For anyone who gets tempered glass, be extremely cautious about weed whacking around it. Almost every broken tempered glass pane that comes through my shop is because of a weed whacked launching a pebble.
Yeah, weed whackers are one of the rare melee weapons that can serve as a surprise mid-range distance small arms. Those rock-launchers pack a mean punch.
@@Muljinn my poor living room turns into a literal green house, complete with shelves, grow lights, heat mats, tubs of soil, soil blockers, trays and seeds !!!! By the time I can get stuff in the ground I’m ready to have my house back !!! I can grow most of what I need but I really wish I could grow melons 🍉 and sweet potatoes 🍠 😚 My daughter got a few honeydew melons last year so I might try again, depends on how warm the summer is and how early the frost comes 🤷🏼♀️ Oh I can’t wait !!!!!!!
I love this style of video! Asking experts that chose different solutions their reasons for their choices makes this so much more informative than a typical pros/cons video.
I installed the Costco greenhouse made by Yardistry in November, and it's got the poly carbonate roof and cedar wood walls. It has a great automatic vent as well which is such a blessing in my warmer zone 9B Northern California garden. I have lots of seedlings growing well, and I also protected my Dragon fruit and Curry leaf plants in it over winter. I amd really enjoying this Greenhouse
I'm glad you added the gal from Colorado! I'm in New England, but much of the things she deals with are an issue here as well. It's interesting to have different folks chime in, as everyone does things slightly differently.
@TheMagicKnightress Yes, they are from Canada, but the climate is less snow than New England, I believe ? It's more like a colder Pacific Northwest ? Though this "winter" in New England, at least near Cape Cod, has been mild & very little snow ! Now, if they got a person in Maine or Nova Scotia, I would definitely be watching that ! (I have a sister who lives in Nova Scotia, near the Bay of Fundy, so I am daily hearing about the weather there. And have a friend in Northern Maine, whom I get occasional reports from . They both seem to be having more 'typical' winters than I am. With global warming, you have to plan for the worst ! We have had deep snow, hail, and wind damage as our "usual" winter weather here!
@@m.maclellan7147 If global warming is a thing (I don't believe in it myself), check out the usda zoning charts for 2080 or 2099. Parts of Maine could be 7a-8b and suitable for some [edible] banana varieties; Even if some aren't suitable they can still be over wintered with a mild effort.
I'm grateful for the diversity of climates as well!! If y'all could find someone who can speak with ANY sort of authority on the WILD swings in temperature we get in KS/OK/TX, those of us in the plains would appreciate it 😅✌🏻 On Wednesday alone, we go from 70° to 28° and then bounce BACK up to the 60's again 😭 My little Aldi greenhouse is getting a work out!!
I purchased a 10 x 12 greenhouse this past fall. I'm soooo excited to get it up. I have been gardening for about 15 years, so I have a grow room where I start seedlings, but since I started a small flower farm, I really needed more space for seed starting & hardening things off without having to bring trays in and out, in and out, killing my back!
There really should be an extensive series of videos on the the foundation: settings a string line, shooting grade, and making it structurally sound. I say this as a carpenter with experience in concrete footings and I really hope everyone in this video understands the points I made.
Very true to not neglect these aspects when planning and constructing. For greenhouses this size, you are thinking about the sort of foundation and anchoring that you would need for a shed of similar size. Except that you will probably want to put a lot more preference on a water-permeable floor. BC Greenhouses and other greenhouse makers have helpful info on foundation considerations for different areas. Also we found numerous helpful videos. There is certainly room for more helpful videos on the construction of this sort of project, though! After many considerations of site and materials, and costs involved in getting materials and trying to find people who could do certain jobs for us on the project, we decided to go with having someone excavate out the location down to the subsurface and pour a concrete footer to go under the entire perimeter of the future greenhouse, with the interior left bare dirt to lay pavers later. We then installed pavers ourselves, then built a three-board high knee wall from 4x4 cedar, leaving a gap in the wood perimeter for the door - our greenhouse was ordered with a 10 inch door drop specified - and the greenhouse's aluminum frame was constructed on top of the wood knee wall; we then caulked and painted the wood knee wall, and filled in around the greenhouse's concrete base to integrate into the garden.
@dillonbuford -- I don't understand the points that you made, which serves as evidence that your suggestion of a foundational video series is a very good one.
@@dillonbuford Be careful or the mason will come along and give a full tutorial on how to do a timber frame yourself! 😄 Actually I agree with what you said - if you want a good permanent greenhouse it pays to invest in a proper foundation. I nearly built myself a timber frame greenhouse actually, but then a neighbour was throwing away an aluminium frame glasshouse because of a single broken pane of glass! I offered to take it away for free... cost me about $70 for a new piece of glass! 😂 I did invest a lot into the foundation though - compacted gravel trench then a concrete strip foundation, followed by a few courses of bricks for the visible above-ground part. Bolted the whole thing down to the foundation with masonry anchors and it survives a typhoon here in Japan.
Just the info I needed!! Building my greenhouse this year with double glass pane windows because that's what's available to me. My husband works in construction, so he brings any leftover brand new windows, or old windows they've replaced. Can't wait!! AAAAAHHHH!!! 🙌
We put up a cattle panel greenhouse with straw bales around the base for insulation. I over wintered cold hardy veg in the ground inside. I live in zone 5. I also tucked white plant fabric around them.
I had no idea there was so much to consider about greenhouses! Thank you guys so much - this video has definitely saved me from several serious mistakes I was about to make!
You will love having the greenhouse Kev. I do love greenhouses, but a high tunnel gives me more space for the cost. I have 2 36ft x 16ft tunnels that are the engine. I have built a double-skin sectioned room in the back of one, which becomes my seed starting the engine I can heat, so I am not heating the entire tunnel. Great video guys
8:00 - those auto-vent devices are genius and almost compulsory for any greenhouse. I cannot recommend them enough. For the floor it does pay to do a proper paved path with bricks or pavers for places you want to walk/stand. These compact greenhouses are small enough it is not a massive expense or too hard to DIY. For areas under potting/seed raising benches or for large pots though, a deep gravel bed is cheap, easy and provides decent drainage. On the other hand, for permanent plants like grape vines or espalier fruit trees, just leaving a soil bed is fine.
I got a 10'x12' polycarbonate greenhouse last year, and am loving it! It has been great being able to grow lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, and Chinese cabbage all winter long, even when it was -12ºF outside. Now that spring is approaching I am starting seeds for planting in the raised beds starting in mid-March.
@OhioGardener that’s wonderful. A greenhouse is definitely on my ‘prayerfully’ one day list. I too am in Central Ohio. If you don’t mind answering, where did you source your greenhouse?
@@deboz8793 It is an Amish built greenhouse by a company in Millersburg, Ohio. If you check out my youtube channel you will find a video of when it was delivered.
Check your local regs (always!): While a lot of greenhouses count as “permanent structures”, there are a surprising number of states where a “PVC hoop house” without a foundation is considered a temporary building. That means no permitting, and because they are anchored by rebar inside the PVC, they may also fall outside the local HOA’s control (again: NOT legal advice; check your local/city/county/etc regs with a microscope!) So there can be several advantages to going with a flexible 6mm plastic-covered hoop house over both tempered glass and the harder plastic paneling espoused here. Plastic I used shrugged off Wyoming hail and snow loads for years, so I can’t argue with the results! Happy gardening!
@@Blossomandbranch100% true. Always check local regs B4 you buy anything - and especially before you break ground or dig! Electrical lines are UNFORGIVING.
I have one that is polycarbonate and have had it for 20 years now. We are just now needing to replace panels and the only reason is bears have been breaking in and damaging them not because of age. You also need to remember that sunlight is magnified through glass and can burn plants more easily. The San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers had to paint the glass white as that is what was happening to them. The sun through the glass was frying the plants. I just bought enough new poly panels to replace all on my greenhouse and it was only $800, which is much, much less expensive than glass. And my husband used to build glass high-rise buildings so we can get glass wholesale, I can't imagine what the price would be retail. I just wanted everyone to know that the 10 year life span of poly is severely under what it actually lasts.
We've never had problems in 5 years with seedlings being burned by sunlight. :) So glad your greenhouse has lasted so long, that's wonderful! Darn bears! :)
@@Blossomandbranch I hear ya but others may not know that it can happen and their circumstances may differ from yours. No criticism just an FYI. I am shocked at my greenhouse's ability to survive, it even got blown apart by the air pressure that was created by a tornado that passed by once. I had to search for the pieces over 20 acres of waist-high grass. 🤣We put it back together again.
