Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Far from all regions, climatic conditions allow growing grapes on a personal plot. However, this crop can be grown in specially equipped greenhouses.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Advantages and disadvantages of greenhouse cultivation

In greenhouses, not only those grape varieties that are not adapted to the climatic conditions in the region are grown. Unpretentious plant species are also often planted in specially prepared structures.

Greenhouse cultivation of grapes has such significant advantages as:

  • vineyards are reliably protected from adverse weather conditions;
  • plants grown in a greenhouse give more yield;
  • rapid ripening of berries;
  • minimal risks of grape disease. Plants growing outdoors get sick much more often;
  • easy to care for the vineyard;
  • protection from harmful insects;
  • in greenhouses it is possible to grow even those grape varieties that are not suitable for seedlings in this region in the open field;
  • the vineyard does not need to be treated with chemicals, which allows you to get an environmentally friendly harvest of berries.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

The disadvantages of greenhouse cultivation primarily include the cash costs for the purchase or manufacture of the desired design. In addition, grapes growing in a greenhouse can overheat and become damaged during a hot period of time, especially if the structure is not equipped with an automatic ventilation system.

design Features

Designs designed for growing grapes have some features. First of all, this concerns the size of the greenhouse. The height of the building must be at least two and a half meters. The total area of ​​the greenhouse must be at least twenty-five square meters. Under the greenhouse for grapes, it is imperative to lay the foundation to protect the plant from freezing. A reliable foundation will also protect the structure from the penetration of harmful insects and weeds.

Cellular polycarbonate is most often used as a covering material for a greenhouse. This material transmits light well and has good thermal insulation characteristics.

For unheated greenhouses, a covering plastic film can be used. Growing grapes requires a strong and durable structure, as the plant may not bear fruit in the first year. A strong frame structure is necessary for its long-term operation. The frame can be made of galvanized or profiled pipes.

To grow heat-loving grape varieties, the greenhouse must be equipped with heating. Infrared lamps can be used as heating devices. Devices are suspended from the ceiling. When using such devices, the frame of the structure will need to be well strengthened. An alternative option would be a special heating cable laid under the ground. Some types of grapes require a lot of light. The lack of sunlight can be compensated by lighting fixtures. The most commonly used fluorescent lamps are daylight.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

In the greenhouse, it is also necessary to create good ventilation to maintain the microclimate. In order for the building to be ventilated automatically, it is recommended to equip the greenhouse windows with hydraulic cylinders. This device responds to changes in air temperature inside the greenhouse. When the temperature in the greenhouse rises, the device opens the vents, when the temperature drops, it closes them. Drip irrigation is recommended as an irrigation system. Grapes do not require frequent watering. Automatic systems greatly facilitate the care of plants and provide the necessary amount of moisture.

Varieties

For growing grapes, you can buy a ready-made greenhouse or make it yourself. To select the appropriate type of construction, you need to take into account some features of growing vineyards.

According to the type of covering material, greenhouses for grapes are divided into two types.

  • Polyethylene film. Such material is the cheapest option for covering greenhouses. However, the film does not have a long service life and is only suitable for growing grapes of insensitive varieties.
  • Cellular polycarbonate. The strength of this material is two hundred times that of glass. The polycarbonate structure is reliably protected from precipitation and strong winds. In addition, the material has good transparency and a long service life. Cellular polycarbonate greenhouses are the most suitable option for growing grapes.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Of no small importance for vineyards is the form of construction.

The most suitable options for grapes are two types of greenhouses.

  • Rectangular structure with a gable roof. Such a building provides a good level of lighting for plants. The shape of the greenhouse allows you to create the optimal height of the structure for growing vineyards.
  • Building in the form of an arch. This type of greenhouses is characterized by low cost and ease of assembly. This design is inferior in some respects to rectangular greenhouses, but is also suitable for planting vineyards.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Some gardeners recommend using detachable top constructions for growing grapes.

This option allows you to protect plants from freezing in the winter. Having removed the roof, access to precipitation in the form of snow opens up inside the building. Thus, the soil is saturated with moisture, and a layer of snow protects the root system of the vineyard from freezing.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

How to do it yourself?

Knowing the features of greenhouses for grapes, you can make a suitable design yourself. This approach, in contrast to the acquisition of ready-made options, will allow you to create the most convenient building and properly equip it.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Structural design

When designing a future building, it is necessary to determine the size and shape of the structure, as well as the materials from which the main elements of the greenhouse will be made. The area of ​​​​the building depends on how many grapes are planned to be planted. The recommended height of the greenhouse is two and a half meters. However, for some grape varieties, lower designs are also suitable.

For the construction of an arched structure made of polycarbonate, the size of straight walls can be 4,2×1,5 m. The height of the greenhouse in a particular case will be 1,5 m. The width of the building will depend on the slope of the roof. In addition to arched forms for grapes, a rectangular structure with a gable roof is well suited. This option can be assembled from wooden beams and hundredth polycarbonate.

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Greenhouse for grapes: types and their features

Foundation

Before building a greenhouse, it is recommended to build a foundation. The most common option is a shallow strip foundation. The disadvantage of this solution is a high probability of a bad effect on the root system of the vineyard. A concrete foundation can limit the spread of the plant’s roots in breadth.

Alternatively, you can use metal corners about one meter long.

At the bottom of the corners, small supporting thick iron plates are welded. A large greenhouse may require 14 of these support pins for perimeter placement and about 7 for central installation.

frame

For the construction of the frame, materials such as metal or wood are suitable. Working with wooden beams is much easier, since welding is not required. However, this material is inferior in many respects to metal. The best option is a frame made of galvanized profile. Self-tapping screws, metal rivets or bolts can be used as fasteners. If you have experience with a welding machine, then the structure will be much easier to weld by welding.

Installation

First of all, the frame of the future greenhouse is assembled. The galvanized profile is cut into elements of the desired length. The frame is assembled or welded from the constituent parts. To attach polycarbonate sheets to the frame, it is necessary to install special rubber inserts. Sheets of cellular polycarbonate are installed on the inserts. At the joints, metal plates are attached with self-tapping screws.

For the tightness of the structure, all seams are recommended to be sealed with sealant.

In the video below, you will learn two ways to grow in a grape greenhouse.

Anna Evans

Author-editor

View all posts by Anna Evans →
Exit mobile version