greenhouse advice

[aldo52]

i would like to purchase a greenhouse in the next few months and wonder if you guys have any recs? i have plenty of space, and am looking for a good sized one, obviously a good price helps too! any advice would be much appreciated.
thanks,
aldo

[052039]

ALDO - google up GROWERS SOLUTION - COOKVILLE, TN. they have a good selection @ resonable prices....

052039 - BILL :D :)

[Sandbar]

How big is "good-sized"?

8' x 10' ... 10' x 20' ... 20' x 60' ... bigger?

Also, it's important to know what you will be doing in the greenhouse? Hobby use? Small commercial use? Plant starts? Season extension?

Do you want it heated?

What zone are you in? Get a lot of snow?

What is your budget?

I did a substantial amount of research on greenhouses a year ago. Might be able to point you in a good direction. I started looking at hobby houses and finally progressed up to purchasing a small commercial frame to use as a cold frame.

[aldo52]

thanks for the replies. sandbar, i live in zone 7 and have been thinking around the size of 10x20 for personal/family use, the budget i have is in the neighborhood of 1100, and i will mainly use it for some winter growing of cold hardy stuff, and for early plant starts in spring. we do not get a lot of snow here but do have some freezes, also spring winds. i have been looking at some things on the web, but would welcome any recs folks have. thanks for your help!

[Sandbar]

Hey Aldo,

For one that size and on that budget, I think you have a couple of options:

1) Try to build one from scratch using treated lumber, PVC pipe or bending conduit to fashion your own hoops and cover with a single layer of poly.

2) Buy a hoop house frame and cover with a single layer of poly.

I purchased an Atlas frame. (http://www.atlasgreenhouse.com/) Great quality at a great price. I researched for UNTOLD HOURS on the Internet, sent for brochures, etc. over a period of around 6 months. I think you'll find Atlas to provide the best house at the best price. They can make any size you want and they use reliable Gatorshield tubing.

You will probably have a tough time building one that large with that small of a budget. I have $3,000 in my frame alone. It goes up this summer and I will have another $3,000 in concrete and endwall construction. It is a 24' x 60' house that I will use for light commercial production and season extension.

Even though it will be tough to do at that price, you may well be able to succeed. And, I'm certain you will love having a green house.

Keep us updated on the progress! :)

[Sandbar]

Oh, BTW, I almost built one of these this year ... ran out of time ... these are really cheap to build, but kind of small (maybe 8' wide and 6' at the peak, however, I'm 6'2", so height is a consideration for me) ... might be a great place to start, though. I love the concept!

Cattle panel greenhouse construction:
http://projectsby.us/index.php/Cattle_Panel_Greenhouse
http://www.floydcountyinview.com/buildagreenhouse.html
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poulthous.html

A rebar greenhouse:
http://www.northerngreenhouse.com/ideas/how_to/rebar.htm

A rebar/PVC greenhouse:
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/howto/greenhouse.html

Lots of cool ideas out there. Keep us posted, Aldo! With pics, of course! :D

[aldo52]

thanks sandbar! this gives me a good place to start.
aldo

[onmyknees]

welcome to I Dig aldo,
I found my greenhouse on the side of the road. If you see a frame that is not being used or is in disrepair check with the home owner as i did. I bought it for twenty dollars it is about eight by ten feet. all it cost me was gas to go get it and a new covering. I have two covers shade and this year I am going to add a poly cover. I thought the ideas on the rebar and pvc were really great and I may do one of those yet. Thanks for the links sandbar

[elkwc]

Like mentioned above by another person Grower's Solutions offers some very reasonable greenhouses and other products. Jay