Cheap Plastic Greenhouse Review
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
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This is the greenhouse I'm reviewing in this video: amzn.to/4bmQWhE
We put it together in this video: • Seed starting when the...
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Hey ya'll, I'm Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm
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There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart - to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we've learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you're here.
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Jess! We’ve got the same greenhouse and I built a frame on the bottom that I secured the greenhouse to. I’ve also put wheels on the frame so we can move it around if need be. Theres a video on our channel talking about it.
Also, can confirm the plastic lasts a long time if you take it off. We are going on 5 years and are just now needing to make some “repairs”. If you spray it down with a UV blocking spray or Armorall, it would last even longer.
Great tips! Love the frame on wheels idea! Clever!
AWSOME 🙌🏽
Oooooo that's a good idea!!! Spraying it down
Why would you spray with uv spray to block the uv, if that's what the plants need to grow?
I want mine on wheels!! Next year upgrades.
I have the same greenhouse. I anchored it well and 2 years later it is still in good shape and very functional even with the cold, windy weather we have. I used 4 shepherd’s hook planter posts to anchor it.
Oh that's a good idea with those hooks. They have a great base to do that with. Thanks for the suggestion as I have a few extra on hand! I'll hang some baskets off them for extra flower space too.
I've always said.. Bathtubs: more than just a bum bather. Secures your seedlings, checks your chicks, douses your ducklings... an all round' MVP on the farm! I even had baby ostriches in mine when I was a zookeeper LOL
Ha! Every new home, I try to take as many baths in the new-to-me tub as possible. I know in a very short time that 9/10 times I want to soak sore muscles, chances are the tub is filled with one of the reasons for those sore muscles! lol
Hahaha I just bought 12 chicks and guess where they are? Bathtub lol 😆
@@trackerelf HAHAHAHA yaaas!!!! See?! MVP on the homestead is the tub! LOL
Zone5 🇨🇦 bought one last season and everything you did and said correct 💯💯👍🏻 This year I'm putting it on the ground secured to the fence. Last year we had it up on the deck and husband used ratchet straps to secure to deck railing. 2 things I can add here for heating during the night in my zone from April-early May. I used a Crock-Pot filled with water set to medium. I also put old blankets over the entire greenhouse to hold heat in. It did a wonderful job and the condensation on everything is what saved from freezing hard. On standby this season I have frost cloth to put directly over seedlings if needed. In 2wks it comes back out of storage and I can't wait because my shelves inside the house are FULL!! 😁
The Crockpot is a great idea! Never heard that one before but I could see how it would work great. Thanks for sharing :)
I grew cold hardy plants all winter plus many of my herbs all winter in mine. I did occasionally have to add a clay pot heater using a tealight candle to keep it above 35 degrees
My greenhouse for the past 10 years has been our old garden shed, shelves my husband built and attached, old shop lights, 4 plant heating pads, 4 thick shoe mats (thicker and sturdier than store plant mats) and two cheap plastic shower curtains that we fixed to drap over the shelves to keep the heat in. We also invested in one heat mat thermostat. We don't plant on Jesse's scale, but we have 6 raised beds. last year was my first year growing butternut squash on a cattle panel trellis. Wow! it saves on garden space and the squash loved it! 2 plants produced 30 squash! I'd post picks if I could.
Perfect timing. I'm buying a used one on Friday and your advice will help so much. Funny side note: we were cleaning up the backyard the other day and came across several of those t-posts. My daughter asked if I wanted to keep them and I said probably cause you never know when I might need them. Tada - I will definitely be using them on the new/used greenhouse. Thanks Jess
Great for creating Vertical Gardening.
Depending upon size, taller ones an use soft twine thru every hole, Cattle Panel expensive.
@Leaf Frog You are correct that it would not permit enough light to be a greenhouse...
HOWEVER
You are also VERY correct about the A-Frame Tent idea! This greenhouse is designed in a very tent-like shape, which means that a series of tent ropes and tent-pegs would be a great way of securing it. Get yourself some good-quality tent stakes and pound those into the ground just as you would for a tent, then tie tent ropes to the same places as you would on a tent and stretch them tight and tie securely to the stakes.
That would work just fine.
I’ve had this exact greenhouse for 4 years. My solution for anchoring is 2 tposts on each side with rope over the top and tied to the posts. I also put swimming noodles on the top of the posts so it wouldn’t puncture the plastic. I have had no degrading of the plastic and I do not remove it. My solution for the heat issue in the winter is I installed a pvc pipe hoop house in the front where I put my potted plants for the winter. I cover both on top with plastic and anchor that with blocks to seal them together. I leave the greenhouse door open and place a radiator heater in the hoop house and it heats both nicely. I have tropical plants blooming in there through the winter and all my geranium are beautiful in there. We had a couple of snows and it has weather both wind and snow for 4 years. I will admit I did have to think it through but my solutions have worked without an issue. So, I would say with a little extra effort it works fine for me.