Where I live, a greenhouse isn't a good idea because the temps even in winter can get far too high. A shade house is far more common in my local area for that reason - same thing but with shade cloth or a heavily tinted polycarbonate covering. We still call it a greenhouse as it does the same job - help us control temperature and humidity. That doesn't stop companies pushing the idea that people should have a normal greenhouse, people buy them and then not long after they're getting rid of it because it cooked all their plants. The more creative people will strip the glass or clear polycarbonate and replace it with shade cloth or tinted poly. I've also seen greenhouse frames covered in wire purely to keep birds out of what becomes a berry house, or to keep birds in by turning them into a large walk-in bird cage or chicken coop. I've also known one person that spray painted the glass white as a way to reduce the extreme direct sunlight and heat but still let in plenty of light. My point being, if for any reason a greenhouse isn't working out for you, before getting rid of it, investigate other options for what you can use as the covering for it to make it something that will work better for you.
Yep. We get hail, too. I'll stick with the greenhouse plastic I can tape back together, if necessary. I use bricks in my tunnel for heat retention, too, and it's a good solid place to put my heater. I had some thick Styrofoam that go in garage door panels, and placed those around the walls... they really helped. Good info, though.
I worked at the biggest vegetable nursery in Australia. One winter they couldn't get the propane water heated pipes on the floor to increase the temperature any more than 2C. The propane burner was going non-stop, they were thinking a pipe blockage or restriction, the pump was working fine, etc. They had thermostat controlled roof vents. One of the dumb managers had switched it to manual around noon, opened them and walked off. And they were open overnight and I think the owner got an alert in the middle of the night that it was too cold. Took a maintenance guy to realise that the thing was even switched to manual vent opening. Maintenance guy told me about it.
I have been using my studio window, which gets intense morning sun, but we have a sun room too, with shelving for later in the day. The seedlings will just have to commute from the studio.😃
Much as I appreciate you, Mr Epic, these two ladies stole the show! Production value is top notch and the point-counterpoint delivery was PERFECT. I have oft wondered “what is the value of a greenhouse?” I can already store seed-starting materials and raise seedlings on shelves under light (I mean, what else is a dining room good for? 🤣). I have searched TH-cam, and even Pinterest (👎), for ideas on how to set up a greenhouse that might work for me. THIS video is the best collection of information I’ve seen. Easily one of your Top Five videos! ❤ Thank you!
Thank you for a really thorough in-depth explanation of the pros and cons of different types of greenhouses. It it really neat that you have two cold climate gardeners with two different types. Not everyone lives in zone 9+ :)
Here in Southern California, I'm wondering how much of a greenhouse is necessary for us 😅 especially since it can get so hot! Would love to hear more of your reasoning for getting one despite our climate!
I was just going to post about that same question, myself. I live in France and have a tiny tiny potting shed where my seedlings start every year. I'm originally a Californian and have been down in San Diego area many many times. I don't get it, personally, either
A shade house would almost be a better suggestion for SoCal. I converted my greenhouse into a shade house and I love it. The microclimate in there is always nice and it keeps falling ash and pests out.
@@martenalvarado7147 Marten, what grade of shade cloth do you use? I want a greenhouse here in Atlanta because we do get some winter weather but our summers can also ramp up to 95f with glaring sun. I've actually wondered about the possibility of removable side panels for the summer but shade cloth might increase my growing options, too.
We have 20x7 metres. Looking forward to build two more this summer. We do ourselves. For heating we use old style - bricks and wood. 5b - seeds starting starts in April and we have to use heating maybe one night per week when drops below 10 Celsius. I would love to share picture. Like gothic arch type
How do you use the bricks and wood to heat? I'm in the same zone and want a greenhouse. Heating it with electricity is out of the question for my situation.
@@MaesRuth we put down bricks (heat resistant) and pile wood like you would for bonfire 🔥 and put metal barrel on it. Bricks helps with feeding air in to fire and also prevents from spreading and because we use clay bricks they are very good into keeping heat and same goes fire metal barrel - it helps get more surface for heat to stay and spread. But you can put wood furnace inside - run metal pipes through perimeter of greenhouse and small chimney outside. We don’t do it - because we use tractor inside greenhouse and with any permanent furnace our pipes it would be harder then just use simple heating. We don’t use heat for making growing season longer our anything like that - we use mainly for keeping from frost when temperatures drops
Wow! Thank you! Thank you! That was some really amazing info. One of the best produced vids I've seen on TH-cam in a long time about any subject and I watch several videos a day.
You need to add someone from Southern Alberta (or somewhere similar like Montana by the Rockies). Got everything (deep freeze snow hail etc) but the real challenge is the wind. The really strong winds can blow away greenhouses here (can get up to 170km/hr). I love this episode ☺️🫰
We are on the front range of Colorado. We get winds like you, it got cut out of the video but we did choose the heavy glass for that reason. Much less likely to blow away. :) also anchored down at the foundation!
@Regenerative Gardening Glad to know and glad to have someone to represent us with similar challenges. Thanks for bringing that up. Just saying as not everyone can afford to have a green house (may it be the permanent/semi permanent one). But I'm happy to see your part of the video. Looks similar with us here in Southern AB 😊 Chinook can be nice but it does come with some downsides when it comes to gardening 😁 Your green house looks magical!
Would love more info on low-cost hoop house builds, as hoop houses both pricier and more economical are what I’m used to here in NE in my organic gardening experience. Love hearing about greenhouses too though, that’s a dream!
Very good coverage of different materials! I favor the polycarbonate panels as I’m in a cold Z5a, WI. We built our garden shed for about $7 because we had reclaimed materials. The polycarbonate panels were used from a friend’s blown over greenhouse. I love my lean-to greenhouse as it utilizes the shed wall on the north side to increase heating efficiency. Too large of a greenhouse means too large of electric bills. This is the year we will rework the greenhouse. I have plans for a heat sink in the floor, new polycarbonate panels, operating vents, reclaimed refrigeration panels for lower perimeter and north wall, and a new vented/screened door. To see out a bit we will reuse the storm windows. I prefer wire racks and patio blocks for floor over piped heat sink. It will be work, but worth it. I believe these improvements will allow me to utilize the GH way earlier than I do now. I used a shade cloth previously, but will need to figure a way to hold it off the polycarbonate as to not scratch it. And yes, lighting on second shelf is necessary. And future improvements include off grid wind and solar.🎉 All good, can’t wait! Thanks for the comparison and spot on with keeping size small for those of us that use GHs to start seeds. Read a comment about tempered glass-yes, once they shatter get your sifter and vacuum out-it’s a mess.
That sounds incredible!! Love the reuse of materials. I've been trying to track down windows myself to make a bigger house--takes more effort but definitely more cost effective!!
I got 2 Greenhouses :) 1 for all the veg. seed for the summer, and for all chilli, paprika, yes every thing u can eat basicly. The other is for all tropical plants. 1. is 25m2, number 2 is 16.5m2. Greenhouses for me is the only way. Norway got cold winters, but still avr. 5-7C in the winter. (Liveing near the cost). Summer is not to hot, around 20C. So all my figs tree, and grapevine have a healty life outside all year. Tropical fruts live ok here to, like Peache, Nectarine and Apricot. Plums (4 diffrents types), apple (3 diffrent types), pear (2 diffrent types), and Cherry, morel. So i got all the frut trees i want and eat. Ofcores alle types of raspberry, and dont forget the lovely strawberry :) And ofcores potato, carrot, cauliflower, onion, broccoli, Organo and diffrent spices. THIS IS THE LIFE! And i LOVE IT!!
It's awesome how you don't need a HUGE Greenhouse to get started. It's cool seeing large ones, but you can really prep for home gardening really well in such a decent amount of space, like these.
I live in Denver Metro & have been wanting to set up a green house. My only reservation is the hail we get. The 2017 hail storm demolished a large portion of the metro area from Lakewood to Aurora. We've not had one that bad since but it's still the fear of spending that $$ only to have Mother Nature take it out. Still on the fence BUT.. thank you for this!
I live is SW Louisiana. We get hailstorm here occasionally. I used a garden center tarp to cover my 🚗. I also covered some of my permanenr decorative outside lighting!
