Greenhouse? Glasshouse? Coolhouse? Hoophouse? High Tunnel? Coldframe?
What's the Difference?
Although many people use the term "greenhouse" for most of the other terms listed above, they are technically separate things.
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that most sellers of greenhouse-like structures will call any structure they're selling a "greenhouse" because that's the term customers are usually using as they search.
Glasshouses
Glass was once one of the only materials thought suitable for constructing a greenhouse-like structure. For some time, "glasshouse" and "greenhouse" were pretty much used synonymously.
Glasshouse structures were built out of glass, both the walls and the roof, because glass is transparent and allows an optimal amount of light for plant growth. Glass could capture the sunlight so that the area under the glass heated up.
Greenhouses
A basic definition of a greenhouse is a permanent structure; a building, room, or area in which the temperature is maintained within a desired range. A true greenhouse stays warm, even during the winter.
A "cold" or "unheated" greenhouse is a greenhouse without any heating device other than the sun. More on those germs below.
Greenhouses are used for cultivating tender plants, growing plants out of season, and protecting plants from wind, rain and animals.
They generally have some type of shelving system, and the plants are grown in pots on a table, not in the ground. Most greenhouse growing is done in trays, flats or pots where the grower can assure that the plants have the right amount of moisture, optimum soil and air temperatures in which to thrive.
 |
| Click to View |
After a while, greenhouses began to be constructed out of polycarbonate panels. This material helps to diffuse light more evenly than glass, which helps plants thrive and even grow faster.
Polycarbonate panels also protect plants from excessive sunlight or radiation as it naturally offers UV protection.
 |
| Click to View |
 |
| Click to View |
Unheated Greenhouses
Many hobby greenhouses are unheated by choice, but can be upgraded to include heat, electricity or water.
There are a multitude of choices of styles and sizes of unheated greenhouses on the market today.
An unheated greenhouse is commonly used to grow greens during winter months, to start warm-season annuals, to propagate perennials, and to shelter frost-tender plants through the winter.
Besides greens like spinach and lettuce, you can grow cold-tolerant veggies such as cabbage and broccoli in an unheated greenhouse.
Unheated greenhouses are not the same as Cool Houses.
 |
| Click to View |
Cool Houses
A cool house is a greenhouse which is maintained at a relatively low temperature. It's commonly used for the forcing of hardy plants or the winter storage of dormant plants.
Among the plants suited to cool greenhouses are azaleas, cinerarias, cyclamens, carnations, fuchsias.
 |
| Click to View |
The hoop house has found its home with commerical growers, small farmers as well as hobby growers.
 |
| Click to View |
As the name suggests, a hoop house is constructed from hoops made of flexible yet rigid material, typically PVC or metal fencing as pictured above. Recently cattle panel fencing is also used in place of actual hoops for more stability.
The hoop house frame is covered with an agricultural plastic, polyfilm or greenhouse plastic that protect plants from rain, wind and cold temperatures through passive solar heat. It allows growers to cultivate healthier crops through an extended growing season.
An extended growing season means growers with a hoop house can plant sooner in the spring, harvest later into the fall, and depending on the location, even harvest cold-loving crops through an entire winter.
 |
| Click to View |
One of the main differences between a greenhouse and a hoop house is that a hoop house is not considered a permanent structure. Hoop houses are generally taller than greenhouses with higher posts.
In greenhouses, heat control is done artificially to maintain a consistent temperature; while in hoop houses, temperature control is done naturally through doors and window openings. That is why a hoop house is a seasonal system and, therefore, considered a temporary structure.
Crops in a hoop house are mostly grown directly in the soil, whereas plants are grown on shelving in a greenhouse . With no artificial lighting or temperature controls, a hoop house is relatively inexpensive to buy and operate.
 |
| Click to View |
High Tunnels
High tunnels are typically a type of hoop house which is built with extra headspace, tall enough to accommodate the entrance of large equipment such as tractors, tillers, and other tall farm machinery.
Crops can be grown by either using conventional tillage in the natural soil or by installing permanent raised beds under the tunnel.
 |
| Click to View |
A cold frame generally is a simple structure; a bottomless four-sided frame of boards with a removable glass or plastic top.
The back of the box is typically taller than the front which lets the top of the cold frame sit at an angle. This slope allows maximum sunlight to enter the structure and will help it shed rain and snow.
The frame is placed on the ground and is used to house, protect, and harden off seedlings and small plants utilizing solar energy and insulation to create a microclimate within the frame.
Cold frames are easy and inexpensive to build. They can be constructed from recycled materials including scrap wood, straw bales, bricks, and old windows.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are many different types of all of the above structures, but they are all built for the same general purpose -- growing plants!
