If I had the space for one, I'd definitely get a greenhouse. Not so much for starting seeds since I'm a convert to true winter sowing (outside in winter in plastic containers), but for overwintering plants. Have you tried winter sowing? It's fantastic, but I have to warn you--very addictive, too! I have 100 containers outside, about 95 of which have sprouts. Hello, my name is Lisa.... LOL.

I got a Rion greenhouse a couple years ago and find I am using it more, not less. It is 8'X12'. We do heat it in the winter, but it hasn't been so expensive as I expected it to be.

I also use some of the heated mats for seedlings which works well. I plan to use the greenhouse more this winter and try tomatoes and cucumbers in a serious way.
kay

I won't be of any help to you because I have the same questions. DH offered me the same as yours did you, but I opted not to since I thought with heating it, it would be cost prohibitive. Let us know what you decide and how it works out. DH brings it up every once in a while still. One of these times I might say yes! Hello, my name is Skibby....hahaha.

OMG, your DH offered to build you a green house and you're sitting on the fence over it? Girl, my advice, take him up on the offer as fast as you can get 'yes please' out of your mouth and worry about the other stuff later.

Annette

I agree with Annie, and also there is a Greenhouse and Garden Structures forum on GW, lots of good info and discussions over there. Even tho I don't have either, I still enjoy reading the threads.

I agree with the suggestion you look at the Greenhouse and Structures forum. Read a few posts and search the archives when you think you know what to search for. If you can't find an answer or don't think you know the right question, post a message. Whether you've tried to find an answer yourself or not, there are many people willing to help. Having an idea of what has been discussed before, makes for better questions.

Heat and space seem to be your concerns. Heat can be supplied in a variety of ways, but, space tends to be constant. You could go the basement route with a plant stand, heat mats, and possibly an enclosure. However, many sprouts only need heat for germination and do better at cooler temperatures.

I have an unheated greenhouse and use 600 litres of water to moderate the temperature. Last year it kept the lows above -1 C. This year the lows have been -3 C. I'm hoping the water heats up and keeps the greenhouse above 0 C. Tomatoes etc. don't like the cold but they survive.

Hello my name is Carrie Burgess.... I guess I forgot the whole anonymous part. Oh my, I have to laugh at myself sometimes.

Lisa - I did consider "true winter sowing" this year. And next year I am going this route with my pansies. What are some of the plants you have had success with using this method? If you don't mind me asking.

Organic kitten - How do you heat your greenhouse? Someone has a greenhouse that I drive by on my way to town. And it looks to me like they are heating it with a wood stove.?. I may stop in and introduce myself to see if I am right and how it works for them.

Skippy - I will let you know how I decide to go. It sounds like your husband is just as wonderful as mine:o)

Annette - That is great advice! Steven promises his offer will not be retracted.

Schoolhouse - I didn't realize that gardenweb had such a forum. I really do need to get out of the cottage garden forum once in a blue moon and explore a bit. Thanks for letting me know. I will check it out during my daughters nap time today.

Otherlip - Thanks for the great tidbits. We have lots of land it's just that there are trees on most of it. Steven reminded me last night that he still knows how to cut them down. He told me if I am in need of a sunny spot he will make it happen. But it seems that there is one of natures little treasures in every nook and craves. I just hate to do it. What to do ... what to do...

Thanks to all

carrie, I don't own a greenhouse but I recall one being built. The builder put in gravel and pebbles for the floor because apparently stone absorbs heat during the day and gives it out during the night.

Also, have you looked into solar heating? Ask your greenhouse suppliers all these questions.

In Nova Scotia, I imagine having a greenhouse would be particularly useful because of the short season and because you do get a heavy dose of snow during winter. I'd take up your husband's offer if I were you.

I would go for it! You might consider a divided or small area (like a greenhouse within a greenhouse) that you could heat with just a small heater for seed starting. I don't know your weather but if it is very cold the heating can get very expensive.

I bought a 12 flat/tray plant stand from Harris Seed Company probably 8 years ago and I have never regretted it. It is 4 feet long by 24 inches wide and each level has 4 fluorescent lights. It isn't cheap but I saved me the cost of a green house. I can rotate flats in and out to the cold frame and raise all I need using it without additional heat. Did I mention I keep it on the back porch which is considerably cooler than the rest of the house. I will balance a tray on top of the fixture so that heat from the lights will heat the flat to start germination.

