What you should know Before Buying 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.
The first question is; does size matter? When it comes to buying a green house the answer is yes. The size you buy will depend on several factors including the space you have available for a greenhouse; what you intend on growing in your greenhouse and whether you are using the greenhouse as a season extender or year-round grow house.
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.
If you are looking to use a greenhouse as a season extender, just about any kind and size will do. Of course this will depend on how many plants you are either starting on the front end on extending on the back end. Since you will not be growing plants in the dead of winter, or the heat of summer, your heating and cooling requirements will be at a minimum.
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.
If you are looking to grow food in your greenhouse then you will need a very tightly sealed and very well insulated greenhouse. You will be highly disappointed (especially in the northern regions) with anything else in a greenhouse and will be paying large heating bills if you dont have a greenhouse that is well insulated and retains heat from your heat source. The Conservatory Series by Solexx and the Rion Green Giant Greenhouses are worth looking at for this purpose.
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!