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without costing you anything extra.
Greenhouse? Glasshouse? Coolhouse? Hoophouse? High Tunnel? Coldframe?
What's the Difference?
Although many people use the term "greenhouse" for most of the other terms listed above, they are technically separate things.
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that most sellers of greenhouse-like structures will call any structure they're selling a "greenhouse" because that's the term customers are usually using as they search.
Glasshouses
Glass was once one of the only materials thought suitable for constructing a greenhouse-like structure. For some time, "glasshouse" and "greenhouse" were pretty much used synonymously.
Glasshouse structures were built out of glass, both the walls and the roof, because glass is transparent and allows an optimal amount of light for plant growth. Glass could capture the sunlight so that the area under the glass heated up.
Greenhouses
A basic definition of a greenhouse is a permanent structure; a building, room, or area in which the temperature is maintained within a desired range. A true greenhouse stays warm, even during the winter.
A "cold" or "unheated" greenhouse is a greenhouse without any heating device other than the sun. More on those germs below.
Greenhouses are used for cultivating tender plants, growing plants out of season, and protecting plants from wind, rain and animals.
They generally have some type of shelving system, and the plants are grown in pots on a table, not in the ground. Most greenhouse growing is done in trays, flats or pots where the grower can assure that the plants have the right amount of moisture, optimum soil and air temperatures in which to thrive.
|
| Click to View |
After a while, greenhouses began to be constructed out of polycarbonate panels. This material helps to diffuse light more evenly than glass, which helps plants thrive and even grow faster.
Polycarbonate panels also protect plants from excessive sunlight or radiation as it naturally offers UV protection.
|
| Click to View |
|
| Click to View |
Unheated Greenhouses
Many hobby greenhouses are unheated by choice, but can be upgraded to include heat, electricity or water.
There are a multitude of choices of styles and sizes of unheated greenhouses on the market today.
An unheated greenhouse is commonly used to grow greens during winter months, to start warm-season annuals, to propagate perennials, and to shelter frost-tender plants through the winter.
Besides greens like spinach and lettuce, you can grow cold-tolerant veggies such as cabbage and broccoli in an unheated greenhouse.
Unheated greenhouses are not the same as Cool Houses.
|
| Click to View |
Cool Houses
A cool house is a greenhouse which is maintained at a relatively low temperature. It's commonly used for the forcing of hardy plants or the winter storage of dormant plants.
Among the plants suited to cool greenhouses are azaleas, cinerarias, cyclamens, carnations, fuchsias.
|
| Click to View |
The hoop house has found its home with commerical growers, small farmers as well as hobby growers.
|
| Click to View |
As the name suggests, a hoop house is constructed from hoops made of flexible yet rigid material, typically PVC or metal fencing as pictured above. Recently cattle panel fencing is also used in place of actual hoops for more stability.
The hoop house frame is covered with an agricultural plastic, polyfilm or greenhouse plastic that protect plants from rain, wind and cold temperatures through passive solar heat. It allows growers to cultivate healthier crops through an extended growing season.
An extended growing season means growers with a hoop house can plant sooner in the spring, harvest later into the fall, and depending on the location, even harvest cold-loving crops through an entire winter.
|
| Click to View |
One of the main differences between a greenhouse and a hoop house is that a hoop house is not considered a permanent structure.
Hoop houses are generally taller than greenhouses with higher posts.
In greenhouses, heat control is done artificially to maintain a consistent temperature; while in hoop houses, temperature control is done naturally through doors and window openings. That is why a hoop house is a seasonal system and, therefore, considered a temporary structure.
Crops in a hoop house are mostly grown directly in the soil, whereas plants are grown on shelving in a greenhouse . With no artificial lighting or temperature controls, a hoop house is relatively inexpensive to buy and operate.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
High Tunnels
High tunnels are typically a type of hoop house which is built with extra headspace, tall enough to accommodate the entrance of large equipment such as tractors, tillers, and other tall farm machinery.
Crops can be grown by either using conventional tillage in the natural soil or by installing permanent raised beds under the tunnel.
|
| Click to View |
A cold frame generally is a simple structure; a bottomless four-sided frame of boards with a removable glass or plastic top.
The back of the box is typically taller than the front which lets the top of the cold frame sit at an angle. This slope allows maximum sunlight to enter the structure and will help it shed rain and snow.
The frame is placed on the ground and is used to house, protect, and harden off seedlings and small plants utilizing solar energy and insulation to create a microclimate within the frame.
Cold frames are easy and inexpensive to build. They can be constructed from recycled materials including scrap wood, straw bales, bricks, and old windows.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are many different types of all of the above structures, but they are all built for the same general purpose -- growing plants!
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without costing you anything extra.