Wow! That’s awesome 👏 I think I want to try this out (:
I bought this exact greenhouse after seeing you guys assemble yours. I'm close to clemson, about an hour and a half north of you. I got a hydrometer thermometer with a bluetooth alert on it as well. I put a small cube heater inside, and the few nights we got down to the low 20's it kept the greenhouse nice and toasty.
Can you please tell me where you got your heater?
@@CHICHISWEETS it’s just a ceramic heater with thermostat- I think this one came from Kmart when they were closing- but you should be able to find one on clearance at any big box store. If I were buying specifically for my greenhouse, I’d look for something with a thermostat (mine is set to 68 tonight), and an option for fan only with an oscillating option.
But what I have is left from when we had a pop up camper and the heat didn’t work well, and a fan that was abandoned at my office storage room that my boss said to toss or take.
@@GoldenAfternoonHomestead thanks
Just wanted to piggy back on the temperature note you left - I had a wireless thermometer in mine (same model just 1/2 depth) and it averages 20-25 degrees hotter than outside when the sun is out and the door is closed, about 5-7 degrees hotter when door is open and the EXACT same temp outside at night, no heat insulation whatsoever. The humidity is around 99% when door is closed and when open it around 10-20% more humid than outside. Thanks for the video babe love you soooo
I’ve had a smaller version of this for years and love it 🥰 I even use it to lay out wool clothing and dry during the winter months❗️
Thanks for that....it's the only thing I would be able to afford, so your comment felt kind and encouaging and I felt included....do you think that through in a tarp over it on a cold night would insulate it a bit?
Throwing a tarp over...sorry
I have the smaller one as well.I was surprised that I didn't have a hard time putting it together ( I suck at putting stuff together. Lol).I'm in Florida so the temperatures don't drop to bad here.Im sure you can cover it up more.I take the cover off and put plants in mine.Love it!
@@margemoore6634 It can be discouraging sometimes online to not have the kinds of set ups others may have.. but remember that many of these people have been working and investing in these projects for years, some decades!
I always encourage people to make use with what they have, get creative and get what you can with the price point you are at now- because each year you can add a little bit and it will all add up and make a difference!
I actually keep my smaller one inside with seedlings against a window until it is warm enough to take them outside- so there are definitely advantages to having a smaller version too🤗 I’m sure throwing another tarp on and keeping it closer to a building will help block wind and maintain warmer temps as well! Good luck👏
I have to add the shelves are not the greatest. I would put a board or something sturdy over the racks.I definitely wouldn't leave in hurricane ,huge winds weather. And be careful of watering the trays with the hose over it( it could rust).Mine is very light weight with wheels. East peasy!
I have the same greenhouse but it has been amazing. Lasted 2 very strong and cold winters. Ice storm after ice storm. Snowstorm after snowstorm. I put a few heavy 4x4s on bottom shelves. And it's been very sturdy.
I was given the frame of one the same size when a neighbour gave up after the cover disappeared in a 💨 storm. Converted it into two frames that I throw netting over or grow peas/cucumbers up. One frame is square topped, the other arched. They sit firm when legs are pushed into the ground. Easy to move. The wire shelves are used as lift up barriers for chicken tunnels. 😃
I bought one of these from BJ's this year and did some testing with the temps just out of curiosity. I took a 30 gallon black trash can and let it heat up in there in hopes to make it a heat sink to keep it above the outside temps over night and i put an outdoor thermometer in my house to monitor it... and even with 80 degrees direct sunlight from dawn until dusk, it still dropped down to whatever the outside temp is. I only had the 6 shelves instead of the 12. But like you said, it definitely still comes in handy during the day or even the mild nights that are about 55 degrees out I can leave my seeds protected knowing my dogs aren't going to get to them or the wind or if it starts raining really hard over night, they are pretty protected. I honestly zip tied mine to my 6' chainlink fence, but after seeing your other video I did do the t post thing on either side and it is super sturdy on both sides now. I may look into seeing if maybe putting something on the ground like mulch or weed barrier something that will help retain heat better, will help more in the fall, but since my last frost date has basically passed at this point, and we only have a few 40 degree nights left, its not something I'm going to do now. Maybe even throw one of those mylar blankets or something over the top to help. I will definitely come back to this comment this fall (if I remember) and update my opinion of these greenhouses.
