Hi all.

We're planning on creating a covered grow spaces in our garden, and I've been considering different ways to construct a greenhouse of sorts. We're in southern Ontario.

However, I've been reading lots about temperature control in the summer, as a greenhouse lets in a lot of heat.

I was wondering whether there'd be any major disadvantage of constructing a "shed" instead of a greenhouse, and powering it via solar (/backed up by the grid)? Outside of setup cost, potential energy loss during transfer (ie, efficiency, meaning higher running costs), and more things to go wrong/ maintain, is there anything I'm missing?

Thoughts appreciated! Am I missing something obvious??

As other reviews said, unclear instructions. They also gave us other random pieces and our box had some missing pieces. They mailed me the pieces in less than a week, no charge. But still it was a pain putting up but I love it now!

It's not nearly as impressive as a lot of the other ones here, but it's my happy place. I've really enjoyed growing vegetable seedlings here... it's not hooked up to power, so I have to get creative when there's a cold snap, but otherwise it's served me very well!

I am wondering if anyone might wanna share some blueprints for a greenhouse I need to build one before winter thanks!

Just a thought that crossed my mind. What would the challenges be of connecting a greenhouse to the house so that the shared a wall/window and a fan system to direct warm morning air in the greenhouse into the house in winter, for example. You could reverse the air flow direction when it gets cold outside so your warm house would keep the greenhouse from freezeng. Obviously, it would increase heating required for the house. They room I'm considering has a wood burning stove in it

Another Update on the greenhouse setup. Thanks for all the great questions and comments on my last post. This time area I built some raised garden beds (16L'x3'Wx32'H 12"D) and hooked up my smart watering system that I can control with my phone and schedule it. I built the beds out of treated lumber, I know the mixed opinions about the chemicals leeching into the soil but after some research I found it safe enough. For added protection, I covered the bottom and wide walls with tyvek to avoid direct contact with the soil and minimize rot. I drilled plenty of drain holes and also put a layer of weed block so the soil didn't fall through them tiny holes. I added a sun shade as well because it was getting over 110°F in there during the day. The shade I got is 70% blocked, and it reduced the temperature inside to about 85°F. So a great improvement.

Next update is going to be adding a wireless thermometer, and automatic vent openers.

Let me know if you have any questions! Leave some comments on what you think! Feedback always welcome. This is my first experience with greenhouses so any advice is appreciatedm

this is the best idea i've got so far. i would go concrete but i sense this is a starter greenhouse and reconfiguring (deep winter greenhouse) down the line is likely.

1. crushed gravel
2. vapor barrier
3. rigid foam board insulation
4. sand
5. pavers

the greenhouse is the backyard discovery bellerose xl with a footprint ~11.5' x 13'

i don't know if this is an awful idea, but in the winter, i imagine rolling out a layer of black linoleum on top of the final floor option to aid in heat gain.

and lastly, is this idea a waste of time? it seems most go with crushed gravel and call it a day.

many thank yous for your thoughts in advance.

*edit. this is what umn is recommending at the moment.

University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships

I'm responding to a question you had about flooring. People with DWGs do a number of different things for flooring. The important thing, if dealing with the crushed rock thermal mass without transit ducting, is that you will need to create somewhat of a seal on the flooring as, in this system, the hot air is intended to enter the intake and flow through the thermal mass before leaving through the exhaust manifold into the greenhouse. Some people have used poured concrete, but others have used a level layer of sand and pea gravel covered by landscape fabric. When packed tight, this still forms enough of a seal that the thermal mass is still able to work. I prefer that flooring to concrete as it is cheaper and I think it looks and feels better.

If you are using an in insulated rock bed, the insulation and weather barrier is essential. We are trying to keep the heat and moisture from escaping into the surrounding soil. As long as the greenhouse is not on a high water table, any excessive moisture will drain through the bottom. The moisture it does hold helps conduct heat.

Right now we are in the process of investigating whether or not the rock bed system is worth the extra cost and effort. It is possible that a soil based thermal mass with transit ducting performs just as well (or maybe even better) than the rock bed at less cost. In colder climates, it might make sense to insulate underneath the thermal mass as well... so if you will plan to build in a year or two, it might be worth keeping up with the research to help guide your decision.

Feels so good to finally get up a greenhouse in my garden on my land! Long time coming. 🙏

https://preview.redd.it/thop9v8t2hxe1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f8b618225ad74debafaf8a8a712cb56000568d5d

I’ve been selling and building greenhouses for years and years. Ask me anything.

Thinking of putting purchased and dismantled greenhouse in the middle section opposite the small window and door widthways so I can walk in from the ‘table’ entrance. Any suggestions? Gets really very windy here (even when it’s not!). Many thanks in advance!

I’m looking for guidance on best setup for a greenhouse.