Wow, this sounds like a full-time job. Thanks for the info before I went out and bought something. I live in northern Utah and we still have snow on the ground this year. I have a small back yard with four above ground 4' x 4' boxes. So, I'll just keep buying pre-grown vegetable plants instead.
Excellent video. I am in Colorado like Briana. I am at 6200 feet and I bought my greenhouse last year. I got the frame up and then it snowed and we have had snow ever since. I love some of the ideas these ladies have. I bought a Planta Greenhouse which is out of Canada. Gardner Scott purchased one. It was in my price range and should withstand my high winds. Thank you Oh and I will be putting in some of your raised garden beds in my greenhouse. I ordered those last year.
What are your thoughts on a shadehouse? I converted my greenhouse into one 3 years ago and it's been super productive! Evaporation, pests, and temperatures have been easy to manage in there.
@@Blossomandbranch I don't think the rodents would be too much of an issue if you were selective about what went into the heap. The heap would have to be well established long before winter, so I think a bigger issue would be the heat it gave off in the summer 🤷♀️
@@epicgardening Making the heap as vertical as possible could save space too, no? Or... flip the idea inside out and have it below the floor, like a basement that you toss yard waste in? I'm always try to figure out ways to do the "same" thing without electricity.
I recommend insulating under the floor to prevent the average ground temp from migrating into the greenhouse, if your are in an extreme southern climate this may not be necessary, use a solar generator to power supplementary heat in case of power outage your covered,
Awesome tips and facts! Cleaning a gravel floor idea for everyone, get a small shop vac with an arm strap, take the circle bristle attachment and alternate cutting off an inch of bristles and then leaving an 1/8 of an inch. Will have enough suction to pick up leaves, but not your rocks :)
This was an interesting video and very informative for those in a cold climate. Would it be possible to do one for those with the opposite problem in a hot, dry climate where you are trying to protect your summer and autumn seedlings from the heat without moving your garden into the house.
I'm building one. I'm just use a aluminum tubing frame from a carport, of course no roof top. The side are going to be rails four feet high. Where I can actually slide the side walls down the rail to get air circulating if need to. The sides also will contain soap stones to hold heat from the sun and disturbed that heat during the cool nights. Will have a dirt floor, one door, window on opposite side. Of course fans and vents above door and window to have intake and exhaust. To circulate the air to control the temperature inside. The rest of the greenhouse will be double plastic sheeting with air circulating between the two plastics sheeting's. Strong plastic sheeting and bolting down using metal grommets.
Yoo, this was really awesome! I loved not only seeing the difference between the two, but hearing why they like the one they chose! 😁 I have a serious conundrum. Glass or Polycarbonate. I would love to display what im growing, but at the same time, i love the idea of knowing it is my place without being seen!
Very much enjoyed a very good verbal and visual presentation by the very articulate owner, who has a most interestingly organized and attractive greenhouse.
That was a great video! My husband and I just bought our new house this past fall that has a nice, flat just shy acre of land and although we have blackberry bush clearing to do, it’s a blank slate for our gardens! So a greenhouse is definitely on the list. Thanks to all three of you, lots of grey info! 👏 Ps, I have to say it.. Chris has an excellent news reporter voice lol.
Quick fyi! Make sure your city / county / state whatever allows you to remove the blackberry bushes yourself or even at all. Knew a guy who cleared out a bunch but the way he did it destablized the land where it sloped next to a publically accessible waterway. Which then ended up dropping a lot of earth into said waterway. Creating clogs, choking out plants and harming the marine life. (Not only the dirt itself being a problem, but any contaiminents in the soil, for example weed killer). I think he got fined. Just something to be aware of, surprise issue like that. If you have a local conservation district or such, they're a good source to check in with for land usage, permits, etc. info and might also provide a crew to do the work for you for free if it's in their zone of responsibility.
Been looking to get a greenhouse here on Maui. My partner and I want a polycarbonate greenhouse, but we know that lumber (even treated) doesn’t last long here. So, we’re looking into aluminum framed greenhouses. We want a greenhouse because we need to protect our seedlings from heavy rain, and the only place we have to do that is up against the house in the shade which is not ideal. It leads to leggy seedlings if I’m not constantly moving them in and out of the sunlight and rain. We’d love to set it up with automatic watering too. Finding a kit that we can get shipped here has been a challenge. If any company wanted to test the durability of their greenhouse, we’ve definitely got the conditions. Weather resistant, powder coated hoops for my raised beds rusted within three months.
@@thishtns Thank you for asking, yes we are. We've had family and family friends in difficult positions or lose their homes to the fire, but we are sharing our aloha with our community through volunteering and supporting folks in whatever way we can.
Thank you all for the info you put out, I've learned quite a bit, I've learned quite a bit even with much not applicable with me being in zone 2a. I got a greenhouse last fall so hopefully this summer I'll be able to better grow tomatoes and peppers. My only option for keeping plants over the winter is my basement, but I'm actually looking at both hydroponics and some of those indoor grow tents (easier to get now that their main use has been legalized in multiple states).
JN- we had several hoop houses in WY, where the killing frosts wiped out my orchard, but even in -40 or below, the greenhouse raised beds stayed unfrozen. University of New Mexico’s extension office has some excellent plans with no concrete foundation (rebar only). Highly recommend.
I am a gardening in central Texas zn 8b. When you install your greenhouse, could you discuss the options available for maintaining cooler temperatures (under 95*) inside in mild winter climate locations, especially for summer time? Thank you for this content, really helps to know what considerations to think about before buying!
Would love to see like, unheated greenhouses if you ever elaborate on this topic. I’ve heard some people use compost piles and ponds and things like that to add extra heat without the use of extra energy, but not sure how that works exactly. We have a lot of commercially heated greenhouses here to grow things out of season and it constantly gets brought up as being very ecologically bad (like you’re getting recommanded importing from other countries if it’s in season there is better). So I imagine, especially as home growers, it’d be best to opt for such things, unless your climate really sucks in terms of food growing.
We have a video on our channel showing our unbeaten hoop house but my climate is too cold for winter production or seed starting without heat. We operate on a solar grid.
I am here AFTER buying my greenhouse. Yeah, it says to watch this BEFORE buying a GH. I am just here to see just what I may have done wrong. But, I am kinda happy with my choice of GH. It is NOT perfect, BUT, it serves the purpose that I need it to serve. I can overwinter my "semi-hardy" plants successfully. I am able to get my GH to be a zone 8. And, that is because when the outside temps are in the single digits, and maybe even below zero F, my GH heater is only able to make it so that when it is single digits or even below zero, that it will just be maybe 25F to 30F higher in degrees than it would be WITHOUT that heater. It is about a 2 zone warmer experience in my GH. I can't overwinter and grow houseplants in my GH. And, that is because of the fact that in winter, my GH can and has gone down to 28F breifly when we had a REALLY brutal cold spell. Now, IF I had more room in my GH I could try to make a small shelter encased in clear plastic. And, TRY to make sure that it was heated. And, that would REALLY be nice. I could grow lots of plants that I* can NOT grow now. But, I am now okay with growing the plants that I am now growing. I really can't grow any more plants (in my house) than I have now as house plants. Those that I have are in hanging pots. BUT, eventually, my Schefflera IS going need more room than I have prepared for it. And, my other 2 plants WILL be fine for a LONG while. BUT, maybe IF I get into having a small shelter type enclosure being in my GH, I could see that I could heat that small enclosure with some NOT LED LIGHTS. INCANDESCENT lights (not LED's) give off heat. SO, IF I could keep some really tender plants warm all winter, than MAYBE I could keep MORE plants in my GH over winter? As far as MY GH keeping some subtropicals healthy over winter. My 12X8 Gh in winter, when it may be in the SINGLE DIGITS outside, can keep my Gh about 20F higher than it is outside. I use an electric space heater in my GH. BUT, IF I wanted to really get into growing more TENDER plants, I guess that I could try to see that I could use some lights around the plants that would normally not be able to overwinter in my GH. The more that I THINK about it all, in most situations my Gh is about 50F, BUT when the outside temps CAN be very BITTER COLD in the depths of winter, my GH has gone down to 36F or maybe even lower. But, I am going to try to see that I can watch this video, and maybe see or hear something that will make me see that I have learned something. It would be MUCH better than me watching a video, and not have learned a damn thing. Anyway, as I have said. When it comes to my hardiness zone, I will possibly get down to minus 8 degrees. BUT, my greenhouse has been able to keep my hardiness zone to a zone 9. Or in some REALLY bad cold, a zone 8A? SO, that OUTDOOR temp of minus 8F would be a indoor GH temp of maybe 28F. And, I have been thinking that it is best to (for me) to just try to grow plants that are going to be HARDY to at least zone 7b- 8a. I would ALSO love to grow some MORE TENDER PLANTS. BUT, I am NOT SO SURE THAT I COULD EVER deal with seeing that those who are NOW seeming to be the "big guys", are able to maybe convince your every day "Joe Shmoe" to somehow be able to heat a greenhouse well enough to keep HOUSEPLANTS in them year round. I would LOVE to be able to heat my GH enough to be able keep most "houseplants" happy in winter, BUT, I can NOT keep my GH any warmer than about 28F when it is about -8F outside. And, that is NOT so bad. And, to be HONEST, most of the time, my GH is NOT having to make sure that there are just SO MANY wonderful NEW plans, or great things that would possibly make sure that IF I try to grow some plants, that I may FAIL. But, in REALITY, I am kinda NOT simply going to THINK of all of this as being all "Easy peasy". Then we all have been seeing MAYBE THE worst, OR maybe the most BRUTALLY HONEST TALK ABOUT the need TO have a connection to the WORST BITS of CONNECTIVENESS. SO, we all NEED to have mADE A connection WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SEEMING TO BE THE boss of the whole situation. But, in reality, those people just MAY have been NOT the BOSS at all. And, so, it is best if you can pull off being able to just NOT having to seem as if YOU have to make sure that everything is GREAT.
