I thought I would include some details, in case anyone is scouring the web looking for ideas--I know I was!

This greenhouse was built from two harbor freight 10x12 greenhouses. We joined them together, changed out the doors, and did a lot of modifications that we found on this very forum. Thank you to all those brave HFGH pioneers that went before us!

Thanks, kudzu9!

I believe I saw pics of your floor in another thread. It was simply gorgeous! You're very meticulous :)

You're not too shabby either... ;-)

Awww thanks-but I must give my hubs the credit. He did the whole floor by himself. Well, he did let me lay the first paver lol.

Well then, you did a good job in picking a husband!

Haha! Yes!

Wow! You guys did a professional job! You'll no doubt be spending many happy hours in there!

Thanks, ddsack! I just love it in there--even though it is so hot lol!

I've found that environment perfect for reading my newspaper in a comfy lawn chair with a beer by my side. Also nice for naps :-)

My husband must think so too--I decided to sneak off for some alone time in the greenhouse--and there he was!!!

To anyone anyone thinking about building a greenhouse, just say yes to overhead lights. We added a dusk til dawn security light to each outside end-only because we needed more outside lights and it was easiest just to mount them to gh--and we put hanging "barn lights" inside. Today, before it was light outside, it was so nice to be able to see as I walked through the yard to the greenhouse, walk inside and turn the lights on! I was able to check on my plants and spend some alone time in one of my new favorite places. Of course, one of my dogs joined me so I wasn't really alone lol.

So my advice is go for the lights! If you're going to put the time, money, and effort into building a greenhouse, spend a little more so you'll be able to enjoy it any time you want.

Great idea. I've got a lot of conveniences in my GH, but never thought about having lights for some reason. Time for a new project... :-)

It will be worth it!

But it's so fun using a flashlight and fiddling around with the other hand... :-)

Just get the kind that you strap to your head! LOL

I'd love to have power in my greenhouse, unfortunately it's about 100 ft from my house, and we'd have to tear up our tarred driveway to put in an electric line -- not gonna happen! I only use it in spring for starting seedlings, and in the fall for extending the life of potted vegetable plants grown outdoors. I have to run a long heavy duty extension cord when I need a fan or electric heat. Once the fall temps fall below 25F at night, it's too hard to heat and I close it down. Texas would be the ideal place to keep one going all winter with night lights.

ddsack-

You don't need to tear up your driveway. It's actually pretty easy to cut a narrow channel across an asphalt drive with a circular saw and the right blade. Then you could run conduit in the channel and patch neatly with asphalt or concrete. I had an even longer run from my house to the greenhouse than you do, but I'm glad I did it.

I'd invistigate that, ddsack. It would be so nice to have it, and running those extension cords could be unsafe.

Just ask Kudzu to do it for you ;)

or just come on down to Texas!

There is also a cement area next to the garage that is a problem. Not that it can't be done, but we'd have to hire an electrician and someone with the equipment to do it, and all told, the cost would not justify it for the 4 to 5 months I actually need it. I only use my 8'x16' greenhouse from April to early June, then it's empty of plants for the summer until I move stuff in for September and October. Most years I'm done by November, this year is much warmer than most so I do still have pots of peppers and tomatoes going, as well as my six hanging fuchsias that will soon be chopped off and brought in the house to overwinter in the basement. I'm not interested in keeping the greenhouse going in the summer, too hot, even with shade cloth on the south side wall and roof, and I always get aphids coming in from outside. Way to expensive to think of heating it in northern Minnesota in the winter, and I like the break from gardening anyway. Spring:

Fall:

So while it would be great to do it right -- won't happen unless I win the lottery!

Nice set up, ddsack!

I will interject my thoughts on lights. I think they are a great addition to any greenhouse. I have them in 3 of 4 structures. My largest high tunnel has 13 lights. For making a trip to tend to fires or a general night overview they are fine. However when I pick tomatoes after the sun is gone I need a headlamp or all I would see are shadows. For a smaller structure that may be remedied by stronger lights.

I was surprised that 15 years ago when I installed electricity into my high tunnels the educators were advocating that the definition of a "High tunnel" excluded any such enhancement. My reasoning was that if any advantage could be gained by any feasible addition then the structure name should not stand in the way. Recently the definitions have changed and most high tunnel growers are utilizing electric not only to light but to run all sorts of electronic devices. I couldn't imagine a high tunnel without an exhaust fan, circulation fans, double poly layer inflation fan and motorized air intake louver. Many growers have motorized rollup sides and end panels. The modern technology allows all of the above listed devices and many more to be either remotely or automatically controlled.

So when you run an electric line to your greenhouse be sure it is capable of handling your future needs.

You're so right, Barrie. It is very wise to look to the future when having an electrician come out. I was fortunate that the company I have used in the past to help with some wiring had some experience wiring greenhouses. I think that is important when choosing an electrician--especially when I am not experienced with greenhouses, yet! I have a couple of receptacles that are on different circuits (or whatever they are called) so that I do not have to worry about overloads and throwing breakers if I have to run a heater. These are things I wouldn't have really known to do.