“If I only had a greenhouse, I could grow….” We’ve all thought about it! We plantaholics can never have too much space for plants. If you are planning a greenhouse project, here are ten things to consider when choosing the perfect greenhouse structure.
10 Tips for Choosing a Greenhouse
Purpose: What do you plan to do with your greenhouse? Use it as a season extender or for year-round growing? Will you grow plants in the ground or in containers?
Site: Will it be attached to your home or freestanding? Is the area level? Does it get enough sun? Are there trees that should be removed first?
Style:Hoop houses and high tunnels are made from plastic or metal pipes bent into a round or gothic arch shape and covered with UV-stabilized plastic.
Size: Everyone says to get the largest greenhouse you can afford because you will soon fill it and wish it were bigger, but it is more practical to plan the amount of usable space different-sized houses will give. The biggest isn’t always the best.
Skill: Can you realistically build a kit, or will you need to hire a carpenter?
Foundation: Glass greenhouses need sturdy masonry foundations. Lightweight plastic-covered greenhouses can be built with wooden bases, and most hoop houses are attached to metal pipes driven into the ground. Temporary structures need to be anchored to the ground with stakes.
Heat: Greenhouses heat up rapidly on a sunny day and cool off fast when the Sun sets. Double walls—whether glass, polycarbonate, acrylic, or two layers of plastic sheeting with air blown in between them—will help to moderate the highs and lows. If you plan to grow year-round, you may need supplemental heat. Even if you are just raising seedlings in the spring, a portable heater may be necessary to see you through a cold snap.
Ventilation: Doors, windows, vents, and roll-up sides all help to get fresh air into the greenhouse while exhausting hot, stale air. Tender seedlings fry fast on a sunny day! Thermostatically controlled fans or solar-powered vent openers will help regulate temperatures when you are not there. Shade cloth or nearby deciduous trees can help block the sun in summer.
Visit: If you know anyone who has a greenhouse similar to the style you’re considering, ask if you can visit. Find out what they like and dislike about theirs and what changes they would make.
Build it Right: Before starting any building project, be sure to check your local building codes and zoning rules and get the necessary permits.
We now have a two-story glass greenhouse attached to the house that is not only used for plants but also gives us a lot of heat on a sunny winter’s day. Deciduous trees shade it in the summer.
Who needs a Caribbean vacation when you can grow tropical plants inside when there is snow outside?
When we decided to sell some of our excess seedlings to support our plant habit, we built a hoop house to use as a sales area.
That wasn’t enough space, though, so we have some temporary greenhouses we throw together in the spring to house tomato plants, customer orders, and the plants we have chosen to keep for ourselves. Everything grows great in these inexpensive houses! For a few weeks each spring, our yard looks like the circus has come to town, but it is worth it for the healthy plants we are able to raise for ourselves and our customers.
Later, we became the owners of a frame for a portable garage when friends were moving and just wanted it taken down.
Covered with greenhouse plastic, it makes an ideal greenhouse for early tomatoes or for growing greens over the winter. With a few strong friends it can be moved to a fresh location each year. We kept the garage’s ends, which have handy zippered doors!
HaHAAA!!! I don't want a greenhouse, I want the Conservatory of Longwood Gardens in PA! I am still envious of those cats who live there! But we are stuck with a cold frame. Still, it does it's job. Grateful for that.
I really like the idea of the portable garage converted into a greenhouse - seems like it might be more sturdy than what you could buy otherwise. Thanks for a really great article!
Two years ago we converted a one car garage into a greenhouse. BEST MOVE WE MADE! I grow all year long. Water and heat/cool systems are in place but took experimentation to get it just right. Here we are in March, and the greenhouse is producing broccoli, Swiss chard, lettuce, green onions, peas, cilantro and spinach to name a few cold hardy plants. We also have a Meyer lemon tree(dwarf) and a Clementine Mandarin dwarf tree plus two blueberry bushes inside the greenhouse. All in containers. In early May, summer plants will replace the cold weather plants. We have year-long fruit and veggies! Greenhouse is HIGHLY recommended!!!
we have 3 small portable green houses that live on our deck. (basically metal shelves covered in plastic). They worked great for about 3 years, but the plastic has deteriorated, the zippers failed. We have been unable to locate new covers for sale, and are now using old clear shower curtains with DUC tape. Any Ideas??? What is green house plastic?