I have read all of this VERY RAMBLING comment ABOVE here. And it was ME that was wanting to make sure that IF I had been involved in a situation where I would be somehow "in charge" of a situation where some people have been able to see that some great people had been doing things a "certain way", and others had been doing things ANOTHER WAY. AND, YEAH, I should KNOW better than to simply THINK that I could ever just show up here, and that YOU would or could be there to "bail me out". I am a gal that has been included into the fray. The FRAY happens to be a VERY GREAT source of WEMON or LADIES, that REALLY should be considered as a VERY SPECIAL CLUB of gals, that would NEVER admitt that they just MIGHT just NOT be able to grow any or all of the plants that THEY REALLY want to grow. REALLY, I have been wondering if my "inability" to be able to easily grow SOME plants would be because of how I may have not shown an easy way to show that it will grow here easily.
I have a plastic one. Oh my! It was a gift so. It has a lot of room and I am trying to tweak it. I did have a door built on it because the plastic door didn't close.
There is a product called Super Spacer by edgetech. It is a foam spacer with desiccant to absorb moisture and adhesive on both sides. It would be the best way to get custom insulated glass panels.
For those who are serious get a passive solar greenhouse which has less glazing and more insulation and thermal mass. That reduces energy for heating and extends growing season.
I clicked on this because I liked the greenhouse in the thumbnail for the video. Since I did not see it in the actual video, do you have a link for it as well?
I like the idea of a greenhouse, but I know I'd have to do a ton more research and ask gardeners in my region specifically. I'm in Minnesota, so I live just a bit north of tornado alley, and that does mean large hail on occasion. Also, the snow tends to fall all at once during a storm, so it would need to be able to handle the occasional 15"+ of snow at a time (not as common but we've gotten that TWICE this season - 6" at once is far more usual). And I'm genuinely not sure if heaters can make up for the couple weeks each year when it doesn't get above 0F, although 15F is probably about average the rest of the time. I also don't know how easy it would be to keep the humidity up because winters are also extremely dry. Honestly, I'm considering converting the second bedroom in my house to a sunroom anyway, because I'd like to have houseplants and culinary herbs in there (I've learned that I do not use herbs that grow outside even if it's literally right outside the door). And I think a sun room would be good for my own mental health. So maybe with a sun room, since I am and probably will always be primarily a hobby gardener, I wouldn't even need the greenhouse.
I now live in a desert environment, and would like your opinion regarding some sort of green house, perhaps lined with a mess rather that glass etc. Thank you,
This video is lovely, thank you! Sorry if this has already been asked, but is there a way we could get a listing of the products featured in this greenhouse video? The greenhouses look perfect! Thank you for your time!
I am using 2 hog panels covered with greenhouse quality plastic, and with rachet straps as tie downs to keep the wind from blowing it away. Mine is mobile because I use it for my tomatoes and rotate beds. Works great.
You don't need money to get a basic greenhouse going if you can source the raw materials yourself and not having to be a construction/DIYer type ever. Alternatively there are plenty of options that aren't hundreds of dollars expensive either. Even a $25 to $50 greenhouse is better than nothing and could possibly even get you going in the winter with harder plants pretty easily. Alternatively you can use it as a "first frost" extender to grow crops that might need a little more time to harvest.
Great video! We are thinking about the greenhouse as well. But our concern is the opposite of keeping the heat, we need to keep the greenhouse cooler instead. Any recommendations? Thank you!
For anyone who gets tempered glass, be extremely cautious about weed whacking around it. Almost every broken tempered glass pane that comes through my shop is because of a weed whacked launching a pebble.
Yeah, weed whackers are one of the rare melee weapons that can serve as a surprise mid-range distance small arms. Those rock-launchers pack a mean punch.
Thank you !
Should have kept this secret, no more business for you now :(
Thank you!
Lawn mowers too! They can turn a simple small stick into a wooden bullet lol
Just wanted to say as a northern CO gardener, I am loving the zone 5/cold winter growing content! Please keep it coming!
me too! fort collins can be hard but always worth it ❤️
Yes, we all don’t live in a warm sunny zone. Probably why there is no greenhouse yet in San Diego.😅
Zone 3 here, not many TH-cam channels for up here so I love the zone 5 stuff too !
I hear that. Growing much of anything in zone 3 is tricky.
@@Muljinn my poor living room turns into a literal green house, complete with shelves, grow lights, heat mats, tubs of soil, soil blockers, trays and seeds !!!! By the time I can get stuff in the ground I’m ready to have my house back !!!
I can grow most of what I need but I really wish I could grow melons 🍉 and sweet potatoes 🍠 😚
My daughter got a few honeydew melons last year so I might try again, depends on how warm the summer is and how early the frost comes 🤷🏼♀️
Oh I can’t wait !!!!!!!
I love this style of video! Asking experts that chose different solutions their reasons for their choices makes this so much more informative than a typical pros/cons video.
I installed the Costco greenhouse made by Yardistry in November, and it's got the poly carbonate roof and cedar wood walls. It has a great automatic vent as well which is such a blessing in my warmer zone 9B Northern California garden. I have lots of seedlings growing well, and I also protected my Dragon fruit and Curry leaf plants in it over winter. I amd really enjoying this Greenhouse
I'm looking at buying that very greenhouse! Glad it's working out so well for you!
I'm glad you added the gal from Colorado! I'm in New England, but much of the things she deals with are an issue here as well.
It's interesting to have different folks chime in, as everyone does things slightly differently.
Glad you enjoyed :)
But… isn’t Kris from Canada??
@TheMagicKnightress Yes, they are from Canada, but the climate is less snow than New England, I believe ? It's more like a colder Pacific Northwest ? Though this "winter" in New England, at least near Cape Cod, has been mild & very little snow !
Now, if they got a person in Maine or Nova Scotia, I would definitely be watching that ! (I have a sister who lives in Nova Scotia, near the Bay of Fundy, so I am daily hearing about the weather there. And have a friend in Northern Maine, whom I get occasional reports from . They both seem to be having more 'typical' winters than I am.
With global warming, you have to plan for the worst ! We have had deep snow, hail, and wind damage as our "usual" winter weather here!
@@m.maclellan7147 If global warming is a thing (I don't believe in it myself), check out the usda zoning charts for 2080 or 2099. Parts of Maine could be 7a-8b and suitable for some [edible] banana varieties; Even if some aren't suitable they can still be over wintered with a mild effort.
I'm grateful for the diversity of climates as well!! If y'all could find someone who can speak with ANY sort of authority on the WILD swings in temperature we get in KS/OK/TX, those of us in the plains would appreciate it 😅✌🏻 On Wednesday alone, we go from 70° to 28° and then bounce BACK up to the 60's again 😭 My little Aldi greenhouse is getting a work out!!
I have the HARBOR FREIGHT greenhouse. It has added SO MUCH to the quality of my gardening life. I wish you the BEST moving forward.
I’m currently debating on purchasing their 10x12 Polycarbonate greenhouse! Thoughts??
Chris needs to do an audiobook. She has a perfect narrator voice.
