Pat, you were asking if people thought it was better to buy a prefab or build your own.
I guess it boils down to how much you want to spend; you can get pretty nice pre-fab greenhouses!
We found that buying a greenhouse that would adequately resist our snow pack, plus retain heat overnight during the shoulder months yet have enough ventilation for the daytime, was a VERY expensive propositon. So, we built our own. That way I could have exactly what I wanted. If you have any rudimentary construction abilities it can be pretty simple, and attaching to a wall of your house makes it even easier.
Remember the adage: Decide how big you want your greenhouse, then double it!
If you do decide to buy, you should be aware that overheating is a greater problem than cold protection.
I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say...we need another greenhouse already!
Getting a new greenhouse
Not much to add to this thread but DH built me a greenhouse when we lived in North Battleford (definitely much cheaper). To avoid high heating costs I started my seeds inside and only put the seedlings in the greenhouse when overnight temperatures were more moderate. I would love to have another one built but will prolly use my DD's porch when she moves out.
I've built 4 greenhouses in this life. Best one was a hoop greenhouse 16 x 28ish.(ft) All the others were too small. In Victoria not much space. Current one just used as a spring and fall for tomatoes. Prob. won't even use it this year. Here in town I make one from windows in the spring but have to take it down after plants are all planted. Otherwise is used by others at night for smoking up and other nefarious things. Joys of the inner city.
Inanda
Pictures if requested
Yes please, I'd love to see pictures!
I just bought a portable one - hexagonal, 6-1/2 feet wide by 7-1/2 feet tall. Has three shelves all around the inside, and a mesh window in the back wall. Can't wait till the snow's gone off our patio so I can set it up!! I may get out there with a blow dryer and hurry the process along ;-)
Shannon
That little hexagonal shelter sounds like just the thing for my deck. Was it like Donna's Canadian Tire find?
(I think that was you, Old Flower Girl, wasn't it?)
I thought that Donna had picked up the small one on wheels, Rosemary, but I could be wrong. They had that one on for $20 and I sure missed the boat, because it's been back at $40 for a while.
Mine looks almost identical to this one (hope the link works...it was really long when I pasted it into the post).
http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443258187&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517513&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=1408474396669681&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396669681&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1111639164482
I got it for $100 at Réno-Dépôt, which is a home improvement company here in Québec - which was recently acquired by Rona, BTW. I don't think Réno-Dépôt does mail order, judging by their website, but Rona may soon have the same stock. - ?
Shannon
Very nice, Shannon, and you got it for a good price too. WTG! Yes Rosemary, I did get a three shelved Hexagonal one on wheels, but much smaller than Shannon's. It has been invaluable to me this spring with all my seedlings. They just thrive in that warm moist environment. Also helped with my space problems. There are only so many southfacing window sills!
Thanks, Donna! I've been coveting that smaller one for a long time....hoping it will go back on sale....like you say, it's a great indoor space solution (and outdoor too, when the time comes).
Shannon, would you have a product # for yours? The link just took me to the basic CT site.
Scratch that query, Shannon--I entered "hexagonal greenhouse" and got the $41.95 one. How come yours was $100--is it bigger?
Rosemary, when I click on that link, it goes right to the greenhouse. Don't know what happened, but anyway it's product# 60-0222-8. Cdn Tire price is $179.99....can't guarantee it's exactly the same, but it sure looks like it. It's still in the box...so far, the cats have gotten the most use out of the purchase, as they really enjoy sitting on the box ;-)
PS. the product title they used is "Large Hexagon Greenhouse"....not grammatical, which is probably why it's hard to find.
This message was edited Mar 24, 2005 5:28 PM
OK got it, thanks
My biggest worry is that it'll blow over if we get an early thunderstorm. I'm planning to put it on a concrete pad that's on top of our garage (we're on a hill, and the top of the garage is at ground-level in the backyard...vehicle entry on the side street....). I think I'll have to anchor the flaps with sandbags or something, and keep that window open - & maybe sidle it up against the house as much as possible. I'm impatient....want to set it up in the living room, but darn these other occupants of the house....always having to consider their wishes...lol :-) I'm sure the cats would love it, not sure about DSO.
Cats LOVE greenhouses. They love to sleep on the plants, love the giant litterboxes, and have an unerring instinct as to what was just planted and is vulnerable. They test my affection for them big time!
How do you keep them out of your seedling trays, Rosemary? I'm thinking of wrapping chicken wire around the whole works...
I had to train my cats to stay out of the flower pots on the window ledge. I had a bottle of asprin filled with small stones.
"BJ!!! (I named all my cats with initials) (shake the plastic bottle like a rattle), Get down from there!
It only took twice and that was the end of any of them getting in my plants.
They love their dad. :)
LOL...I bet they do. The visual is too cute. I never had any problem with my two cats. If there was something on the window sill, they just didn't bother. I must have been lucky.
When I first start my seedlings, there's always an "incident" or two...and I roar NO!!!!. They know "No". (First word I teach all my furry friends!) After that, whenever I see them looking up at the tables or sills, I say No. They learn pretty quickly. I'm going to have a challenge in a few days when their window sill holding their wheatgrass will be put into use for more transplants, but I make the sills so crowded they won't try to jump up (I've wide window sills, and add more width during seeding season).
So Pat, what are you thinking about the greenhouse? Do you have someone to build you one? Do you want a large, free-standing one so you can have benches in it to work on and hold plants?
This is the one I like if I was going to order one and had the space. I'm not sure if it would be strong enough in the winter to withstand snow and ice but it looks nice. Kind of expensive though.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443119879&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517513&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=1408474396669681&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396669681&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1111959311957
Sandy
Wow - that sure would be nice, Sandy. I'd think the snow & ice would slide right off that roof.
Guess the base would be extra - ?
I'm not sure about the base...whether you'd need it or not.
You're right - I took another look at it, and it says the base is to enable the greenhouse to be used on soft soils. Not sure what that refers to exactly, but pretty sure our clay down here could handle it! lol
Hmmm.....just noticed they have a gift registry at Canadian Tire....I think that'd be a hoot, if someone I knew were getting married or whatever, and registered at CT. They have a lot of useful stuff.
Actually, Sandy, that's the exact one I was looking at, I didn't know if it would be big enough or strong enough for out here. I also am debating getting one built (I'd have to hire someone, DH thinks it's a big waste of time and energy - his and mine) and I like Rosemary's idea of attaching it to the house. I would like a large one, I'd like it for starting plants and also for planting things in it later because our frosts can come so early. I'm just starting my investigation, I want to be retired first. (Like my goal of doing a triathlon, I want to think about it for a year first).
Pat
Pat---make it BIG! Decide on the size you want, and then make it BIGGER than that! It doesn't cost much more to increase the size, NOW. Later, it will be a big problem. And believe me, you'll want to make it bigger!
And that homily does apply: K-I-S-S-
I have deep growing bins, but am sorry now that I didn't do a mix and match--some shelving for planters, some growing bins low down for tall plants. (Like Sungold tomato, that reaches 8-10' if I let it!).
We have 23l black pails filled with water mixed with salt (so it won't freeze and break the buckets) under all the bins. They absorb the heat during the day, and release it slowly at night. I've no way of knowing for sure, (guess if I was truly scientific I'd have TWO g.h., one without the water buckets....) but it definitely does seem to make a difference.
Good luck with your planning, we look forward to hearing what you finally decide and why.