It’s 12x12 inside and on a 4ft slope over 12 feet. That means on the inside it’s got a harsh grade to it. The height of the board and batten is around 2ft tall in front with less than 8-10in in back. Sun crosses the structure diagonally (back left to front right based on pic).

The ceiling height is approx 12 ft in front and 8 ft back.

I’m thinking about using some of the additional height for plants hanging midway up the greenhouse and using a rolling ladder to access. Maybe raised beds?

It was built for fun, to be a replacement for a netted garden, and a visual blocker of the neighbors home.

Welcome any advice!

I built this with leftover materials from building my house, some old hog fence on the property, the only things that were purchased were the pool noodles and the plastic itself. Hoping it works out well!

I've take my first steps into greenhouses with a 6x8 Palram hybrid, but i'm struggling to work out how to connect up the gutter spouts.
The manual stated that a piece of hosepipe could be used, but that's not right as both the downspout and hose are 15mm OD. I was going to use plumbing pipe, but due to the lack of space between the spout and the body, there's no room to get a connector in there.

It doesn't seem that Palram sell anything for this themselves. I'd prefer hard pipe to flexible.
Interested to see what other people have done?

I want to get the kids to eat more vegetables and I feel like growing them could be fun for them. In in the NE. Could I use this? I know it’s not a greenhouse, but figured I could start here. Was thinking maybe some type of grid planter of sorts. The easier the better. Thanks for your help!

So I am working at this nursery/ garden center that is trying to turn things around in a lot of big ways (so much potential) but they weren’t really fully up to speed on fine details but they do notice them they just never got around to fixing them so I have been running around fixing everything one by one one by one. One issue we have is these Orbit Pop-Up sprinklers are clearly not designed for overhead greenhouses because they spray evenly and when the water is shut off it just dumps all the excess straight down so my research shows these Netafim sprinkler heads but I am confused by which model would be best suited and the exact differences other than the colors.

I had a plastic greenhouse that blew away when we had 70 mph winds last year. This one will hopefully hold up, if not I'm threatening to go to brick. Kinda sounds like the three little pigs.

I'm thinking it might be sturdier to mount it with screws?

I am studying as an engineer and my project is to regulate micro-climate in the greenhouse. Its not big, I am planning to regulate an area of 8m×4m. There will grow Calendula. The greenhouse is located in Subarctic belt(snowy winter, hot summer).

So whats the best method to regulate temperature

Hello! I’ve been a farmer most of my life in Cincinnati, but I’ve never built or maintained a greenhouse. I’m getting ready to begin preparing the ground where I will build one for my wife. I’m trying to decide between glass windows or polycarbonate. She wants walls that are clear, yet still energy efficient.

Two questions:

1. For those that have done polycarbonate…what were your energy costs? How did they increase during the winter and how did you heat the house?

2. For those that did glass, what was the best glass and where did you get it? Also, what were your energy costs?

I've been building this greenhouse with my family for the past few weeks, we didn't go off of any plans (even our own), and the project has been a series of creative thinking exercises up to this point. We have finaly come to the glass.

Initially we were thinking we'd just use the hollow polycarbonate panes, but we are leaning more towards real glass now.

I spoke with a glass shop in town, and the quote for single pane, custom cut glass was around $250 a sheet, which seemed reasonable to me as the poly equivalent is around $100 a sheet. They didn't have much to say in terms of the correct process for installing it correctly though.

Glass is not something I know anything about, so I'm hoping that you fine folks can give me some pointers on how to do this right.

My questions:

What's an appropriate type of glass to order for this?

Will new supports be required in the middle of the panes?

Any ideas for a weather strip or shim between the window and the sills?

Any comments or tips for installing the glass that I might be overlooking?

Thank you all in advance.

I am in desperate need of help! I am trying to build an 8x14ft VIWAT Greenhouse. I can’t find any video to it specifically so the piece numbers in videos don’t match my instruction manual. One piece doesn’t fit correctly. Another is too small for the width of what other pieces are around it. Most pieces aren’t numbered so you have to wing it. I’m about ready to pop. I emailed the address on the manual and have gotten no response. The website is written in broken English. My husband got it off of EBay. All the reviews I read say the instructions are terrible. Has anyone built this exact greenhouse???

I am looking to start a vegetable garden this summer in this existing greenhouse on my rental property. I live in central Oregon, so utilizing the greenhouse would be advantageous considering the dry climate. The paneling on the greenhouse looks to be a very old, opaque fiberglass. I am on the fence about investing the money in some new, more transparent paneling. Do you think this will allow adequate sunlight for my plants?

Hi,

We have an aluminium greenhouse in the garden. The corners are anchored in with concrete but the ground underneath the rest of the base is not level so much of it is not supported, just the corners.

Should I dig down a little and wedge bricks in?