I still want a greenhouse though! Have you thought about a heating pad for starting the seedlings and then moving them to the cooler spot. Actually 60° is probably a pretty good temperature for growing.

Ha - I found it!! our Trivia Master on the conversations side built a small greenhouse at his basement door. Quite a discussion ensued - with plans. Have a look at this, then show it to your DH. I know Thinman would not mind answering any question!!!

Nancy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thinman's green house thread!!

In colder zones, you might want to consider making it more of a potting shed than a real greenhouse. Insulate the North and East walls and the roof that gets no sun. Use concrete blocks for the floor to trap and hold heat during the day. Use at least double glazed windows for the south and west and the roof. You can probably get away with using a small radiant type heater in early spring to start plants, but for overwintering, you'll need full heat all winter.

I would love one, but since winter only lasts 3 months here, and the lows are in the teens, it's just not worth the effort. I would have to heat it at night and I can't see that. So I use my basement and fluorescent lights on plant racks. It's cheaper and easier, IMO. But I only overwinter tropicals and the fall cuttings taken of plants I want more of for the next summer.

If I can grow it from seed, I don't bother overwintering it. I won't be doing any more pineapple sage as long as the seeds are ripe by frost.

To 'greenhouse' or not 'greenhouse' - that is the question! ;-D

I wanted a greenhouse very much years ago but after doing a lot of research and seeing other people's I decided against it. However it very much depends on how you garden, where you are in your life, and your climate. In our zone 3, a greenhouse requires double glazing (or double plastic), a constant source of heat, and close monitoring. A friend had a lovely one using a wood stove but it's tricky to keep the temps even. Then when the temps warm up outdoors one is faced with preventing overheating during the day. There are temperature controlled fans one can install.

Last year DH built me a garden house after we had a lot of trees removed and sometime in the future I might use it as a greenhouse to start seeds early but right now we don't stay home enough to tend to this type of project. I designed it with large windows on the south side but solid roof so the plants would have to be along the window wall. It will have a concrete floor soon and DH could install a wood stove if we think that's necessary in the future. It's really more of a summer play house for me and the Grands! Altho I might do tomatoes in large pots which can't go in the garden here in case of frost and hopefully the squirrels won't find them in the garden house.

I think it sounds as if you'd really like one and your DH is amenable to the idea so I say "go for it" but after considering all the alternatives.

Here is a link that might be useful: my garden house last November

Carrie has pretty much the same zone 5 as TM, imho. He has lake-effect weather, she has the ocean. Tom, I like your idea of the 2-sided gh. I saw a gorgeous gh near here, years ago. It was built of all repurposed glass doors and windows, which some clever sod had cobbled together. I still lust after it. I have also seen one in a national (international?) garden how-to magazine several years ago.

Nancy.

Well, I did a bit more researching on greenhouse building and in particular I was curious how the victorians managed to warm up the greenhouse without electricity. I learned they heated the greenhouse with a furnace and a good ventilation system through the brick walls. Other methods included sinking the greenhouse partly into the ground, floor covered with gravel or pebbles and it must be southfacing which would help capture heat from the sun.

Incredibly another form of heat source is rotting manure. Phew -- this is just a little trivia and not something I would recommend. Can you imagine what that greenhouse smelled like.

Wow Guys, Thanks for all the great ideas and information!! I can't tell you much it helps.

Luckygal - Your garden house is wonderful!

Carrie

Carrie - regarding your problem with trees. I have a 9x14 model and it is next to some tree on the south and west sides. Actually it's perfect. The trees are bare in the winter allowing the sun to heat up the greenhouse nicely; and during the summer when weather gets hot the trees provide enough shade to keep it from overheating. My DH thought I was crazy when I wanted it placed there, but it turned out to be a blessing.

Carrie,
I bought a greenhouse heater from a greenhouyse supply place.

It is a space heaterand the cost was similar to what it would cost to get a space heater at Lowe's or Home Depot. I keep the greenhouse in the 60s with it. When the sun is out. I can easily keep it warmer when I want to do so. The dual heat controls and the thermostat allow pretty good control

I did grow a few tomatoes this year. Next year I will increase the light where I grow them.

I used the greenhouse to store a lot of non-hardy plants including my coffee plant, a hibiscus, and several tropical vines. My firecracker plant doubled in size this winter!

I also use it to start seeds and to grow tiny plants to transplant size.

I think I will grow either an avocado tree or a lemon tree in there next.

I love the greenhouse! Go for it if you have the chance.

kay