I got one of these last year and am very happy with it. I live in the Netherlands and I can't use it to get a longer growingseason due to the cold.
Last winter we had a huge storm and I wasn't able to break it down due to circumstances, so I weighed it down with as many pots inside as I could fit. We had windgusts that were 100+ km per hour and it still stood upright at the end of the storm/ night, no damage to the plastic neither 😊 I did not expect that
I finally got your book and started reading it on the bus and got my first R&R sweatshirt! Can't wait until I get to have a garden again
A layer of bubble wrap against the sides (inside to protect it from wind) makes an amazing insulator.
Hello from Bells Texas, I have a small garden each year. I start my seeds and put them in a garden wagon that way I can roll into and out of my house depending on the temperature . I cover it with plastic to create the greenhouse effect
I bought this exact greenhouse two years ago. I take mine down when I start planting in the garden. I love mine!
I am in Virginia and I am so happy with mine. We also make ours secure like you even the zip ties. We plant extra and all the leftover plants goes in the front yard for anyone that wants them.
I’ve had one of these in the corner of my basement ( helps keep humidity down) with lights and heat mats for 5 years. I’m able to get an early start in the spring before taking plants to the outside greenhouse and have better luck starting my fall crops down there as well.
I live in Michigan. Mine is setting next to a south facing cinder block wall. I add a small space heater on cold spring days. Brassicas grow well that way. In the fall I store my cold hardy herbs and potted mums. Strawberries winter over. You get the idea. Three year life span is about right. Zippers can be tricky.
I've used one of these here in mid-Michigan for 4 seasons now. My best advice for heat is to put it on pavers so they absorb heat during the day and let it out over night, use an auto-timed space heater (either one that times itself or one hooked up to an outdoor timed outlet) and a digital thermometer to monitor temperature during cold nights and hot days, and put bricks/cinderblocks on the bottom poles.
Or heat lamps like in a chicken coop. You have reassured me in getting one.
I have one in my garage. I used it last year and using it now. I do have grow lights but I love it. It stays warmer than the garage.
I just bought 1 for us to Starr with. It's will be here Friday. Great review for all who need to know. Thank you for sharing. God Bless.
Thanks Jess, you just saved me about $100... there's really no point in buying something that is supposed to be a secure base, if you just have to figure out ways to make it secure. I think I'll try to build my own from scratch... I'll feel a lot better not buying and trying to do it myself.
I commented above, but wanted to tell you…..smart decision. 😉
I have this same greenhouse. I put my poles in the ground and it stayed secure. No problems. I don't live on an open plain though.
I ended up tying mine to trellis annexe because the first year the wind caught under it and mixed up my seeds when they tipped out.
I have three different sizes of this brands greenhouse, love them all! One for the guest room, one for the garage and one for the driveway. My biggest tip is to get construction sand tubes and line the outside. They are like 359 at menards or home depot and it makes a world of difference wind wise here in the frigid north
I purchased this exact greenhouse to replace the plastic cover on another one purchased a few years ago. (the original greenhouse did NOT have the green mesh in the plastic and it disintegrated after 3 summers.) I opted for the whole greenhouse (including the frame and shelves because it was cheaper than just replacing the plastic cover. I then had extra shelves that I have used throughout the house for excess houseplants. I did NOT have to anchor it anywhere because it is nestled against the house and beside a small attached porch. We've had some very windy days lately and it's come through like a champ! I also had additional shelving from an old smaller version greenhouse that fit exactly in the back of this greenhouse - so I have shelves all the way around. Yes, it does get very hot inside on a sunny day (close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit) so just roll up the door most days and leave it open. I do NOT use for seedlings except for hardening off as I'm in zone 6 and it's way too cold at night until approximately the end of April for me to put any seedlings out there yet. it's the perfect size for an urban garden.
i have one of these and the wind will blow it away in a heartbeat. I drive t-posts on the inside at the corners of the greenhouse and use zip ties to secure it to the post. This has worked great. Blessings for a great growing season!
I am in Central OH, have had this exact one for 2 years, and within the first few months, the ties dry rotted, and the plastic is breaking down after 2 years BUT mine is out year round. You also need to be careful because even with the shelves tied down, a hearty wind can end up knocking your trays off the shelves, I secure all of my trays. It works best at 50+ degrees, the upper 40’s if it is sunny. I have mine tied down also. I have used a small heater in it a couple times when the temps were going to be lower 40’s, I have mine setting on my gardening deck. I myself would not ever buy another one, I don’t think the benefit of having it is worth the price paid, maybe in a warmer area, but not in the northern states. To me, it is a disposable item and I think we would all be better off saving to buy quality items that will last for years to come. We waste so much money buying cheap products because we want it all and we want it NOW.
