The San Bernardino Natural Redwood Greenhouse

Most gardeners think about whether or not a greenhouse is right for them. If you itch to garden longer than just the summer months, a greenhouse is the way to make it happen. You will have to make a commitment in money, time and space to have a greenhouse. We want you to be happy with your choice. This guide is designed to help you choose from the wide variety of greenhouses we offer.

If you still need some questions answered, give our experts a call toll free at 1-866-567-0813 and talk it over with us!

1. What size of greenhouse do I need?

To answer this question, you will need to ask yourself some more questions: What am I going to use it for? How much can I afford to pay for it? How much space do I have for a greenhouse structure? How big is my ambition to garden on a larger or extended scale? Will a bigger greenhouse space increase my gardening ambitions? Is the greenhouse expandable if I need more space later on? Do I want a taller greenhouse?

Taller greenhouses give you more head room and are easier to heat and ventilate because there is more room for the air to circulate, but that means there is also more cubic feet of air space to heat. Tall greenhouses give you more overhead area for hanging plants, climbing vines as well as over-wintering small fruit trees you may have in pots.

2. What will I use my greenhouse for?

'I want to get a head start with seedlings in the early spring and gain a few extra weeks in the fall'.

Just about any greenhouse will enable you to start seeds before it's time to plant outdoors. Springtime weather is rather volatile, alternating between wet, windy, frosty, and even sunny. Gardeners know when to set out plants for their area, and a greenhouse will enable you to start them early enough to get a good head start on the season. I will also give you more choices in variety if you start your own seeds.

In some areas the weather may be bad enough during the spring to require heat to protect your tender seedlings. Heating options are available if you anticipate that need in your area.

The Cold Weather Enthusiast

Maintaining the minimum temperatures needed for over-wintering plants will require heating the greenhouse, even if for a very short cold period. Depending on the type of plants and your lowest winter temperatures, greenhouses suitable for over-wintering can also be used to extend the seasons. The more inexpensive greenhouses like the FlowerHouse, Weatherguard, and Easy2Build are good season extenders, but are not good at holding in the heat during really cold weather.

If you are in a colder gardening zone, you should probably choose a well insulated twin walled greenhouse with a strong frame that will allow you to maintain the minumum temperatures without a lot of wasted heat cost. Some of the better choices for this would be the Juliana series, the Riga, Rion or Solexx. Also look at the beautiful Victorian and Mini Pro series.

'I want to grow an indoor garden in the winter'.

There are two approaches to a winter garden indoors. One is to simply grow the kinds of vegetables that are naturally cold hardy but will still succumb to hard frosts and freezing, like broccoli, cabbage, lettuces, spinach, parsley, snow peas, parsnips, carrots, bok choy, etc. Some of the herbs are very hardy also. With these cool-loving varieties of plants, only a little heat to protect from hard frost is needed. Sometimes you can use an insulated covering to reduce heat loss at night. A heater will be needed for the cold snaps in weather. The greenhouses listed previously will all retain heat and help maintain temperatures needed.

Inside a Juliana Greenhouse

If you are thinking of having every vegetable or flower known to man during a season usually found on the other side of the equator, you will definitely need a completely heated greenhouse system, as well as an automatic temperature regulator. We offer a selection of substantial and beautiful greenhouses that enable you to do this, as well as all the accessories to make your greenhouse almost self-sufficient.

That will leave you more time to concentrate on the fun stuff like picking fresh tomatoes and lettuce in the off-season. This is the ultimate in buying local produce. Yes, you have to pay for the electricity, but you won't have to pay the supermarket prices to import it from Argentina or spend the gas to go get it. It is a trade off that is most benificial to us and the environment.

For year round vegetable and flower growing (especially in the northern climates) consider the National Grand Hideaway.

3. What is my personal greenhouse style?

'How much do I want this greenhouse to affect how I live? Do I just want something to start seeds in early? Do I want to grow house-plants all year round? Am I going to grow food all winter? Do I want a place to take my quests to enjoy the warmth, greenery, and view while having a drink? Do I want a place to put a comfortable sitting area in, and have green plants too? What is my lifestyle and budget?'

There are quite a few ancillory uses for greenhouses. If you want to make a real impact on how you live, eat and relax, you will want to consider an investment in a greenhouse attached to your home. Not only will it make access easy, it will make it easier to heat both the home and the greenhouse. It will become another room in your living arrangments and create a healthier indoor air quality.

The Juliana Carport Lean-To Greenhouse

We recommend the National Grand Hideaway for a total affect. You can also use one of the Juliana lean-to styles attached to a doorway of your home for a convenient, easy to heat growing environment that is less expensive than a National Grand Hideaway greenhouse.

4. Is a building permit required?

Most portable greenhouses do not require a building permit. It is a good idea to check with your local building department office to be sure. Some do not require permits for glass addition greenhouses, some do. The maker of the National Grand Hideaway greenhouses work with your local county office regarding building permits. They speak the same language, which makes it easier for both them and you.