You will note that all of the books described here are either from the UK or the US. The different conditions in these very cold northern climates means you have to be a bit circumspect about what they recommend. Here in Australia the problem, particularly in summer is usually too much light rather than not enough. Having said that, the greenhouse does have its place and you can still grow out of season crops and extend the cropping period of your usual produce, particularly in the areas subject to frost.
Greenhouse Gardening (part of the “Step-By-Step” gardening series) – Adrienne Wild – Ward Lock Limited (UK) 1985 ISBN 0 7063 6267 5 – Not a big book but lots of information and very clear line drawings. Good sections on food growing and plant propagation as well as the types of greenhouse and what to look for when buying one. A bit out of date but otherwise good.
The Survival Greenhouse: An Ecosystem Approach to Home Food Production – James B. DeKorne – Peace Press (US) 1978 ISBN0 915238 20 9 – This is a very good technical book on how to construct a greenhouse, power it with wind, integrate rabbits for carbon dioxide, implement hydroponics and aquaculture (unfortunately based on Tilapia, a species illegal or severely controlled here depending on the state). He hasn’t made the leap to aquaponics and keeps the hydroponics and aquaculture separate. Lots of good stuff in this book if you can find it.
The Hydroponic Hot House: Low Cost high Yield Greenhouse Gardening – James B. DeKorne – Kangaroo Press (reprint, originally published in the US) 1992 ISBN 0 86417 523 X – Yep, this is the follow up to the Survival Greenhouse. Not as detailed as the original, this volume does give some insight into the authors experience since the first book was released but for my money the original is still the best.
Home Solar Gardening – John H. Pierce – Key Porter Books (CAN) 1992 ISBN 1 55013 381 0 – This one is GOOD! Lots of line drawing and lots of ideas for greenhouses that you can build in your back yard or even in an apartment, ideal for the urban/suburban location. The book covers attached and free standing solar growers, sun pits, solar garden rooms (conservatories) apartment solar growing, solar boxes, frames and cloches as well as what to grow and solar growing techniques.
Solar Greenhouse Book – James C. McCullagh (Ed.) – Rodale Press (US) 1978 ISBN 0 87857 222 8 – this is a very good technical book about using and building greenhouses, but more on the larger type not suited to the urban or suburban environment and has lots of black and white photographs as well as line drawings. Part one covers where to put and how and what to get in the way of raw materials to build the greenhouse, part two covers building 4 types of greenhouse (freestanding; attached; pit and cold frame) and part three covers growing plants in the greenhouse.
The Handmade Greenhouse From Windowsill to Backyard – Richard Nicholls – Running Press (US) 1975 ISBN 0 914294 12 1 – This one has lots of good line drawings and some black and white photos with details of tools used and construction techniques for a geodesic dome greenhouse, rigid fame freestanding greenhouse, electrical conduit and plastic greenhouse and three designs of window greenhouses.
The Food and Heat Producing Solar Greenhouse – Rick Fisher and Bill Yanda – John Muir Publications (US) 1975 ISBN 0 912528 12 5 – Unfortunately my copy is a bit screwed up and some pages are printed twice while others are missing but from what I have this seems to be a good book with black and white photos as well as some line drawings. The book covers design ing, building and operating an attached solar greenhouse so that hem most heat and food is extracted from it. The show lots of examples from quite expensive models through to wood and plastic el cheapo ones.
How to Build Your Own Greenhouse – Roger Marshall – Storey Publishing (US) 2006 ISBN978 1 58017 647 7 – This is a book which covers pretty serious detail about building your small to medium greenhouse. The book has complete plans for nine styles including freestanding basic, polytunnel, lean-to, window inset and garden shed combination. No photos but lots of line drawings and lots of info on how to fit out your greenhouse too.
