With winter slowly leaving and spring making its approach it's hard not to get excited about spring planting. It can be very tempting to head out into the garden and start planting but one or two nights of low temperatures can wipe out all of your spring seedlings. That's one reason we started using a portable greenhouse a few years ago. As I mentioned in my post about our 2021 gardening plans we are ready to move to a permanent greenhouse set-up. Today I thought I shared which greenhouse we decided on and my tips for Choosing A Permanent Greenhouse for a Garden.

Greenhouse Goals

The first step in choosing a permanent greenhouse for a garden is deciding why you want a greenhouse. When we set up our first greenhouse we went with a portable version. At the time we thought that we would use it mostly to protect our seedlings until it was time to plant them in the ground. Since that time we've seen the many benefits of having a greenhouse and learned to better utilize it. We also encountered some complications from trying to use a portable greenhouse year-round.

What Size and Shape Greenhouse Do You Need

After deciding your greenhouse goals you'll need to decide what size greenhouse will meet your needs. The shape of a greenhouse partially determines the amount of light that reaches plants and also affects heat efficiency. The larger the greenhouse the more expensive they tend to be and the harder it is to control the environment inside the greenhouse.

Where to Locate Your Greenhouse

After deciding what size greenhouse you need you'll need to decide where you're going to put the greenhouse. If you don't have a year-round dedicated area to place a greenhouse a portable greenhouse will probably be best. The area you decide on needs to be level. If it is not you will need to level it prior to setting up the greenhouse.

Windows, Doors, and Vents

One of the reasons we decided on the Palram Hybrid Greenhouses was the fact that it had a regular full-size door, a roof window with the option to add an automatic opener to it, and an optional side louver window. The windows and vents allow air to pass in and out of the greenhouse. I can't imagine what a greenhouse in Texas would be like in the summer without venting. 

Which Palram Greenhouse is Right for You?

Palram offers several greenhouse options based on your personal gardening preferences. Choices include clear single wall or opaque double-wall polycarbonate panels. Sizes include 6' or 8' widths, and lengths ranging from 4' to 20'. Single wall greenhouses like the popular Snap & Grow series have crystal clear roof and side panels that allow up to 90% light transmission and are ideal for those who want to showcase their plants. Twin wall greenhouses like the Mythos and Glory have opaque roof and sidewall panels that range in thickness from 4MM to 10MM with a ribbed center section between the inner and outer walls. Twin wall polycarbonate panels provide more insulation than single wall panels and transmit 20% less sunlight which helps reduce plant scorching. Those seeking the best of both worlds may opt for the Hybrid or Balance models which offer clear side panels and opaque roof panels. No matter which model you choose, with Palram you get a quality engineered greenhouse that will last for years.

What is Polycarbonate?

Polycarbonate is an engineered thermoplastic that transmits light nearly as effectively as glass but is stronger and lighter. Best of all it blocks harmful UV rays and stands up well under extreme weather and temperature conditions. Polycarbonate has a superior light transmission and impact-resistant qualities, making it ideal for greenhouse panel construction.

Palram Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse

We decided on the Palram HG5508 Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse. Palram offers many different sizes of greenhouses. I'll admit someday I'd love to have a larger one but for now, the 6'X8'X7' is what we decided on. It will fit perfectly in the area we have open and plenty of room for what we intend to grow.