Could listen to her all. Day. Long.
Doesn’t she? Perfect enunciation and a most pleasant tone and cadence ❤❤ Alright Chris, we just found a way for you to pay for that 2nd greenhouse! 👍🏻
Hard agree, such a pleasant voice.
reminded me of an anchorwoman's voice!
Yes, NPR material for certain.
I purchased a 10 x 12 greenhouse this past fall. I'm soooo excited to get it up. I have been gardening for about 15 years, so I have a grow room where I start seedlings, but since I started a small flower farm, I really needed more space for seed starting & hardening things off without having to bring trays in and out, in and out, killing my back!
There really should be an extensive series of videos on the the foundation: settings a string line, shooting grade, and making it structurally sound. I say this as a carpenter with experience in concrete footings and I really hope everyone in this video understands the points I made.
Very true to not neglect these aspects when planning and constructing. For greenhouses this size, you are thinking about the sort of foundation and anchoring that you would need for a shed of similar size. Except that you will probably want to put a lot more preference on a water-permeable floor. BC Greenhouses and other greenhouse makers have helpful info on foundation considerations for different areas. Also we found numerous helpful videos. There is certainly room for more helpful videos on the construction of this sort of project, though! After many considerations of site and materials, and costs involved in getting materials and trying to find people who could do certain jobs for us on the project, we decided to go with having someone excavate out the location down to the subsurface and pour a concrete footer to go under the entire perimeter of the future greenhouse, with the interior left bare dirt to lay pavers later. We then installed pavers ourselves, then built a three-board high knee wall from 4x4 cedar, leaving a gap in the wood perimeter for the door - our greenhouse was ordered with a 10 inch door drop specified - and the greenhouse's aluminum frame was constructed on top of the wood knee wall; we then caulked and painted the wood knee wall, and filled in around the greenhouse's concrete base to integrate into the garden.
as a mason, dont tell them our secrets 🎉😂
@@legendno1 oh no I'll just show them how to do it in concrete like a dumb carpenter
@dillonbuford -- I don't understand the points that you made, which serves as evidence that your suggestion of a foundational video series is a very good one.
@@dillonbuford Be careful or the mason will come along and give a full tutorial on how to do a timber frame yourself! 😄
Actually I agree with what you said - if you want a good permanent greenhouse it pays to invest in a proper foundation. I nearly built myself a timber frame greenhouse actually, but then a neighbour was throwing away an aluminium frame glasshouse because of a single broken pane of glass! I offered to take it away for free... cost me about $70 for a new piece of glass! 😂 I did invest a lot into the foundation though - compacted gravel trench then a concrete strip foundation, followed by a few courses of bricks for the visible above-ground part. Bolted the whole thing down to the foundation with masonry anchors and it survives a typhoon here in Japan.
Just the info I needed!! Building my greenhouse this year with double glass pane windows because that's what's available to me. My husband works in construction, so he brings any leftover brand new windows, or old windows they've replaced. Can't wait!! AAAAAHHHH!!! 🙌
We put up a cattle panel greenhouse with straw bales around the base for insulation. I over wintered cold hardy veg in the ground inside. I live in zone 5. I also tucked white plant fabric around them.
I had no idea there was so much to consider about greenhouses! Thank you guys so much - this video has definitely saved me from several serious mistakes I was about to make!
You will love having the greenhouse Kev. I do love greenhouses, but a high tunnel gives me more space for the cost. I have 2 36ft x 16ft tunnels that are the engine. I have built a double-skin sectioned room in the back of one, which becomes my seed starting the engine I can heat, so I am not heating the entire tunnel. Great video guys
I need to do a high tunnel build!
8:00 - those auto-vent devices are genius and almost compulsory for any greenhouse. I cannot recommend them enough.
For the floor it does pay to do a proper paved path with bricks or pavers for places you want to walk/stand. These compact greenhouses are small enough it is not a massive expense or too hard to DIY. For areas under potting/seed raising benches or for large pots though, a deep gravel bed is cheap, easy and provides decent drainage. On the other hand, for permanent plants like grape vines or espalier fruit trees, just leaving a soil bed is fine.
I got a 10'x12' polycarbonate greenhouse last year, and am loving it! It has been great being able to grow lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, and Chinese cabbage all winter long, even when it was -12ºF outside. Now that spring is approaching I am starting seeds for planting in the raised beds starting in mid-March.
@OhioGardener that’s wonderful. A greenhouse is definitely on my ‘prayerfully’ one day list. I too am in Central Ohio. If you don’t mind answering, where did you source your greenhouse?
@@deboz8793 It is an Amish built greenhouse by a company in Millersburg, Ohio. If you check out my youtube channel you will find a video of when it was delivered.
That's awesome!
How do you heat it?
@@dustyflats3832 It has a small gas blue flame heater, which is set to 50ºF so that nighttime temps don't drop below that.
Check your local regs (always!): While a lot of greenhouses count as “permanent structures”, there are a surprising number of states where a “PVC hoop house” without a foundation is considered a temporary building. That means no permitting, and because they are anchored by rebar inside the PVC, they may also fall outside the local HOA’s control (again: NOT legal advice; check your local/city/county/etc regs with a microscope!) So there can be several advantages to going with a flexible 6mm plastic-covered hoop house over both tempered glass and the harder plastic paneling espoused here. Plastic I used shrugged off Wyoming hail and snow loads for years, so I can’t argue with the results! Happy gardening!
Definitely depends on area. In my area, our hoop houses require engineering, cement piers and permitting.
@@Blossomandbranch100% true. Always check local regs B4 you buy anything - and especially before you break ground or dig! Electrical lines are UNFORGIVING.
I have one that is polycarbonate and have had it for 20 years now. We are just now needing to replace panels and the only reason is bears have been breaking in and damaging them not because of age. You also need to remember that sunlight is magnified through glass and can burn plants more easily. The San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers had to paint the glass white as that is what was happening to them. The sun through the glass was frying the plants. I just bought enough new poly panels to replace all on my greenhouse and it was only $800, which is much, much less expensive than glass.
And my husband used to build glass high-rise buildings so we can get glass wholesale, I can't imagine what the price would be retail. I just wanted everyone to know that the 10 year life span of poly is severely under what it actually lasts.
We've never had problems in 5 years with seedlings being burned by sunlight. :)
So glad your greenhouse has lasted so long, that's wonderful! Darn bears! :)
@@Blossomandbranch I hear ya but others may not know that it can happen and their circumstances may differ from yours. No criticism just an FYI. I am shocked at my greenhouse's ability to survive, it even got blown apart by the air pressure that was created by a tornado that passed by once. I had to search for the pieces over 20 acres of waist-high grass. 🤣We put it back together again.
Where I live, a greenhouse isn't a good idea because the temps even in winter can get far too high. A shade house is far more common in my local area for that reason - same thing but with shade cloth or a heavily tinted polycarbonate covering. We still call it a greenhouse as it does the same job - help us control temperature and humidity. That doesn't stop companies pushing the idea that people should have a normal greenhouse, people buy them and then not long after they're getting rid of it because it cooked all their plants. The more creative people will strip the glass or clear polycarbonate and replace it with shade cloth or tinted poly. I've also seen greenhouse frames covered in wire purely to keep birds out of what becomes a berry house, or to keep birds in by turning them into a large walk-in bird cage or chicken coop. I've also known one person that spray painted the glass white as a way to reduce the extreme direct sunlight and heat but still let in plenty of light. My point being, if for any reason a greenhouse isn't working out for you, before getting rid of it, investigate other options for what you can use as the covering for it to make it something that will work better for you.
Good point, nifty ideas! Thanks for sharing. : )
Yep. We get hail, too. I'll stick with the greenhouse plastic I can tape back together, if necessary. I use bricks in my tunnel for heat retention, too, and it's a good solid place to put my heater. I had some thick Styrofoam that go in garage door panels, and placed those around the walls... they really helped.
Good info, though.
Hello Joanie how are you doing,
where are you from?
I worked at the biggest vegetable nursery in Australia. One winter they couldn't get the propane water heated pipes on the floor to increase the temperature any more than 2C. The propane burner was going non-stop, they were thinking a pipe blockage or restriction, the pump was working fine, etc. They had thermostat controlled roof vents. One of the dumb managers had switched it to manual around noon, opened them and walked off. And they were open overnight and I think the owner got an alert in the middle of the night that it was too cold. Took a maintenance guy to realise that the thing was even switched to manual vent opening. Maintenance guy told me about it.
