Hi! I have been looking at greenhouse kits online and my head is getting befuddled! I want one at least 6 x8 and would prefer to spend less than one thousand if possible. Has anyone here bought a greenhouse kit? I have looked at STC kits and just this evening ran across Texasgreenhouse.com.they are out of fort worth. Has anyone here bought a greenhouse kit? Any thoughts, suggestions? Any help appreciated! Thanks!
Greenhouse kits
I have a 20' X 20' greenhouse kit from FarmTek Grower's Supply as well as an 8' X 8' made by my son. My DH purchased a vented propane heater for the large of the two greenhouses. The smaller one was too small to heat with any vented propane heater so I've had to use a 1500 watt electric heater that barely keeps the temperatures above freezing when temperatures get down into the low 20s. It's also harder to keep cool in summer. Buy the largest one you can afford and consider how you are going to heat it. If you plan to use it during the summer, you also have to consider how you are going to keep it cool. Don't use un-vented propane heaters as the danger of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide poisoning is all too real.
Hi...at this point I just want one to start seeds in the winter....so it doesn't need to be large
lizzieshome,
I have a shelf on my laundry room and I can start so many seedlings in there.
I have my best growing light and an heating mat on the top shelf.
Below I just use shop lights. This system works just fine.
One of my neigbor has a fantastic metal frame/glass/victorian looking green house. It is always empty.
She says that it costs a fortune to keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter, here in Dallas.
But I do drull when I see the pictures of the brick greenhouses in the English gardening magazine ... and wish I had one
This message was edited Feb 4, 2012 8:08 AM
oh..that is nice! I wish I had room for something like that in my house!
It really doesn't take much room.
I bought the metal shelf at Lowe's on sale for $53 ... or something like that
I have nowhere that little grandkids or my cat cannot do some damage unfortunately.
drthor.....have been mulling over your system....I think I have a corner where I could put this...after moving some stuff around...and a place where I could shut the door. can I buy the growing light and heating mat at places like walmart, lowes, etc...or will I need to order it. I live in the boonies....so am used to having to order things I want. told hubby this would probably suffice for right now until we can do some research into the greenhouses to see exactly what we can afford...and get the best for our money. thanks for any help.
lizziehome52,
the shelf was from Lowes's (make sure the one you buy will have adjustable levels)
the shelf is 48" long - also the shop lights are 48" long
each light was $19.99 (from Home Depot) + bulb - you want to buy a bulb that has daylight.
I use 2 shop lights for each level. Attached by adjustable chains.
You want to be very close to your seedlings with the lights.
The heating mat is a MUST !! I have a 48" one and you must have the thermostat (otherwise you will cook your seedlings here in TX)
I bought my heatig mat and thermostat online: Hydrofarm 48 x 20 Inch Seedling Heat Mat 107watts
I can have the following vegetables germinate in at least 3 days with the heating mat:
tomatoes at 85 F
peppers, eggplants and okra at 90 F
cucumbers and zucchini at 85 F
Good luck and there is nothing better than grow and eat your own food.
I spent a lot at the beginning of my vegetable gardening to have the good material and soil, and now I am getting it all back and more.
Especialy with no frustrations.
thank you. I need to get on amazon and see what I can get there. I have a good amount in giftcards there. we have a garden each year...this will help in getting a jump start. I also want to start flower seedlings...especially stuff like coneflowers, etc. I may be back with more questions,lol. getting excited about getting this together.
oh...and I have heirloom tomato seeds in the freezer I saved from last year. I grew them in containers...will never grow tomatoes in anything except containers again.
ok....from what I am reading....you germinate your seeds on the mat...and then move them to under the lights once sprouted? am i correct on this?
lizzieshome,
The germinating mat must also have lights over it as not all the seeds germinate at the same time. Those that germinate first will attempt to grow toward light and will get leggy. You want short stout seedlings. If you can't find the daylight florescent lights, you can come close by using 1 warm and 1 cool light in each fixture. The seedlings will need 12 - 16 hours of light. Option to consider: If you can afford them, T-5 light fixtures and bulbs will give higher light output for a longer period of time and better growing results, but the downside is, of course the price. Over time the optimum light output of any bulb will go down and will have to be replaced. Regular florescent light bulbs don't give you the high output as long as the T-5s do, but because they are fairly cheap, you can replace them more often or use more than one fixture per shelf.
The seedlings should be no more than 2" from the light source if you want the healthiest and stoutest seedlings. If you get some "S" hooks and some extra chain, you can rig up the light fixtures so you can move them up or down.
Fortunately, there is a lot of information on the internet about starting seeds indoors
bettydee on my upper shelf I have a T5 light system. I love it.
I normally germinate my seedlings under the T5 light with the heating mat.
When they get tall I just move them down to the regular shop lights. They grow just fantastic.
lizzieshome52,
why do you like growing tomatoes in containers?
I am just curios
thank you betty! I will have to look into the T5 light...this is all brand new to me.
drthor....I have grown my tomatoes the last 2 years in containers and have just had better luck with them. they have grown healthier...larger...and i can move them if needed due to weather conditions. Since I am the only one who likes them I don't have to plant many so containers are handy for me.