February
2009
What you should know Before Buying a Greenhouse
So you think you want to buy a greenhouse? This very question is on a lot of peoples minds these days; mainly because growing your own food has become an appealing option to buying at the local store for health and safety reasons. However, you need to know a few things before you commit to a greenhouse to have a good experience.
Not all plants are equal so you will need to know how much space the plants you would like to grow need to thrive. Most people just consider what space they have for the greenhouse and not what space the plants need. Both of these space issues will need to be addressed before you make your purchase.
While greenhouse can be used in an array of locations, they do much better when located in direct sunlight during the entire day. If your location has shade all or most of the day, the greenhouse may not yield like you expect it to. So knowing how much sunlight you will be getting in the space you have is important to manage expectations.
Some people only want a greenhouse to start seeds for their garden in the spring or extend the life of their plants in the fall. If this is you then just about any greenhouse or cold frame will do the job since you wont need the heating or cooling required when using greenhouses in certain climates.
Over wintering plants is a little bit different situation because you will need to make sure the temperature stays at least 30 F more than whats outside the green house. Insulation is now a factor, though you can still get away with some medium priced greenhouses that are pretty well insulated, especially if you live in a milder climate.
In colder climates you have to have a greenhouse that is well insulated or your results will be less than expected and your heating bills will be more than expected! Many people come away from greenhouse gardening disappointed because of the cost and results and this can almost always be traced back to purchasing a greenhouse that is not a good fit for your region. Just dont make that mistake.
Any time the intent is to grow food in a greenhouse year round; you will need to have a very well insulated greenhouse. This helps both in the winter months when you need some help heating and also in the summer months when you may need a little help cooling. Of course the climate you live in will also play a part in determining what green house is for you but you will notice the better all round results come for good insulated greenhouses.
When purchasing your greenhouse, dont make the most common mistakes of not buying a greenhouse big enough for the job or not getting or building a greenhouse that is well insulated for your climate. By asking yourself a few simple questions, accessing what you want a green house for and the space you have that makes since, you can make sure your greenhouse experience is both fun and fulfilling from the start!