I have looked at these before online. It is tempting to try one, but I think I am going to just use 1 of my metal wire shelves that I have on wheels to use as a portable greenhouse. It is 4' wide, 18" deep, and 6' tall with 5 shelves. I think I am simply going to find some way to enclose it using some clear heavy gauge plastic. With the wheels on it, I can easily move it out of the garage in the morning and into a Sunny location and push it back into the garage when it gets cold at night.
Thanks for the video, it got me thinking about what I could build with stuff I already have.
Hi Jess, I have used the smaller version (about 30 in wide and has 5 shelves). Since I am able to use third bedroom to start my seeds under lights when seedlings are ready to go outside they get hardened off in the greenhouse. It gets used all summer (plastic comes off in the heat) starting cuttings, sickly plants and starting some winter veggies. Yes it needs some stabilizing but I think it is worth it as you said for those that don't have a greenhouse or can't . I got mine at Big Lots for $15 at the end of summer and try to buy one every few years and always have one on hand. Thanks.
Great Review! I have often wondered how well they would work. This year I tried winter sowing and I have had such success! So cheap and easy.
We had one of these from Walmart last year, and had our adventures with it. Needless to say within hours of putting it together, the wind took it for a ride. Tore it up. My Daughter duct taped it back together, wedged it between two bushes up against a fence. But that plastic does get brittle. We also spray-painted water jugs black, which during the day heated up, and kept the greenhouse warmer during the night.
2nd year for my little greenhouse. I did take the cover off when it started staying warm and used it as a trellis for some snow peas. Then in the winter I was able to move it into the basement for extra shelving to winter over my plants. I hope to have a real greenhouse in a year or two.
That's a great idea! I hadn't even thought about using it as a trellis base once it's served it's purpose!
I had one that was a lean to type since I'm in an apartment building. I'm in zone 5a and do get freezing temps.
Yes, you do need to anchor it as it will blow away even in the modest of wind. I had several very large planters - kids toy tubs filled with soil, that I tucked the bottom of the cover under, so it wasn't going anywhere.
As far as evening warm to prevent freezing, again, I'm in an apartment building (4th floor with a small porch just outside my bedroom window), and I did place a very small space heater inside set on the lowest setting possible which worked out very well. It was toasty inside. I didn't treat the covering at all, and it lasted 4 years till I finally took it down.
The issue I had was the frame tubing (the mid structure ones specifically. And yes, i did have the shelving inside as i had it as part of the structure instead of stand alone). Even though it was semi sheltered on 2 sides (one side up against the building/bedroom window and the otherside a foot and a half away from the brick divider between porches/firewall) and wall anchored, the framing still got bent. At one point, I tried to reinforce the inside frame with a 1x4 box.
I did have to take it down as the landlord complained, but if I could, I'd put another one up.
We're going on 3 years of using this greenhouse (Texas, zone 8a). I have started cucs, tomatoes, peppers, etc in it. We haven't taken the plastic off and see the wear (we only have had to replace the windows with regular screen material). I haven't taken it off because we over winter our two Greenstalks full of strawberries in it. We also grew parsley, lettuces, carrots, radishes over winter in it in the Greenstalks or other containers. We added boxes to the ground and 6 inches of mulch inside, then we added about a foot of wood chips around the outside and it held the temperatures quite well for what we grew over winter in it. In the summer we keep it in the shade of the house. We had to go to more measures to stake ours too. So glad you reviewed it!
So grateful for you Jess! 💚🌱💚
Last year I added a heater that was connected to a device that helped me control the temp inside the greenhouse from my phone. It was fantastic and working really well. I also put a fan in for airflow and my seedlings couldn’t have come out better. I’m in the Seattle area so it really helped me give plants a head start to have a longer growing season.
I bought one of those cheap greenhouses last year. I added a shelf to the back wall. We used extra anchoring measures too. Also, we zip tied the shelves. It worked out great for me. I used it as a transition location when potting up and hardening off seedlings. I garden in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, zone 6b, last frost date May 4.
I'm glad you showed your journey with the "cheap" green greenhouse. I've used it (two purchases due to damage). I live inner city (dreaming of purchasing land) but in the meantime want to grow sustainable food for my family and self. I don't have a legit backyard, but enough space where the "cheap" greenhouse was efficient. It has been a roller coaster. Thank you for your experiment and advising us of your experience and your tips and advice of your experience.