Thank you for this video! While my greenhouse fantasies are still years away... I've been day dreaming and planning
A conservatory or a sun room works great to reduce winter heating cost. The north wall is our house and and stores the heat for nighttime.
I have been using my studio window, which gets intense morning sun, but we have a sun room too, with shelving for later in the day. The seedlings will just have to commute from the studio.😃
I use our garden shed on north. Can’t imagine what our taxes would be with sunroom here.
A glass-paneled greenhouse is #2 on my list after a high tunnel after our relocation. Can’t wait to see updates re: your greenhouse journey!
What is a high tunnel?
Much as I appreciate you, Mr Epic, these two ladies stole the show! Production value is top notch and the point-counterpoint delivery was PERFECT. I have oft wondered “what is the value of a greenhouse?” I can already store seed-starting materials and raise seedlings on shelves under light (I mean, what else is a dining room good for? 🤣). I have searched TH-cam, and even Pinterest (👎), for ideas on how to set up a greenhouse that might work for me. THIS video is the best collection of information I’ve seen. Easily one of your Top Five videos! ❤ Thank you!
Appreciate hearing this!! They killed it
❤❤❤😊😊😊
Thank you for a really thorough in-depth explanation of the pros and cons of different types of greenhouses. It it really neat that you have two cold climate gardeners with two different types. Not everyone lives in zone 9+ :)
Here in Southern California, I'm wondering how much of a greenhouse is necessary for us 😅 especially since it can get so hot! Would love to hear more of your reasoning for getting one despite our climate!
I was just going to post about that same question, myself. I live in France and have a tiny tiny potting shed where my seedlings start every year. I'm originally a Californian and have been down in San Diego area many many times. I don't get it, personally, either
A shade house would almost be a better suggestion for SoCal. I converted my greenhouse into a shade house and I love it. The microclimate in there is always nice and it keeps falling ash and pests out.
@@martenalvarado7147 Marten, what grade of shade cloth do you use? I want a greenhouse here in Atlanta because we do get some winter weather but our summers can also ramp up to 95f with glaring sun. I've actually wondered about the possibility of removable side panels for the summer but shade cloth might increase my growing options, too.
@Bruce Tidwell I use 40% and haven't noticed a decrease in yield.
@@martenalvarado7147 Thanks!
Thank you for this thoroughly detailed Informative presentation. The comparisons really piqued my interest . You both made it look relatively easy!
We have 20x7 metres. Looking forward to build two more this summer. We do ourselves. For heating we use old style - bricks and wood. 5b - seeds starting starts in April and we have to use heating maybe one night per week when drops below 10 Celsius. I would love to share picture. Like gothic arch type
Would love to see - DM @epicgardening
How do you use the bricks and wood to heat? I'm in the same zone and want a greenhouse. Heating it with electricity is out of the question for my situation.
@@MaesRuth we put down bricks (heat resistant) and pile wood like you would for bonfire 🔥 and put metal barrel on it. Bricks helps with feeding air in to fire and also prevents from spreading and because we use clay bricks they are very good into keeping heat and same goes fire metal barrel - it helps get more surface for heat to stay and spread. But you can put wood furnace inside - run metal pipes through perimeter of greenhouse and small chimney outside. We don’t do it - because we use tractor inside greenhouse and with any permanent furnace our pipes it would be harder then just use simple heating. We don’t use heat for making growing season longer our anything like that - we use mainly for keeping from frost when temperatures drops
Wow! Thank you! Thank you! That was some really amazing info. One of the best produced vids I've seen on TH-cam in a long time about any subject and I watch several videos a day.
You need to add someone from Southern Alberta (or somewhere similar like Montana by the Rockies). Got everything (deep freeze snow hail etc) but the real challenge is the wind. The really strong winds can blow away greenhouses here (can get up to 170km/hr).
I love this episode ☺️🫰
We are on the front range of Colorado. We get winds like you, it got cut out of the video but we did choose the heavy glass for that reason. Much less likely to blow away. :) also anchored down at the foundation!
The wind is a great consideration. The wind in southern colorado has been absolutely hellacious the last few years.
@@katehache sure has! I think they said last spring was the windiest we’ve had in 50 years. Truly awful!
@Regenerative Gardening Glad to know and glad to have someone to represent us with similar challenges. Thanks for bringing that up.
Just saying as not everyone can afford to have a green house (may it be the permanent/semi permanent one). But I'm happy to see your part of the video. Looks similar with us here in Southern AB 😊 Chinook can be nice but it does come with some downsides when it comes to gardening 😁 Your green house looks magical!
@@Blossomandbranch sounds like a great place for wind farm or wind generator to heat the GH.
I really enjoyed this video. First time seeing Briana, and it was cool to see the differences between her greenhouse and Chris' greenhouse.
Would love more info on low-cost hoop house builds, as hoop houses both pricier and more economical are what I’m used to here in NE in my organic gardening experience. Love hearing about greenhouses too though, that’s a dream!
There are low cost options and builds you can do without being a construction worker/DIYer.
We'll do some episodes?
I hope chris would make a video about her maintenance on how she keeps her tropical trees inside the greenhouse
Can’t wait for your greenhouse videos. We are building one this fall. I will definitely use Chris’s tarp idea for keeping the space clean.
That is so great
ues, I wll learn from you guys!
Yep I can't wait!
Very good coverage of different materials!
I favor the polycarbonate panels as I’m in a cold Z5a, WI. We built our garden shed for about $7 because we had reclaimed materials. The polycarbonate panels were used from a friend’s blown over greenhouse. I love my lean-to greenhouse as it utilizes the shed wall on the north side to increase heating efficiency. Too large of a greenhouse means too large of electric bills.
This is the year we will rework the greenhouse. I have plans for a heat sink in the floor, new polycarbonate panels, operating vents, reclaimed refrigeration panels for lower perimeter and north wall, and a new vented/screened door. To see out a bit we will reuse the storm windows. I prefer wire racks and patio blocks for floor over piped heat sink. It will be work, but worth it. I believe these improvements will allow me to utilize the GH way earlier than I do now. I used a shade cloth previously, but will need to figure a way to hold it off the polycarbonate as to not scratch it. And yes, lighting on second shelf is necessary. And future improvements include off grid wind and solar.🎉
All good, can’t wait! Thanks for the comparison and spot on with keeping size small for those of us that use GHs to start seeds.
Read a comment about tempered glass-yes, once they shatter get your sifter and vacuum out-it’s a mess.
That sounds incredible!! Love the reuse of materials. I've been trying to track down windows myself to make a bigger house--takes more effort but definitely more cost effective!!
I got 2 Greenhouses :) 1 for all the veg. seed for the summer, and for all chilli, paprika, yes every thing u can eat basicly. The other is for all tropical plants. 1. is 25m2, number 2 is 16.5m2.
Greenhouses for me is the only way. Norway got cold winters, but still avr. 5-7C in the winter. (Liveing near the cost). Summer is not to hot, around 20C.
So all my figs tree, and grapevine have a healty life outside all year.
Tropical fruts live ok here to, like Peache, Nectarine and Apricot. Plums (4 diffrents types), apple (3 diffrent types), pear (2 diffrent types), and Cherry, morel. So i got all the frut trees i want and eat.
Ofcores alle types of raspberry, and dont forget the lovely strawberry :)
And ofcores potato, carrot, cauliflower, onion, broccoli, Organo and diffrent spices. THIS IS THE LIFE! And i LOVE IT!!
It's awesome how you don't need a HUGE Greenhouse to get started. It's cool seeing large ones, but you can really prep for home gardening really well in such a decent amount of space, like these.
I live in Denver Metro & have been wanting to set up a green house. My only reservation is the hail we get. The 2017 hail storm demolished a large portion of the metro area from Lakewood to Aurora. We've not had one that bad since but it's still the fear of spending that $$ only to have Mother Nature take it out. Still on the fence BUT.. thank you for this!
Excellent timing! I was also a bit lost when considering which greenhouse to buy! Really great information. Can't wait to see yours soon, Kevin!
I live is SW Louisiana. We get hailstorm here occasionally. I used a garden center tarp to cover my 🚗. I also covered some of my permanenr decorative outside lighting!
These girls cover other growing zone, northern states ect...💪👍 Awesome Kevin,all the best, you are a great guy!!
