What do you need; a small, a medium or large greenhouse for what you want to grow? There are so many different kinds of greenhouses from portable to building your own brick and mortar growing house that it can be an overwhelming process.
You may want to invest in a larger home greenhouse to grow small trees or if you have a lot of things you want to grow. If you simply want to cover a part of your garden, a portable unit can be easily moved to sit over that area. Of course a cold frame is perfect to extend the growing period of your raised beds. Medium houses are perfect for most families who want a simple backyard greenhouse.
The next step is to evaluate where you live and determine if there are any special needs that will need to be addressed with your wonderful greenhouse. Some of those can include snow load, severe winds and cold weather. This will help you decide on any additional equipment you may need outside of the vents and fans that are required.
If you live in areas that have unusually high winds or heavy snows, make sure your greenhouse has a snow load rating that will hold up in your area or rated for high winds. You can also make sure the frame is of a good heavy duty material as well as the panels or rolls that will be the covering. Check your UV rating and see how that will affect your plants as well.
If you live in an area that normally stays above forty-five degrees, you may be able to getaway with not purchasing a heater. You can use five gallon buckets to set in the sun by day and let them heat your greenhouse at night. You may want to boil water in your house and place the hot water in the greenhouse to provide heat. This is a huge hassle if you have to do it night after night but for a few days it works well.
Always consider your foundation and how you will tie down your greenhouse. You can purchase tie-down kits for most greenhouses and they are highly recommended for all models. For those who live in high wind areas, you may want to buy two sets of the tie-downs just to make sure. Of course, this will depend on the size, style and type of greenhouse you end up using for your family.
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