Considering a Greenhouse?

You are not alone if you are thinking about purchasing a greenhouse. Many people think about it this time of year but not everyone is ready for the commitment in time and money that it will take to have a successful greenhouse experience. Some folks take the cheap way out only to pay for it over time so you do need to answer some questions before you decide to buy.

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.

Lets talk about the space in the yard itself. If all you have is space that is covered by shade, this is not an optimal space for a green house. You can get away with combination of direct sunlight and shade as long as the direct sunlight hits your greenhouse at least 4 hours per day. The ideal location is one where the grow house sits in direct sunlight all day long, especially in the winter months and in the northern regions of the country.

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.

If you are over-wintering plants in a greenhouse you will need one that has decent insulation properties since you will need to keep the temperature about 30 F above the outside temperature for the extended time. If you are in a mild climate, you can get away with one of the inexpensive greenhouses like the Rion Silverline or Greenline Greenhouse.

Of course, if you live in a colder climate with temperatures dropping to 0 F or below, you will need to purchase a greenhouse with a good insulated covering. These grow houses not only retain heat much better, but they also offer a tighter seal than other greenhouses and this makes them easier to heat. The Rion Prestige and Solexx Master Gardener Series both fit the bill.

When growing your own food it is important to have a well insulated greenhouse for several reasons. The first is for heating and cooling purposes. The better the insulation the less effort, otherwise known as cost, it takes to reach the desired temperatures. The other is yield. When the temperature can be maintained within a range it has been shown to bring a better yield and this is what growing your own food is all about!

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!