I also had the 6x8 HFGH and quickly outgrew it and bought a 8x16' Rion. Why waste space with a GH inside a GH? Just set the new one next to it and insulate it well with bubble-wrap.

I guess if you want to try it go for it. Just remember to place it so you can open the door of the smaller one.And the larger one will need the extra braceing for the roof as it is the weekest part. will that leave enough room for the smaller one to fit inside?

The 10x12 will need some modifacations or it will be flimsy to say the least.Hopefully you have read about how others have reinforced theirs.

Um....

A greenhouse within a greenhouse?

Just heat a small area to start seeds (when it is really cold outside and heating costs are high), and then when the seedlings got bigger and transplanted move them into the main greenhouse (when it is not as cold outside and heating costs are much lower)

belleville_rose,

You are nuts!!!!

:)

Chris

that is exactly my point. I think the larger one would act like a buffer for my seeds. Why go through all the work with bubble wrap. I remember a site in this forum where someone had placed a 4 shelf unit with a plastic cover over it and placed it inside the their GH.

I don't see anything at all crazy about your idea as long as you don't need the additional room the separate 6x8 could provide. You are correct, it would provide an additional buffer zone and I suppose essentially be double glazing with a larger air gap. You'd basically have a permanent extra-insulated heating zone inside for seedlings or tropicals. If you eventually outgrow your 10x12 then yes I would think moving the 6x8 back outside for more available room would be preferable even though there will be more heating costs. You could always use plastic & pvc to cheaply create a small heating room or rack inside of your larger greenhouse as others here have done.

Also I'm not sure if you plan to use this house-in-house setup as a 4-seasons house but the interior of the smaller greenhouse I would guess is going to get even hotter than the rest of the structure during the summer requiring additional ventilation unless you remove a bunch of the panels. Maybe I'm wrong on this but just be aware.

Danielle

That system is the way I grow things without using much heat.

squirrellypete is correct, the greenhouse within a greenhouse gets way hotter than you could even imagine. 140F is easy to get up to even when the outside temp is below freezing at this time of year. In July I can only imagine what would happen!

Tomorrow I am setting up my greenhouse, and this year I will document it photographically.

My advise is to take out the roof panels of your 6x8 as soon as the temps in there get unmanagable.

Springtime seedlings....

{{gwi:293545}}

Fall keeping tomatoes alive...

{{gwi:293547}}

:)

I know it will be just the opposite in the summertime with greater heat in the smaller GH. I would probably look to use the larger GH more at that time but adding some ventilation to the smaller one would help along with my shade cloth. Will just have to experiment a little

I would only say this...I have never had a GH before, and I got the 10x12 and it's NOT Spacious...and I dont have a bunch of plants in it yet...I could not imagine another GH inside it...there would be so little room left. I'm bumping around in there now with just ONE bench and a seed tray.

in essence you'd only have four feet at the entry and 2 feet on one side, or 1 foot on each side if you positioned it in the middle...so you'd basically have a 4 x 10 space at the front....

For $699 couldn't you do something to really insulate the one you have? Cuz it's not like putting the 10x12 together is a breeze....the "hassle of using bubble wrap, sounds a lot more hassle free to me....

just my 02

No, you're just a little bit odd...

I am doing the same thing. I have a 22' x 48' greenhouse inside a 26' x 52' greenhouse. Now THAT's crazy!

Poppa

well if your bumping around in a 10x12 you can imagine how it is for me with 72 sq.ft less. If space was not an issue I would put up a larger one along with my current GH. If money was no issue I would discard the present GH and put up another. I could spend less and improve the GH I have but it doesn't solve the space issue. 72 additional sq ft is space I don't have now and would make gardening an even better experience.

From the perspective of standing outside the 10 x 12 and facing the entrance:

it seems to me the arrangement that would make the most sense for usable space would be put the smaller structure in one of the back corners (back left for example) but face its doors toward the right side of the larger structure. That would give you a about a two foot space in between its doors and the right side wall of the 10 x 12 for you to comfortably walk in. You would then have plenty of room to put shelving down six feet of the left wall of the larger structure til' you hit the smaller one and then you could continue that shelving around the corner that's formed by the two houses and across the exterior of the 8 foot side of the smaller structure's wall. You could also comfortably put about 3-4 feet length of shelving down the right wall of the 10 x 12 which would still allow you room to get into the smaller one.

I hope that made some sense. I think that creates more practical shelf space and walking room than if you faced the doors of both greenhouses the same direction.

Danielle

that was idea also so I can gain maximum space from the 10x12

I don't think that's crazy at all! I'm intending to do the same with hoophouses. I will even put an additional covered unit inside for a third layer to use in early spring and late fall.
Martha

I don't think I am as crazy as I thought after I read the responses but I think I am going to but a RION 8x16 and will place this over the existing GH. I can always take down the smaller one inside if I find later I am crazy.

Those of you that have put up a Rion do you have to put the roof on in a single piece?

I like that idea. I'm builing a larger hoophouse this spring. If the inside one can get 140 in the summer, I wonder how much warmer it would be in the colder months? filix