Crops and greenhouses

To supply fresh vegetables even in winter, crops are grown in greenhouses or under film. Land for growing under film that slopes slightly south warms quickly in spring. The land is ploughed in autumn, harrowed and furrows are made; once the snow is gone (February–March) the furrows are covered with film stretched over wire half-hoops (4–6 mm thick, 90–100 cm long, 100 cm apart). The soil warms in 8–10 days and seeds or seedlings can be planted 1–2 months earlier than in the open field. A greenhouse is a glass- or film-covered structure where air and soil temperature are controlled and plants are watered and fed on time. To prepare it, 30–35 cm of manure is spread in the pit and pressed down, its heating is checked with a thermometer (when about 45 °C soil is added), then 15–20 cm of sifted soil is spread and levelled with a rake. Adults do these jobs: wire ends are sharp, manure is dirty and warm, and heating pipes are hot; children watch, wear gloves and wash hands with soap.