I had one of those here in Port Elizabeth, South Africa... AKA the windy city. I secured it to the fence posts of my veggie garden but still the wind ripped through that thing and tore the plastic fittings to pieces that it looked like a tornado went through it. I salvaged the shelves and used them in my polycarb greenhouse. Also did a video on my channel showing the carnage.
Love your videos by the way. Really enjoy watching your farm come together and can't wait to see your window greenhouse in all it's glory. As you were showing us your build, I said to my kids, " now that's going to be a spectacular greenhouse....one day when I'm big..."😄
I few candles keep them super warm overnights. The best use of those is to protect trees that are a little above their zone over winter.
Thank you for your honest review, Jess.
I had the exact same one. It did fairly well for the price, but absolutely needs a lot of anchoring. I posted a video of mine on here losing the battle with TN winds and taking a bunch of starts with it! I have another one and plan to use t posts thanks to you!
so glad i came across this video as a new gardener!
Jess you are my saving grace with the t post suggestions. Mine usually ends up like the house in wizard of Oz I was too scared to put starts in there. So I’m so thankful for this video and the knowledge you shared in it. 💛🌱
Thanks for reviewing that for us! Blessings!❤️
We have the Big Greenhouses in the Garden. My Husband has to secure them to the wall. We paid £70.00 a couple of years ago and now they have gone up to £125.00 ' We have grown some Beautiful flowers .in our Green Houses. Well Cosmos and Zinnias and Tomators do really well in them x
Thanks again for your input...always worthwhile...blessings on you all....
Had a similar small one then bought the 10x12 harbor freight greenhouse. We had a neighbor who lost theirs in a snow storm so we made a internal 2x4 support system. We ❤️it. 🌼
Thank you for this review, I've wondered about these things for years. Nice to see they probably wouldn't be any improvement over the more traditional seed starting I trialed last year. Had them in flats, with domes or not depending on what was planted. Flats on a rack, that I wheeled in and out of the garage. Wasn't thrilled with it all, even though it produced a ton of seedlings and those seedlings were basically ok once planted out. Hadn't dealt with fungus gnats, damping off and dry soil issues before, and not sure why it was a constant fight with the flat trays. Unless this all needs to be done really in WAY more shade.
So, not sure I'm going to try that method again. Have always done the larger plastic junk bottles/containers, corralled in something and left outside (in part shade). Until crowded and needs repackaging, or sun increase exposure/planting out. Super simple, completely effective. Just awkward to try to give anything away done like that without weird explanations. lol Plus the seedlings look smaller than people expect at the time of the year. It was great to just say here, have these okra, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, etc, with normal looking seedling pots, and reasonably larger seedlings. Top favorite seed starting method is still, corralled from winds, 2L bottle. Trick is finding someone who has any/enough. They last for years if kept out of the sun as much as possible.
Loved this...I always wondered about these cheapy green houses. Thanks for your input.
We used cinder blocks too but we tied them to the greenhouse using the strings on the corners. It holds really good. When it froze over christmas it did well for most of my plants
I live in NH and my seedlings did awesome in the greenhouse through all kinds of weather. I used sand bags to anchor mine and I ran a small space heater that turned on if the temp dropped below 50. I also used a clip on fan to keep the air circulating. I store mine in a large tot when not in use.
Hey Jess, I used one of these 15 years ago when I lived in the Venice canals. It served its purpose and I was able to start a lot of things including exotics. It is also great for people who are on a limited scale. I have a rigid greenhouse now. It gets below freezing at night for a couple of weeks here in Humboldt county in December and January. I am not starting seeds at this time anyway. Another great and informative video.
Howdy 🤠 from the next county south of you! 👋
Thank you Jess. We got this greenhouse last summer and never got the time to build it. I appreciate the tips. You are the best, as always. God bless.
I had a clear one for two years and loved it. It was all I could afford and I was thankful to have it. I got to try it out to see if I would use a greenhouse enough to make $ worth it. Now I have built a polycarbonate greenhouse. I plan to use the old mini greenhouse frame with netting over it to protect my squash from SVB. I can even trellis them on the frame. Hope it works. Thank you for the video.
Thanks for the vid on how to assemble this. I've had this one for 4 years, break it down and put it back up every spring. And I cannot do this! My son-in-law always has to figure it out for me. I'm hoping I won't have to ask this year!
I am going on summer #3 of the exact same one! due to some of the crazy winds we have had, this is the first year I noticed some small tears. It has held up very well otherwise. Would definitely buy again! I would recommend, in addition to the suggestions from Jess, for you to place wood across the shelves. I found that some cheap pieces of wood helped to provide extra sturdiness as my plants grow larger and I potted up. I also added a small wire shelf in the back to add more shelving and it fit perfectly!
