A greenhouse gives you a controlled environment to grow fruits and vegetables. The right setup protects your crops from inclement weather and pests. While there are professionals who can set up this structure for you, the following guide looks at factors to consider and what lawn and garden supplies will be useful for your operations.

How to Set Up a Greenhouse

1. Choose a Size & Placement

While greenhouses come in various sizes, many homeowners choose ones of about 80 sq. ft. to provide room for planting plenty of flowers and vegetables. You’ll also want overhead space—at least 7 feet—so you don’t have to hunch over and can grow vining vegetables like tomatoes and pole beans that require height.

Put the greenhouse close to your home, so you don’t have to hike far in rain or chilly morning weather. This is especially true if you want to run electricity and plumbing to it because you’ll have to extend the utility lines from your house. Some plants like kale and spinach enjoy the shade, so you may want to set up the greenhouse near a large tree so long as it doesn’t cast a long shadow over the entire building and deprive other plants of sunlight.

2. Pick an Exterior Material

The greenhouse’s exterior protects your plants from moisture, pets, and fluctuating temperatures. Glass is the most popular option because it’s long-lasting and allows plenty of sunlight in. If you’re on a budget, use plastic sheets instead. While it’s not as good of an insulator, it will protect your harvest.

3. Install a Ventilation System

Ventilation systems regulate moisture and temperature levels inside the greenhouse. These large fans circulate fresh air within the structure and prevent fungal infections that arise from overly wet conditions. Fans will also cool the room so that extreme summer temperatures won't harm heat-sensitive vegetables like cabbage and carrots.

4. Stock It With Planting Essentials

Invest in deep pots or planter boxes for your starter plants. Keep extra bags of potting mix and fertilizer on hand that you can use to feed your crops. Easy vegetables to grow include lettuce, radishes, spinach, carrots, peas, bell peppers, eggplants, and basil. Selecting those with similar needs will make it less complicated to water and prune plants all at once. Other useful lawn and garden supplies include a hand trowel, pruning shears, twine for climbing plants, and gardening gloves.

If you’ve decided to install a greenhouse on your property, pick up your lawn and garden supplies at Bolivar Farmers Exchange. This Polk County, MO, dealer has welcomed customers since 1920 and carries a large selection of products, including seeds and bulk fertilizer. Learn more about their inventory online. Call (417) 326-5231 to speak with a sales associate.