Hi Brian,

I just recently finished putting up my 6x8 HFGH (Link w/pics below). There are those who have successfully put the thing together in But I think it probably can be done.

A significant chunk of my time was spent weather-stripping the panels, and I think that's something you'd probably want to do in Z5 (Too soon for me to offer an opinion as to whether 50-60* is achievable - but weatherstripping seems like it would almost be mandatory in your neck o' the woods!).

Also, depending upon how much wind you get, you might have some concerns with keeping it "bolted down" to the ground and you might also seriously consider using tapping screws on each of the panels to keep 'em from bowing out/blowing away...

If you skipped the weather-stripping (which would add 'bulk' and gobble-up storage space), I honestly don't see why you "couldn't" break it down and store it at the end of the season (just be sure to 'number' all the pieces!).

Though it seems like an awful lot of trouble (just my opinion - and I am admittedly lazy!!!).

To be fair: I think that the unit itself is pretty easy to set-up (meaning all the holes line up and such). The instructions kinda suck - so you'd do well to print out conifers' pictorial instructions (there's a link from my page - points back to Gardenweb). But yeah, it could be done...

To be honest, I was like you in that I didn't want a 'permanent' structure in the yard, but I ended up breaking down and getting it. Next year, I hope to plan my garden 'around' it in such a way that it blends in nicely with (or is tastefully hidden from) the rest of the landscape...

Good Luck!

-Nancy

Here is a link that might be useful: 2007 We Bought a Greenhouse!

A couple of things come to mind, Brian, when reading your post.

1. The frame is aluminum, a relatively soft metal, and I fear that repeated assembly and disassembly would tend to weaken the joints.

2. In SE Michigan, you are probably going to need some considerable insulation unless you plan on spending a bundle to heat your greenhouse. This means you will also have to remove and store your insulation material. (Here in Zone 7 coastal NJ, I use 1" foam panels inside on the north wall/roof and a clear solar pool cover outside.)

3. Could you find an alternate use for the greenhouse in the warmer months? It can get pretty warm inside in the summer, but with adequate ventilation and perhaps by replacing a few of the pc panels with screen panels during the summer, you might find it useful. I find it a safe haven for plants I'm coddling: young seedlings/plantlings or other plants that need a little TLC and protection from squirrels and other garden mischief makers.

4. If at all possible, go with the 6x8 at a minimum, You'll be surprised at how quickly it fills up; your plant collection will most likely expand, now that you have space for them, and, as long as you have the space, it's nice to have fresh herbs available through the winter ... and then maybe a cherry tomato or two, and perhaps some lettuce/mixed greens ... and so on. And unless you already have a sun porch, you'll find it a delightful place to spend time on an icy but sunny winter day; that's why I keep a chair in mine.

We did assemble our 6x8 HFGH in about six hours or so. My oldest son and I did the assembly and my daughter saved us time by applying the foil tape to the ends of the panels. I added the weatherstripping later, only because I didn't have it on hand when we were first assembling.

Our yard is also quite small, but the space "invested" in our little greenhouse has proved to be well worth it, especially in the winter!

Good luck and enjoy!

I've never seen a 4x6, but I have the 6x8 HFGH. It took DH and SIL a day to put it together with alot of *()%^*&$
We wouldn't want to do it again!
If you can, try to find a spot to keep it permanently.
As a previous poster said, you WILL fill it up quickly!
I'm trying indeterminate tomatoes, peppers, I have herbs. Actually, I also use the GH for over wintering pond plants.
This is an unheated GH in USDA zone 8.
Any idea for other GH veges in an unheated GH in zone 8?

Sorry you had such a time with the GH assembly, ninjabut. I'll be it has been worth it, though.

Don't mean to hijack the OP's thread, but here in USDA Zone 7, Coastal NJ, I've had success with the following in my heated greenhouse through the winter. Initially I was going to keep it just above freezing to overwinter some tender perennials and such, then seed starting in spring; one thing leads to another, though, and now I aim to keep a minimum temperature of about 50 degrees. It warms so well in the sun, even on a lightly overcast day, that the auto vent is often open.

Cherry tomatoes (self-pollinating, so I don't have to be the "bee"; however, production drops steadily as days shorten, since I don't have a light system set up)
Herbs
Lettuces and mixed greens
Peas (these do try to run all over the place, but it is nice to be eating fresh-picked peas when it's just about time to sow them outside)
Meyer Improved Lemon (the fragrance of the flowers alone is worth it; I wrap the pot in outdoor Christmas lights to keep the roots at or above 55 degrees)

This year I'm going to try to grow the little heirloom "Yellow Pear" tomatoes in the greenhouse.

The number, variety and size of overwintering tender perennials (including a few tender bog plants) increases each year, and it's getting to be a problem ... but I can't just leave them out to die!

In your Zone 8, I would have thought you could overwinter all but the most tender water/bog plants right outdoors. Water Canna is marginal here ... and last year, unfortunately, was a bad year for me to experiment with that.