Wow, this sounds like a full-time job. Thanks for the info before I went out and bought something. I live in northern Utah and we still have snow on the ground this year. I have a small back yard with four above ground 4' x 4' boxes. So, I'll just keep buying pre-grown vegetable plants instead.
SO MUCH great info! Thanks team! Kevin, I can't wait to see your setup!
Fans also encourage seedlings to be stronger. A leaf blower helps remove the loose leaves and debris to outside the greenhouse.
Excellent video. I am in Colorado like Briana. I am at 6200 feet and I bought my greenhouse last year. I got the frame up and then it snowed and we have had snow ever since. I love some of the ideas these ladies have. I bought a Planta Greenhouse which is out of Canada. Gardner Scott purchased one. It was in my price range and should withstand my high winds. Thank you Oh and I will be putting in some of your raised garden beds in my greenhouse. I ordered those last year.
Oh my heart SOARED watching this… gonna start planning mine 😂
I have been considering getting a greenhouse. I really enjoyed how comprehensive this video is. Great job!
What are your thoughts on a shadehouse? I converted my greenhouse into one 3 years ago and it's been super productive! Evaporation, pests, and temperatures have been easy to manage in there.
Why don't people make compost piles in their greenhouses? A compost heap literally gets ho enough to catch fire.
They take up a LOT of space and can attract rodents. May be doable for a large greenhouse, but not on the scale Chris and I grow in. :)
Charles Dowding has used composting manure in his and he used it to germinate seeds on top of.
Mostly the space you'd use up!
@@Blossomandbranch I don't think the rodents would be too much of an issue if you were selective about what went into the heap. The heap would have to be well established long before winter, so I think a bigger issue would be the heat it gave off in the summer 🤷♀️
@@epicgardening Making the heap as vertical as possible could save space too, no? Or... flip the idea inside out and have it below the floor, like a basement that you toss yard waste in? I'm always try to figure out ways to do the "same" thing without electricity.
This was a well thought out video. To the point and didn’t drag on in any one place. To the point and informative. Thank you!
I recommend insulating under the floor to prevent the average ground temp from migrating into the greenhouse, if your are in an extreme southern climate this may not be necessary, use a solar generator to power supplementary heat in case of power outage your covered,
Awesome tips and facts! Cleaning a gravel floor idea for everyone, get a small shop vac with an arm strap, take the circle bristle attachment and alternate cutting off an inch of bristles and then leaving an 1/8 of an inch. Will have enough suction to pick up leaves, but not your rocks :)
What a great video!!! Love the style of this video! I am excited to get my green house up and working!! Thank you All !
Very good information and 2 women with great voices to listen to. 😊
This was an interesting video and very informative for those in a cold climate. Would it be possible to do one for those with the opposite problem in a hot, dry climate where you are trying to protect your summer and autumn seedlings from the heat without moving your garden into the house.
Yes, get a shade cloth and throw it over the top of the greenhouse and keep a fan going!
Good call
I have one big shop light in my greenhouse and that so I can work at night time I don’t put it on any other time in that and it goes across the top.
I'm building one. I'm just use a aluminum tubing frame from a carport, of course no roof top. The side are going to be rails four feet high. Where I can actually slide the side walls down the rail to get air circulating if need to. The sides also will contain soap stones to hold heat from the sun and disturbed that heat during the cool nights. Will have a dirt floor, one door, window on opposite side. Of course fans and vents above door and window to have intake and exhaust. To circulate the air to control the temperature inside. The rest of the greenhouse will be double plastic sheeting with air circulating between the two plastics sheeting's. Strong plastic sheeting and bolting down using metal grommets.
Yoo, this was really awesome!
I loved not only seeing the difference between the two, but hearing why they like the one they chose! 😁
I have a serious conundrum. Glass or Polycarbonate. I would love to display what im growing, but at the same time, i love the idea of knowing it is my place without being seen!
What an amazing video. This is so informative. Really appreciate the help and hardwork that has been put into this. Thank you all so much.
Thank you for the kind words!!
Very much enjoyed a very good verbal and visual presentation by the very articulate owner, who has a most interestingly organized and attractive greenhouse.
Your videos are so well-produced, engaging and informative. Cheers!
That was a great video! My husband and I just bought our new house this past fall that has a nice, flat just shy acre of land and although we have blackberry bush clearing to do, it’s a blank slate for our gardens! So a greenhouse is definitely on the list. Thanks to all three of you, lots of grey info! 👏
Ps, I have to say it.. Chris has an excellent news reporter voice lol.
Quick fyi! Make sure your city / county / state whatever allows you to remove the blackberry bushes yourself or even at all. Knew a guy who cleared out a bunch but the way he did it destablized the land where it sloped next to a publically accessible waterway. Which then ended up dropping a lot of earth into said waterway. Creating clogs, choking out plants and harming the marine life. (Not only the dirt itself being a problem, but any contaiminents in the soil, for example weed killer). I think he got fined. Just something to be aware of, surprise issue like that. If you have a local conservation district or such, they're a good source to check in with for land usage, permits, etc. info and might also provide a crew to do the work for you for free if it's in their zone of responsibility.
Tarp on surfaces and the floor when potting, genius!!!!
One of the best videos. The comparisons were done very well!
Been looking to get a greenhouse here on Maui. My partner and I want a polycarbonate greenhouse, but we know that lumber (even treated) doesn’t last long here. So, we’re looking into aluminum framed greenhouses. We want a greenhouse because we need to protect our seedlings from heavy rain, and the only place we have to do that is up against the house in the shade which is not ideal. It leads to leggy seedlings if I’m not constantly moving them in and out of the sunlight and rain. We’d love to set it up with automatic watering too. Finding a kit that we can get shipped here has been a challenge. If any company wanted to test the durability of their greenhouse, we’ve definitely got the conditions. Weather resistant, powder coated hoops for my raised beds rusted within three months.
Are you and your partner doing OK, with the whole Maui situation? Sending good vibes ❤
@@thishtns Thank you for asking, yes we are. We've had family and family friends in difficult positions or lose their homes to the fire, but we are sharing our aloha with our community through volunteering and supporting folks in whatever way we can.
Chris is back! I missed her!
Thank you all for the info you put out, I've learned quite a bit, I've learned quite a bit even with much not applicable with me being in zone 2a. I got a greenhouse last fall so hopefully this summer I'll be able to better grow tomatoes and peppers. My only option for keeping plants over the winter is my basement, but I'm actually looking at both hydroponics and some of those indoor grow tents (easier to get now that their main use has been legalized in multiple states).
JN- we had several hoop houses in WY, where the killing frosts wiped out my orchard, but even in -40 or below, the greenhouse raised beds stayed unfrozen. University of New Mexico’s extension office has some excellent plans with no concrete foundation (rebar only). Highly recommend.
@@MoonduckPsy thank you, I'll check them out.
I really liked this presentation style with the alternating experiences! It captured my attention like a standard edit might not.
I am a gardening in central Texas zn 8b. When you install your greenhouse, could you discuss the options available for maintaining cooler temperatures (under 95*) inside in mild winter climate locations, especially for summer time?
Thank you for this content, really helps to know what considerations to think about before buying!
Would love to see like, unheated greenhouses if you ever elaborate on this topic. I’ve heard some people use compost piles and ponds and things like that to add extra heat without the use of extra energy, but not sure how that works exactly.
We have a lot of commercially heated greenhouses here to grow things out of season and it constantly gets brought up as being very ecologically bad (like you’re getting recommanded importing from other countries if it’s in season there is better). So I imagine, especially as home growers, it’d be best to opt for such things, unless your climate really sucks in terms of food growing.
We have a video on our channel showing our unbeaten hoop house but my climate is too cold for winter production or seed starting without heat. We operate on a solar grid.
That’s cool. You mean it’s heated completely on solar energy?
I am here AFTER buying my greenhouse. Yeah, it says to watch this BEFORE buying a GH.
I am just here to see just what I may have done wrong. But, I am kinda happy with my choice of GH. It is NOT perfect, BUT, it serves the purpose that I need it to serve.
I can overwinter my "semi-hardy" plants successfully. I am able to get my GH to be a zone 8.
And, that is because when the outside temps are in the single digits, and maybe even below zero F, my GH heater is only able to make it so that when it is single digits or even below zero, that it will just be maybe 25F to 30F higher in degrees than it would be WITHOUT that heater. It is about a 2 zone warmer experience in my GH. I can't overwinter and grow houseplants in my GH. And, that is because of the fact that in winter, my GH can and has gone down to 28F breifly when we had a REALLY brutal cold spell. Now, IF I had more room in my GH I could try to make a small shelter encased in clear plastic. And, TRY to make sure that it was heated. And, that would REALLY be nice. I could grow lots of plants that I* can NOT grow now.
