feedback on three greenhouse kits?

Hello to all of you!
I have just started looking on this forum for some advice on choice of greenhouse kits. The three I am considering are a Halls Magnum, a Juliana compact plus and a Europa Manor Viscount. Does anyone have one of these or have opinions bout any of them? I would love to hear them! I did read where someone liked their Juliana but would love to her more. Thanks so much! rose ivory

I don't have a personal opinion on any of those (sorry!) but they're all nice - I think I've looked at them - assuming these are what you're talking about:

Halls "Magnum" http://www.eurocosm.com/Application/products/Greenhouses-Halls/magnum-GB.asp
Juliana "Compact Plus" http://shop.store.yahoo.com/backyardcity/grjucopl12.html
Europa Manor Viscount: http://www.greenhousekit.com/europaviscount.htm

The one I'm seriously considering is the "MiniPro" (right-hand image on this site.) The base model is 8x10, (I'm hoping they'll have the 4' extension when I'm ready to buy): http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/gardener.shtml I like the looks of it, and I'm hoping someone can give me some personal recommendations on it, too (not to steal your thread ;o)

I put up a Rion 6.5 x 12.10 freestanding this summer. I haven't had a full year's experience with it yet, so I'm not in a position to recommend it yet. It went up fairly easily (once we figured out what the parts were: almost all the little white identifying tags fell off in shipping) and seems sturdy. It's on a 6x6 garden timber foundation and has small pea gravel for flooring. The kit has free shipping (no shipping charges on any accessories, either).

The frame is dark green plastic and uses "T" pins to hold the pieces together. We have benches on 3 of the 4 walls and have hung 1-foot wide glass shelving on about 2/3 of the walls (would have done more, but ran out of the free glass we were using).

I saw the "MiniPro" you're considering. It's an attractive structure, and the SnapGlas they use is a LOT more transparent than the 4mm polycarbonate I have in the Rion. The site doesn't give any information on SnapGlas's insullation, though: how thick is it? I don't know how cold things get in Tennessee, but in Northwestern Rhode Island, any single glazing would send the energy bills thru the roof.

- Kathleen (Zone 6, NW Rhode Island)

The lack of R-value information is one thing that sends up a red warning flag with me, to.

But where I live we're in the "transition zone" between the year-round warm, sunny south and the more temperate northern climes. My current GH is nothing more than a single layer of UV-rated GH plastic and has been relatively easy and cheap to keep above freezing during the past three winters. (I don't try to keep it toasty warm until I start putting seedlings out, and my tender perennials do pretty well with a small space heater on the coldest nights up to that point.)

Dear Terry

hi! I'd like to hear how cold it gets- in degrees where you are. Does it freeze ever and for how long. If not or not often perhaps that is a great greenhouse for your needs. Thanks! r. ivory

Oh, it definitely DOES freeze here - we'll have several nights of below 32 F temps starting mid-November or December and sporadically throughout February, even early March.

In fact, the first winter we were here (pre-GH), most of December barely climbed out of freezing cold. But that is atypical for us. More typical winter temps would be daytime highs ranging from the mid-40s to the low 70s, overnight lows in the low 30s to 40s - maybe down to low/mid 20s for a few really cold nights. We have had a few winters (not in recent history) where we delved down near 0 for a night or two. (It's why we hover on the 6b/7a line.)

We haven't yet had a frost (possibly later this week, if it starts to look seriously like a frost warning, I've got some plants to move ASAP!)

My 1500W electric spaceheater keeps the chill off the typical cold of November-January; by the time my seedlings have popped up and need to be potted up into their own cells, I'm ready to fire up the propane tank to keep the temps closer to 45 degrees every night. Knock on wood, usually it only requires one or two refills ($20 or so each time) to get the seedlings through the rest of our seriously-cold temps.)

My 2 cents here-
I am a very happy owner of a Geneva greenhouse built on top of the garage attached to the house, by
http://floriangreenhouse.com/

I really like my greenhouse. Since it is attached to the house, I can walk in barefoot in the middle of Winter through a door from an upstairs room.


They also sell kits.

Sounds like a wonderful setup, do you have a photo?

Ihughes,
I realized I never really took a good picture from the outside. I will certainly do that tomorrow. In the meanwhile my website has tons of pics taken on the inside, which already might give you an idea of the construction.
http://www.kammlott.net/April02.html

This link has simply a list of stuff.
http://kammlott.net/Oct2004/

Most of these pictures were taken inside the greenhouse last month. (The others, the 1. pic and a couple more, are from our sun room.)

hope you have DSL...

Dear RUK
What a beautiful greenhouse! What wonderful organization , use of light and space and what great choices of plants. I really enjoyed your inside photos of things growing in the greenhouse! Everything looks so happy , green , and healthy. Thanks! roseivory

Thank you, thank you!!!!
Did I say, I love playing in it? My husband rigged up the nice shelves for me and also the rain-water collection from the greenhouse roof. Especially the orchids respond well to the rainwater, but I noticed other plants don't mind it either.
By sheer coincidence this greenhouse also has wonderful accustic properties. I direct small loudspeakers high up directly at the double- paned glass walls, the sound is great.
having fun!
Ursula

Very beautiful! I can see why you like spending time "playing" in there, and the TLC really shows (clean windows and well-tended, thriving plants!)

Dear Ruk
Uh-Oh I'm in love with your Geneva greenhouse! I allowed myself to browse at the Florian site ( something I had not permitted because I'm in a rental situation for the next two years or so) and those greenhouses are stupendous- design, glazing, energy ideas. Don't know if I'll ever recover ! So neat you are enjoying yours. They're really stunning houses! Best! r.ivory

thank you everybody!
I took a picture from the outside while my car was defrosting this morning. ( first frost this season).
You will see, although it is on top of the garage, it blends in very well with the shape of the house.

And here is a picture from the back, which I took a few months ago. The deck was added at the time when the greenhouse was built, in Summer 2001.

What a terrific set-up! Loved your pictures!

- Kathleen (Zone 6, NW Rhode Island)

thanks!