I actually have that same green house. I added a heater n at night it maintained the heat. It was off during the day. I wish i could get something better but it does get the work done
I have 2 of these equal to the big size you have in my garage with about 18 growlights total! 3 years growing and works amazing! They are quite hardy, I move them outside in April to harden off plants using 8 inch ground steaks and a couple t posts to keep them sturdy. They stay about 80 °, found them at Aldi on sale!
Thank you! Very informative. While I don't have one of these green houses; I do have a cattle panel green house that I've been hesitant to use for warmer weather crops. I kept feeling like I was needing to move my plants back in doors when it was cold. Then I questioned if that was the right thing to do and why the greenhouse would even be effective. Just in reviewing this greenhouse, you've explained away my concerns. Thanks again.
I've got the smaller version of the same greenhouse. I bought it because I have terrorist cats, too. They LOVE microgreens so, I put it up in my house to grow out my microgreens inside but keep them out of the greens. I do plant one tray of mixed greens and leave it out just for them! Now, we're all happy.
I love mine! I'm using a 10x20x6 one I got fo under 200 bucks as a hoop coop for my layers and it has been great with a few mods. We staked every foot and did cinder blocks on the skirting as well. Spend around 200 total, took 30 mins with 2 people to build. I love that it's movable as we are still working on homestead layout, and I love that I can adjust ventilation based on weather/wind. I got a shade cloth for summer, and I expect it to last a few years!
I HAVE ONE OF THE LITTLE GREEN HOUSES. I HAVE IT IN MY DEN INSIDE MY HOUSE! THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR TO USE IT. WORKS FOR ME!
I bought the same one several years ago. We live where it is super windy 99% of the time. The plastic cover was gone and we just had the frame. This year we moved it, staked it to the ground, sand bag it, and glued the joints. We are making it wind proof so we can do our starts.
Your experience with the greenhouse not holding heat is the same as mine. I thought I wasn't doing something right since it heats up fast and it cools down just as fast. Thanks for the validation!
Thanks for the review Jess.
I got one that is a hexagon shape and I had to add additional shelves inside of it, but there is a ton of space. I've not had issues with it blowing over, but I'm also anchoring it and use my lawn furniture around it when it is going to storm. It's worked well for me and I plan to remove the plastic once the plants are in the ground.
Thanks Jess, for the honest review.
I had one of these in Albuquerque NM. Set it up on my back porch, tied down with straps attached to cinder blocks and four 5 gallon buckets filled with water on the inside. I put an extra shelving unit in the back. It worked pretty well for 2 years, though I did need to replace the plastic after only 1 year. Our sun here is quite intense, destroying anything made out of plastic pretty quickly. I used a wireless thermometer and a tiny space heater to keep it warm on cold nights. We used it until last year when we used our stimulus check to build a cattle panel greenhouse, which I love! Now I'm thinking of repurposing the plastic greenhouse into some type of shed or a shade structure for our dogs.
I bought one like this and I love it. I only use it for about 4-6 weeks a year, but it works great for my small garden.
Good review for those considering a plastic greenhouse! Hey Jess, my other favorite channel is Longhopes Donkey Shelter. It's a very special sanctuary/shelter for neglected donkeys or donkeys needing rehoming. ...and now I am in love with donkeys. If I were 30 years younger and had your amount of space, I would adopt a bonded pair!!! They are adorable, and the folks at Longhopes share everything there is to know about keeping donkeys.
First like! Hello from Minnesota. Started gardening during covid and your Channel helped me though it all. Blessings to you.
Thank you so much for this! I ordered one of these last year and had no idea how on earth to utilize it when it still freezes at night. This was so helpful, thanks Jess! ❤️
Hi Jess. I've been marathoning your videos the last couple days. I feel like God has brought me here bc your older videos are from where I now am( Arkansas) I've watched the big TX and Alabama gardeners for the last two years. Not only is there content less relevant, their channels have nothing to do with God and they aren't as entertaining. I'm glad I found you two. And then you mention Blue Sail and that's right up the road. I'm over here in Arkansas making music and vegetables, trying to recruit for God's army. Thank you guys for being here.
Omg I have been waiting for this! We live in the burbs of Ft worth and I am completely out of room! But I need something so bad and because I am a terminal patient I don’t have a lot of $$ to spend. (Med bills)
Good review. Any greenhouse has to be managed. Too hot, too cold - unless you have a really well built greenhouse -- you're going to run into that.
