Greenhouse design ideas

[Alan L.]

We have decided we want a greenhouse. My wife loves growing stuff and wants to be able to start vegetables like tomatoes from seed etc, get a head start each spring. I am mainly interested in vegetables - she is also into flowers and such.

There are kits that are basically all glass with metal frames, I don't think we want one of those because we also need a shed to store the Kawasaki mule and other gardening type stuff in (so we can get that stuff out of my shop building). Figured part of the building would have polycarbonate windows and part of the roof also some sort of transparent material, but also a "shed" component. We'd also like a rustic, good looking building either to paint or stain. I'd like to run both water and electricity to it, and have the automatic ventilators that the kits have, maybe even a fan for ventilation. Also a utility sink with a drain I could run into the creek or something.

I'd love to see what some of you have come up with in this area to get some ideas.

 

[randy41]

what size greenhouse do you have in mind? i have a julianna kit that is aluminum framing and polycarbonate glazing. it has held up well for more than 10 years. the roof glazing needs to be replaced after a while. i heat it with an electric heater. i start all my plants in there from seed. i also have 4 unheated greenhouses (high tunnels)that i grow in. if you are building a combo storage and greenhouse building put the storage area on the north side and build a lean to greenhouse area attached to it. there are kits for that too.

 

[Gunny]

I'll have to take some pictures, but my greenhouse is just a shed I built onto the south end of the garage, 22 feet by 8 feet, 7 feet high at the eave. Started out in a lean to fashion with polycarbonate roof panels. The front is walled and insulated, 3 feet up, then old storm windows from there up to the roof. All the shelves are made out of cage wire material. The garage was already wire, so it was pretty easy to extend a circuit into the greenhouse.

For ventilation, I bought two shutter boxes, then attached frames to hold box fans. I bought a couple of greenhouse in-line thermostats to turn the box fans on when it gets too hot. During the first part of the year, when it stays pretty chilly, I've got 2" foam insulation cut that will fit into the frame for the box fan to keep cold air out. When the sun gets shining good, I take the foam out.

Except for the roofing, shutter boxes, fans and thermostats, everything else was just stuff that I'd accumulated over the years, so I wound up with less than $400 out of pocket, but it's paid off a lot more than that over the years.

 

[jimmyj]

We made on very cheaply using plastic vapor barrier. So far the plastic is 4 years old with no problems. I will replace it this spring though just to be safe. Cheap and cheerful. We have water and power in it also (power just 1 15amp circuit for lights and a radio and water is a hydrant so it won't freeze in the winter.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/related-topics/145260-garden-shed-greenhouse-project.html

 

[6string]

I am in the process of building a small greenhouse. It uses wire cattle panels to support the plastic film covering. I found this on Youtube. Estimated cost is around $300.

 

[Alan L.]

Thinking about getting some surplus windows but these would be single pane and I wonder if keep the temps up on very cold nights would be problem with the single pain. They look better, but the polycarbonite would seem to hold in the heat better.

 

[EddieWalker]

We are thinking that we are going to build one, but it probably wont be until 2015. Our current plan is to make it pole barn style with as many windows as I can put in there and still have a structurally sound building.

Looking forward to what you come up with.

Eddie

 

[Larro Darro]

A fellow I know got a truck load of old metal and glass screen doors for a song. He used them to make a green house. It doesn't look bad. The good thing is you can raise the glass in them when it gets hot. Granted, it doesn't get as cold here as where you are at. You might have to use some spray foam on the metal to keep from losing your heat.

I see you guys have ice on the way. We went through it earlier this week. Stay safe.

Larro

 

[dave1949]

I am in the process of building a small greenhouse. It uses wire cattle panels to support the plastic film covering. I found this on Youtube. Estimated cost is around $300.

That sounds like a great idea for a low cost green house that could be used as a grow tunnel type also. Plenty of support for the plastic, and maybe some things would grow on the panels like a trellis by mid-summer.

 

[randy41]

I am in the process of building a small greenhouse. It uses wire cattle panels to support the plastic film covering. I found this on Youtube. Estimated cost is around $300.

this should work where you live but if there's any snow load to deal with forget it.