
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They come in all shapes and sizes.