I had a slightly larger version of this and yes you do ned to reinforce them. I used 12 inch twisted rebar U-pins, and my greenhouse stayed up fo 3 years , even standing up to 90 mph winds during storms. What let it down was rusting in the joints and birds and squirrels putting holes in the cover.
Amen to losing frost tender plants. I lost tomato seedlings couple of days ago....learning is golden. Thanks Jess...I love your channel, your heart and your amazing gift to teach me so many things. ♥♥♥
We just bought one, only its 20 feet long by 10 across. My husband DEFINITELY had to secure it with his 1 1/2 inch stake instead of the flimsy little stakes they sent. He also made a trench around the green house and put concrete to make sure it's weighted down. I'll see how it keeps the frost off the plants. I'll probably bring them in a couple of nights until March ends, or cover them, but I'm optimistic this will give me a longer growing season here in the mountains of North Carolina. Growing zone 6b. We have cat issues in the house too, so I'm hoping this will solve a couple of problems. Thank you Jess. God bless you!
I’m in Charlotte, NC and have one similar but with small windows that Velcro down and clip up and work wonders to vent. I love mine! It kept my Meyer lemon tree not just alive but blooming this winter!
I do use a small greenhouse heater at night and it works really well! I keep a thermometer in there and it stays plenty warm even on nights that have hit below freezing. Definitely had to secure it for severe storms/winds but a few strings tied to my stair railing and some landscape staples all around did the trick!
Hoping last night was our last night of below freezing. I used the winter sow method for some tomato seedlings and even though the temp went below 27 outside, the containers they are in kept them sheltered enough. Super excited for this year! I’m really happy you chose that specific green house as I have that one and will utilize your ideas.
I have one and I love it. Funny to say about a cheap greenhouse. But I paid forty dollars. Had my grandkids put it to get her untill the top brace + they are 3&4. ( I told them to get a part from which pile) and are growing out my seedlings in it. I could see it was light so I weighed it down with cinder blocks. But it is giving me a place for soil and seedlings while I prepare the garden
I do live in a very mild climate and we are well past freezing. But my garden space isn't ready yet and I wanted to get growing. Thank you for showing this to us so many weeks ago! Also on a side note thank you for telling us actual temperature when you use chilly or warm. Helps this first time gardener understand what you mean.
Ok I was I could post pictures. I have had 3 of them. One lasted a year. The only problem was the clover from the sun . Got Cracked up. But that was sun damage and that doesn't happen I think it was actually 2 years after I bought it.
The next one I bought i put inside my house at the small 1 and it works great. 3rd one I got is on my front porch and it really works well because we have 3 cats and like you said keeps the animals from tearing up my plants. There is a suggestion for those that want them out in the yard. I still have my 1st one. If you live in a cold zone. You have no help with this other than to try to keep them warm by bringing them inside like you said we get 70 miles of our winds. At 70 mile of hour It can easily blow over but.. What we do was we took a little clips we set it on a palette on a pallet and then we just anchored it to just anchored it to the palate the palate was heavy so it's no big deal on the bottom shelf replaced pots pots 5 gallon buckets and plan it something in them. Now as for the shelving. It is very easy to fix the flimsyness take some really good Twist has. And put them on the shelf and tie them to the shelf the shelf is then tied to the bar and trust me they hold up great I've had some heavy stuff on them.
The 1st one I had last 2 years and we recovered it with plastic tastic add tablet tape The 1st one I had last 2 years and we recovered it with 6 mil plastic house wrap tape. Works great. It is going on 5 years for the very 1st one we had and I am using it this year. I even made a door by just getting a screen door from the Lowe's and cutting it down to fit the greenhouse the greenhouse. So I did not have to buy a new one each year I just cover it with 6 mil plastic works great like I said I recommend people getting it
I have one. I use it in my garage to do seeds and I use a grow light and thermometer. Does great.
Thank you for the review of this greenhouse. I have a smaller one that I used last year mainly to keep my gardening supplies in it and a tried to start a few seeds in it. I started late into the gardening last year and got a great crop from my herbs. I did the starter plants and the vegetables gave very little produce. September I bought an 6ft by 8ft aluminum greenhouse in which I again tried to start seeds. I had to gorilla tape the panels on quite a few places and the window would not fit in the frame. So by November, I stored all my gardening supplies in the aluminum greenhouse for the winter and try again in the spring. So the end of February we had a mild but muddy week and I pulled everything out of the aluminum greenhouse. Then I set up my portable greenhouse and started on getting my grow kits from last year and what I have purchased this year up and running. I am using milk jugs of water in the bottom shelves of my greenhouse to try to keep some heat at night. Also the greenhouse is up against the house which faces the backyard and gets the best sun. Thank you for your review and for the tips of using t-posts as anchors I enjoyed several comments of how everyone else is managing their greenhouses. Somebody suggested Christmas lights as a heat source. I am thinking of picking up another greenhouse but with more shelves and use the portable that I have now as a plant stand for when I grow my peppers and tomatoes. I also like the one suggestion of putting the greenhouse on a platform to keep it from blowing away. Thank you again.
