On Mar 7, 1:58*pm, General Schvantzkoph
wrote:
I'm thinking about getting a greenhouse this year to extend my season (I
live in Massachusetts). Last fall someone on this group suggested I try a
popup greenhouse because they are very cheap (under $150, some as low as
$50), rather then make any kind of major investment. Does any one have
any experience with them? There also seems to be a class of greenhouses
that are a step up, around $600-$700. The cheap ones are basically
plastic tents, the mid priced ones are aluminum and polycarbonate. I'd
like your opinions on both types. In my heart of hearts I've always
wanted a proper glass Victorian greenhouse, but that's real money so I
want to see if a greenhouse is helpful to me before I make that kind of
investment.

We're in Maryland, a bit north of Baltimore. We bought a $700, 10' x
12' greenhouse kit from Harbor Freight a few years ago and put it up
on the south side of the house. It heated well with a 220 volt heater
but wouldn't stand up to the wind. The first windstorm sent about a
third of the panels all over the property. I tried to add extra clips
and adhesive but the next windstorm still took off a few panels. The
structure was too flexible, allowing the doors to open and the wind to
get in. I tried adding cross-members inside to strenghten it but it
was pretty much gone by that point.

The next year, I built a wood-framed greenhouse against the south side
of the house. I recycled most of the panels and windows from the
original greenhouse for the walls of the new one and put heavy-duty
double-wall polycarbonate panels on the roof. Everything held against
the winds for two years and against over four feet of snow on the roof
this winter.

Paul