Are "hobby" greenhouses worth bothering with?

Question

I live in a cold weather state (Michigan). I was wondering if it's worth bothering with the small greenhouses you see in catalogs for about $2000. How much do they really extend your season and are there any advantages over just using coldframes?

The season is ending. I may be grasping at straws.

Answer 1

That sounds like a huge price for a small "hobby" greenhouse. Mine is 6x8, came in a kit and cost about $400.00 - excluding the foundation. It cost less than $100.00 for us to put down the foundation that consisted of 4 4x4's and a few bags of cement. I use gravel for the flooring. I use my greenhouse to overwinter a few plants and to grow a few veggies like radishes, spinach and lettuce. I use a small electric space heater with a thermostat for heat. My green house is empty in the summer. This is my first full year of using the greenhouse and I am still learning a lot. I live in northern Utah.

Answer 2

They may "extend" the growing season but for that price, I would not consider it a hobby unit. A good greenhouse needs ventilation and heat for the winter. You would also need a means of a water supply. Fans are also recommended for circulation. I have an 8' x 8' greenhouse I bought for $200 which keeps the plants warmer during the beginning of winter. Problem is that I have to secure it to the ground as it is lightweight and blew over once.

Answer 3

Coldframes are a lot smaller for one thing; and greenhouses can be outfitted with fans and heaters for another. Yes, I have known several people who had one; they were quite pleased with them.

Answer 4

I think that if you do your research for your area (ask nurseries, etc) you might find them to be fulfilling. It really comes down (in my opinion) to how much you like gardening.

I live in SoCal, but my husband has promised that if we move to a cold-weather state, he would get me a greenhouse, because I LOVE to garden and love my plants.