Update 2024, I had to pitch my aluminum greenhouse because it fell apart after several years. I have two portable greenhouses that I keep up year round to store most of the garden pots and supplies during the fall and winter. This year I planted up some starter plants with some seedlings that I grew on my own in my container garden. I will do the winter sowing again and saving back my milk jugs for it. Thank you for all you provide in the gardening community.
I would absolutely need a heat source at night, and I would need to tie it down really well, but seeing how you have reinforced it is great.
If you take a bale of straw and pile it up around the outside and maybe even the inside on the bottom it works great. I live in Washington state and last year I had tomatoes and peppers in that exact greenhouse and we got a freeze like a week after our last frost date and I left the plants in there and they didn't have any damage at all.
As for anchoring it, I put pallets down and just used the strings it came with to tie it to the pallets. I start my seeds in my living room but in order for me to grow enough to fill my garden my boyfriend bought me this as a mid way solution. At some point I would love a real greenhouse but I just can't afford it right now.
Wow...thank you for sharing...you make me feel like I could do this...if I can get that 60 together....was thinking of trying to figure something out with cut limbs and plastic sheeting.
@@margemoore6634 if you try that make sure you use at least a 6mil plastic so that it will be strong enough and you could do it like teepee style.
@@margemoore6634 also, if you but a cheap fish tank heater and put it in the greenhouse in a bucket of water it will heat the greenhouse.
Hi there Jess, I have 2 small and 1 larger unit just like what you'r video is on. I live in Bend OR. so it is the end of May before planting and I ran out of room in the house with my seedlings. I am ready to put all my plants down in the green houses but was fearful of the temps and my seedlings are growing daily!! I purchased 2 (GardenQuilt) Garden Covers from Gardener's Supply Co. that say they will protect from frost damage down to 28 degrees. This added protection will do the job and I believe we can say it is safe to take all down and hope for the best. I will use the excess to covering for other plants that I will take a chance on and plant outright in the ground. Funny as it is...I chucked at what I saw you do to stabilize the unit...I had done it already. Not bad choices for this 84 year old. I so enjoy watching your videos and have learned so much from you. I live with my daughter and she has given me the freedom to do what I want. I have to admit I over planted seedlings but my extended family and neighbors know well that veggies are coming their way. Thank you again for your sweet smile and example.
I run a milkhouse heater in mine just enough to keep it over about 50-55 on nights it gets below freezing. I set the heater on a concrete block and have never had issues with it in the two years I've been using it.
Thanks for sharing. I was thinking about buying one but my husband said NO. He said he has enough junk to work on and didn't need more. From you have said I am glad I didn't buy it.
I had two....clamped the smaller one down to our deck. the 2nd I used t posts adn zip tied to the inside posts in the years....both worked really well. of course of did use a heater in the smaller.
I got a much smaller one (garden on a much smaller scale). I have it out on my deck protected on 3 sides from the wind and I love the space it's opened up for me. My cool crops are in the greenhouse, and the warm ones are in the house. The cool crops came through great in the 20o nights we just had.
Thanks for that. It was very helpful. I just bought one and we are putting it up tthis weekend. Now I know I definitely need to secure it!
I’ve had the same one for about 6 years. We use a light at night when under 50 degrees. We put it on a foundation using an old pallet. I live in Massachusetts and put my plants that I start in the house out in greenhouse in May.
I got a smaller version of this from tractor supply this year, I’ll be using it inside for now since were in WI but live in a rural old house that we keep at mid 60’s where I do my seeds so hopefully it will A) keep them a tad bit warmer if I but warm bottles in and b) definitely keep the kittys out!
I’ll warn you, if your cats are climbers or jumpers you’ll have a hard time keeping them off the top of it. It gets nice and warm up there
I have been working with a similar, cheap & plastic greenhouse for two years. I didn't build a frame on the bottom, BUT, I put it in a spot of my property that's shielded from the wind. Haven't had a problem yet!
We have one of these just a bit smaller always works for me and it's never blown away but we have it against a fence!