Mother's Mini-Manual: Greenhouse Gardening

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BENCHES. Don't make your benches wider than 2-1/2 to 3 feet or you'll find it difficult to reach the plants in the back. And do be sure your planter benches are at least six to eight inches deep to allow plenty of rooting room for the plants you put in them. Leave 1/4-inch spaces between the bottom boards for drainage and, if you don't use the space under the benches for growing things, fill it with soil, gravel or cinders to soak up excess water and help maintain proper humidity in your greenhouse.

Hemlock, pecky cypress and redwood are the best bench materials because they resist rot. Other types of lumber may be used, however, if they're treated with a preservative. Never use creosote or pentachlorophenol for treating pots, window boxes or greenhouse benches, since their fumes can seriously damage plants. The Abrahams recommend only copper naphthenate for use as a wood preservative in a greenhouse.

AISLES OR FLOORS. A wood or linoleum floor in a greenhouse will tend to dehumidify the air and dry out the plants in the building. Concrete (which is especially easy to keep clean) makes a much more satisfactory floor. And plain dirt covered with gravel or crushed rocks works even better yet.

POTTING AREA. Every greenhouse should have some space set aside for the storage of tools and supplies and as a "special place" where you do nothing but repot, prune and otherwise work with your plants. Beware, however, of sacrificing too much valuable growing space for these purposes. It's usually handiest to restrict this work area to a corner of the greenhouse or to an attached shed that can double for the storage of tools. Install a sink in the space if you can.

WATER. Be sure to put any and all greenhouse water lines in place before the walls, walks and floor are laid. (You might also want to include tanks for the collection of rainwater. In Build Your Own Greenhouse, Charles Neal suggests that besides being relatively free of man-induced chemicals, rainwater, or even tap water stored in the tank, will soon warm or cool to the room temperature of the greenhouse and thereafter be less likely to thermal shock any plants you use it on.)

SHELVES. Install glass or wooden shelves throughout your greenhouse to greatly increase its growing area. The Abrahams claim that neither material keeps a substantial amount of sunlight from reaching plants on lower levels.

DOUBLE DECK BENCHES. Such greenhouse "furniture" can help to stretch the structure's growing space if some of your plants can tolerate the shade underneath them.

SPACE UNDER BENCHES. By temporarily placing shade-loving plants under benches — along the edges of walks where they'll get enough indirect light to keep them healthy — you can even make the cooler and darker spots in your greenhouse useful. The Abrahams, for instance, have found them ideal for the culture of edible mushrooms!

AUXILIARY STRUCTURES

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