You have overcome the question of costs and the negative thoughts and disadvantages with the positive goals that can be gained from owning a greenhouse.



A greenhouse will allow you to grow those exotic flowers you've seen in magazines, and grow plants which are normally limited to warmer climates; a whole range of possibilities can be realized when you own a greenhouse. The burning questions now are what type of greenhouse do you want, remember to make sure it doesn't look out of place, where will you locate it, and most importantly, what do you want to grow in it?

So let's look at some of the alternatives on offer, and how well they satisfy your needs.

One of the choices is an attached greenhouse which is joined to your house preferably on a sunny wall. You should check the building regulations in your locality and determine whether a building permit is required.

Its a good idea to have a door leading off the main residence into the greenhouse. You can just walk into your new inside garden regardless of the weather and it would be easier to extend the amenities of your home, such as lighting and heating, to accommodate your greenhouse. This extension to your home doubles up as a place of relaxation where you can experiment with seeds, cuttings, propagation etc. without actually leaving your house.

Another type to consider would be the freestanding greenhouse, probably the most common type available. This needs to be located to take advantage of the sunlight. They come in many shapes and sizes and the only restrictions are your budget and the available space. Remember that if you need heating and electricity you should take into account the extra costs involved.

Greenhouse kits are readily available for the do it yourself minded persons and can reduce the initial expense. If you can enlist the help of a couple of friends, you will find that you will end up with a good sturdy greenhouse which will give you a whole range of options regarding size, shape and uses. If you have no help and can't manage by yourself then consider hiring a contractor.

Put some thought into what you want to do in your greenhouse? If you only need to raise seeds and store plants in a frost free environment, just a basic greenhouse which has been positioned correctly and insulated will serve this purpose.

Now if you're looking to relocate houseplants and tender perennials over the winter months, just invest in some lamps which will keep the coldest nights up around 50 degrees F for peace of mind.

But what if you want to grow those exotic tropical plants which need temperatures maintained at 70 degrees F? Now you're looking at getting specialist equipment to maintain this temperature. There are a variety of ways to achieve this - using electricity, gas, solar or a number of other alternatives that will cater for even the meanest budget. Investigate thoroughly the one that will suit your situation.

Owning and working in a well thought out greenhouse will give you many hours of enjoyment in an environment that you can control and you will see great results with your plants and seedlings.