At this time of year people start to contemplate whether to buy a greenhouse or not. Since owning a greenhouse requires both money and time, its a good thing to ask a few questions before you decide one way or another and taking the cheap way out is not always the best way.
Size is one of the first things you will want to consider. This has to do with the amount of space you have as well as what you want to grow in the grow house. You will need to consider the overall floor space as well as the headroom; both of which are important for many types of plants.
Sometimes the space you have available is not necessarily a great space for a greenhouse. If your greenhouse will sit under the shade all day then you will not get the sunlight you need for optimum growing time. If the green house has a combination of sun and shade it can be a good greenhouse but not always a great greenhouse.
In most climates you will want a space that has sunlight most, if not all day long. 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.
This changes as you move north into the colder climates. Once you get into regions that reach 0 F, you will need a very good insulated greenhouse to hold in the heat. If you decide to forgo this recommendation and purchase a cheaper greenhouse, you will be paying for it later in very high heating bills. It makes more since to buy the right unit up front and get the right greenhouse for your area. You will be much happier in the long run.
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.
We know that people are disappointed when their greenhouse does not meet their expectations and that is a real shame because greenhouse gardening, done right with the right greenhouse, can be a great and rewarding experience.
To ensure that you have a great experience, make sure you buy or build a greenhouse that is insulated for your region and purpose and you get one that is big enough for what you want to accomplish. If you do these two things you will love what your greenhouse can do for you!