But, I am now okay with growing the plants that I am now growing. I really can't grow any more plants (in my house) than I have now as house plants. Those that I have are in hanging pots. BUT, eventually, my Schefflera IS going need more room than I have prepared for it. And, my other 2 plants WILL be fine for a LONG while. BUT, maybe IF I get into having a small shelter type enclosure being in my GH, I could see that I could heat that small enclosure with some NOT LED LIGHTS. INCANDESCENT lights (not LED's) give off heat. SO, IF I could keep some really tender plants warm all winter, than MAYBE I could keep MORE plants in my GH over winter?
As far as MY GH keeping some subtropicals healthy over winter. My 12X8 Gh in winter, when it may be in the SINGLE DIGITS outside, can keep my Gh about 20F higher than it is outside. I use an electric space heater in my GH.
BUT, IF I wanted to really get into growing more TENDER plants, I guess that I could try to see that I could use some lights around the plants that would normally not be able to overwinter in my GH. The more that I THINK about it all, in most situations my Gh is about 50F, BUT when the outside temps CAN be very BITTER COLD in the depths of winter, my GH has gone down to 36F or maybe even lower.
But, I am going to try to see that I can watch this video, and maybe see or hear something that will make me see that I have learned something. It would be MUCH better than me watching a video, and not have learned a damn thing.
Anyway, as I have said. When it comes to my hardiness zone, I will possibly get down to minus 8 degrees. BUT, my greenhouse has been able to keep my hardiness zone to a zone 9. Or in some REALLY bad cold, a zone 8A? SO, that OUTDOOR temp of minus 8F would be a indoor GH temp of maybe 28F. And, I have been thinking that it is best to (for me) to just try to grow plants that are going to be HARDY to at least zone 7b- 8a.
I would ALSO love to grow some MORE TENDER PLANTS. BUT, I am NOT SO SURE THAT I COULD EVER deal with seeing that those who are NOW seeming to be the "big guys", are able to maybe convince your every day "Joe Shmoe" to somehow be able to heat a greenhouse well enough to keep HOUSEPLANTS in them year round. I would LOVE to be able to heat my GH enough to be able keep most "houseplants" happy in winter, BUT, I can NOT keep my GH any warmer than about 28F when it is about -8F outside. And, that is NOT so bad.
And, to be HONEST, most of the time, my GH is NOT having to make sure that there are just SO MANY wonderful NEW plans, or great things that would possibly make sure that IF I try to grow some plants, that I may FAIL.
But, in REALITY, I am kinda NOT simply going to THINK of all of this as being all "Easy peasy". Then we all have been seeing MAYBE THE worst, OR maybe the most BRUTALLY HONEST TALK ABOUT the need TO have a connection to the WORST BITS of CONNECTIVENESS. SO, we all NEED to have mADE A connection WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SEEMING TO BE THE boss of the whole situation. But, in reality, those people just MAY have been NOT the BOSS at all.
And, so, it is best if you can pull off being able to just NOT having to seem as if YOU have to make sure that everything is GREAT.
I have read all of this VERY RAMBLING comment ABOVE here. And it was ME that was wanting to make sure that IF I had been involved in a situation where I would be somehow "in charge" of a situation where some people have been able to see that some great people had been doing things a "certain way", and others had been doing things ANOTHER WAY. AND, YEAH, I should KNOW better than to simply THINK that I could ever just show up here, and that YOU would or could be there to "bail me out".
I am a gal that has been included into the fray. The FRAY happens to be a VERY GREAT source of WEMON or LADIES, that REALLY should be considered as a VERY SPECIAL CLUB of gals, that would NEVER admitt that they just MIGHT just NOT be able to grow any or all of the plants that THEY REALLY want to grow.
REALLY, I have been wondering if my "inability" to be able to easily grow SOME plants would be because of how I may have not shown an easy way to show that it will grow here easily.
I have a plastic one. Oh my! It was a gift so. It has a lot of room and I am trying to tweak it. I did have a door built on it because the plastic door didn't close.
Very good information on the 2 types of greenhouse. 👏
Great video. Our greenhouse goes up next two weeks, so this was inspirational on our future set up. Thank you!
super helpful video, still loving my metal grow boxes that you supplied
Such a great video. Great job ladies ❤❤❤ love these new additions to the team 🎉
There is a product called Super Spacer by edgetech. It is a foam spacer with desiccant to absorb moisture and adhesive on both sides. It would be the best way to get custom insulated glass panels.
For those who are serious get a passive solar greenhouse which has less glazing and more insulation and thermal mass. That reduces energy for heating and extends growing season.
I clicked on this because I liked the greenhouse in the thumbnail for the video. Since I did not see it in the actual video, do you have a link for it as well?
I went for glass too, and after 1 month I learned that hail (or however those frozen sky balls are called in english) really has a punch....
MAN! I wish you had published this before I bought my greenhouse in the fall!
I wish I had the space for a greenhouse. We have one at the extension office where we start our seeds with my Master Gardener program.
These little Kevin reveal intros are my favorite thing. Also a big fan of Briana's delicious looking dirt brownies lol.
I hope to find a shed video, I keep looking at my yard and keep thinking where should I place a greenhouse, shed & garden beds.
Love this overview from two great gardeners!!
Glad to hear! - KE
This was an awesome video and pointed out that there is much more to be considered than you might think at first.
Great video! can't wait to set up my 4x4 foot greenhouse and start seeds for my 8x8 foot flower farm :D
I like the idea of a greenhouse, but I know I'd have to do a ton more research and ask gardeners in my region specifically. I'm in Minnesota, so I live just a bit north of tornado alley, and that does mean large hail on occasion. Also, the snow tends to fall all at once during a storm, so it would need to be able to handle the occasional 15"+ of snow at a time (not as common but we've gotten that TWICE this season - 6" at once is far more usual). And I'm genuinely not sure if heaters can make up for the couple weeks each year when it doesn't get above 0F, although 15F is probably about average the rest of the time. I also don't know how easy it would be to keep the humidity up because winters are also extremely dry.
Honestly, I'm considering converting the second bedroom in my house to a sunroom anyway, because I'd like to have houseplants and culinary herbs in there (I've learned that I do not use herbs that grow outside even if it's literally right outside the door). And I think a sun room would be good for my own mental health. So maybe with a sun room, since I am and probably will always be primarily a hobby gardener, I wouldn't even need the greenhouse.
I now live in a desert environment, and would like your opinion regarding some sort of green house, perhaps lined with a mess rather that glass etc. Thank you,
This video is lovely, thank you! Sorry if this has already been asked, but is there a way we could get a listing of the products featured in this greenhouse video? The greenhouses look perfect! Thank you for your time!
Unfortunately mine was purchased secondhand from a retailer that doesn’t sell in the US anymore (Juliana is the company name!)
All great presenters & great info. Thanks ever so much!
Wish I had the money for a greenhouse, maybe one day. Very informative vid!
I am using 2 hog panels covered with greenhouse quality plastic, and with rachet straps as tie downs to keep the wind from blowing it away. Mine is mobile because I use it for my tomatoes and rotate beds. Works great.
You don't need money to get a basic greenhouse going if you can source the raw materials yourself and not having to be a construction/DIYer type ever. Alternatively there are plenty of options that aren't hundreds of dollars expensive either. Even a $25 to $50 greenhouse is better than nothing and could possibly even get you going in the winter with harder plants pretty easily. Alternatively you can use it as a "first frost" extender to grow crops that might need a little more time to harvest.
Wow what is the greenhouse in the cover image for the video??
In socal maybe useful to keep tropical houseplants collection in here?
What's the greenhouse in the cover photo??
Great video! We are thinking about the greenhouse as well. But our concern is the opposite of keeping the heat, we need to keep the greenhouse cooler instead. Any recommendations? Thank you!
We put a shade cloth over the top if it gets above 70 out!
Ventilation at top!
@epicgardening the greenhouse kits comes with the ventilation at the top, I believe. Thanks!
What a great video Kevin! Quite informative and definitely answered a lot of questions i have lingering in my mind as im now in the planning stages.
This was a really well put together video
Any greenhouse suggestions of which to buy?
Love both of the greenhouses!!! Thanks for sharing!!!