Greenhouse? Glasshouse? Coolhouse? Hoophouse? High Tunnel? Coldframe?
What's the Difference?
Although many people use the term "greenhouse" for most of the other terms listed above, they are technically separate things.
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that most sellers of greenhouse-like structures will call any structure they're selling a "greenhouse" because that's the term customers are usually using as they search.
Glasshouses
Glass was once one of the only materials thought suitable for constructing a greenhouse-like structure. For some time, "glasshouse" and "greenhouse" were pretty much used synonymously.
Glasshouse structures were built out of glass, both the walls and the roof, because glass is transparent and allows an optimal amount of light for plant growth. Glass could capture the sunlight so that the area under the glass heated up.
Greenhouses
A basic definition of a greenhouse is a permanent structure; a building, room, or area in which the temperature is maintained within a desired range. A true greenhouse stays warm, even during the winter.
A "cold" or "unheated" greenhouse is a greenhouse without any heating device other than the sun. More on those germs below.
Greenhouses are used for cultivating tender plants, growing plants out of season, and protecting plants from wind, rain and animals.
They generally have some type of shelving system, and the plants are grown in pots on a table, not in the ground. Most greenhouse growing is done in trays, flats or pots where the grower can assure that the plants have the right amount of moisture, optimum soil and air temperatures in which to thrive.
|
| Click to View |
After a while, greenhouses began to be constructed out of polycarbonate panels. This material helps to diffuse light more evenly than glass, which helps plants thrive and even grow faster.
Polycarbonate panels also protect plants from excessive sunlight or radiation as it naturally offers UV protection.
|
| Click to View |
|
| Click to View |
Unheated Greenhouses
Many hobby greenhouses are unheated by choice, but can be upgraded to include heat, electricity or water.
There are a multitude of choices of styles and sizes of unheated greenhouses on the market today.
An unheated greenhouse is commonly used to grow greens during winter months, to start warm-season annuals, to propagate perennials, and to shelter frost-tender plants through the winter.
Besides greens like spinach and lettuce, you can grow cold-tolerant veggies such as cabbage and broccoli in an unheated greenhouse.
Unheated greenhouses are not the same as Cool Houses.
|
| Click to View |
Cool Houses
A cool house is a greenhouse which is maintained at a relatively low temperature. It's commonly used for the forcing of hardy plants or the winter storage of dormant plants.
Among the plants suited to cool greenhouses are azaleas, cinerarias, cyclamens, carnations, fuchsias.
|
| Click to View |
The hoop house has found its home with commerical growers, small farmers as well as hobby growers.
|
| Click to View |
As the name suggests, a hoop house is constructed from hoops made of flexible yet rigid material, typically PVC or metal fencing as pictured above. Recently cattle panel fencing is also used in place of actual hoops for more stability.
The hoop house frame is covered with an agricultural plastic, polyfilm or greenhouse plastic that protect plants from rain, wind and cold temperatures through passive solar heat. It allows growers to cultivate healthier crops through an extended growing season.
An extended growing season means growers with a hoop house can plant sooner in the spring, harvest later into the fall, and depending on the location, even harvest cold-loving crops through an entire winter.
|
| Click to View |
One of the main differences between a greenhouse and a hoop house is that a hoop house is not considered a permanent structure.
Hoop houses are generally taller than greenhouses with higher posts.
In greenhouses, heat control is done artificially to maintain a consistent temperature; while in hoop houses, temperature control is done naturally through doors and window openings. That is why a hoop house is a seasonal system and, therefore, considered a temporary structure.
Crops in a hoop house are mostly grown directly in the soil, whereas plants are grown on shelving in a greenhouse . With no artificial lighting or temperature controls, a hoop house is relatively inexpensive to buy and operate.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
High Tunnels
High tunnels are typically a type of hoop house which is built with extra headspace, tall enough to accommodate the entrance of large equipment such as tractors, tillers, and other tall farm machinery.
Crops can be grown by either using conventional tillage in the natural soil or by installing permanent raised beds under the tunnel.
|
| Click to View |
A cold frame generally is a simple structure; a bottomless four-sided frame of boards with a removable glass or plastic top.
The back of the box is typically taller than the front which lets the top of the cold frame sit at an angle. This slope allows maximum sunlight to enter the structure and will help it shed rain and snow.
The frame is placed on the ground and is used to house, protect, and harden off seedlings and small plants utilizing solar energy and insulation to create a microclimate within the frame.
Cold frames are easy and inexpensive to build. They can be constructed from recycled materials including scrap wood, straw bales, bricks, and old windows.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are many different types of all of the above structures, but they are all built for the same general purpose -- growing plants!
This post may contain Amazon affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases without costing you anything extra.
