Hey guys!!!  Tootsie here, and I am excited to  introduce you all to  Pamela.   She lives and gardens in California U.S.A.  She enjoys decoative painting , sewing and her most favorite thing….gardening!  I met Pamela while blog hopping and when I landed on hers, I was excited to interview her to see how her greenhouse grows!

Here is what Pamela had to say:

What garden zone is your greenhouse located in?

It is in zone 8a according to the USDA charts but I have always treated it as 7a because of the freak cold snaps we can have

What did you take in consideration when you decided to build a greenhouse of your own? Did you have a ‘reason’ you wanted a greenhouse of your own in your garden?

I wanted a place to start seeds earlier in the season, we have our predicted last freeze in May and our nights stay cold until then and many times beyond.

Tell me about your greenhouse – what made you decide on using wood / aluminum frame?

I went with the wood as it was the only one I could find at the time that had a steeply pitched roof to shed the snow but now that the wood is shrinking and the panels are slipping because of it I would likely try to find something different if I had a choice now.

what was the cost involved with this project?

The greenhouse cost me about $3000 and the levelling of the area it sat on (our lot is on a down slope) and building it level probably cost about another $3000

What do you use to heat your greenhouse?

I don’t heat it but I am seriously considering it.  I need to find something economical yet effective.

Do you grow year-round in this greenhouse?

No, but I really wish I could. If I figure out a heating method that won’t empty make bank account I would love to use my grow lights and grow year round as the sun does not hit it in the dead of winter, we have too many tall evergreen trees surrounding our house.

What are your favorite things to grow in the greenhouse?

Anything I am starting for my own garden, annuals, vegetables, herbs, perennials, Japanese Maple trees..I could go on and on.

If you could give someone thinking about starting their own greenhouse any tips / ideas what would it be?

Really consider where it will be setting.  Mine is in what I thought the best place on our miniscule lot but I cannot make really good use of it because of the lack of winter sunshine hitting on it.

Thank you so much for doing this Pamela. I love having you as part of my greenhouse connections.

Do you or anyone you know own a greenhouse?  Would you/they like to be a part of the friends who grow year round communtiy???  Let me know!  I’d love to interview them for a feature!!!!  Pop on over to Backwoods Cottage and take a look at Pamela’s gardens!

Until next time….Happy Gardening!!!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com

Brenda and I have dedicated an entire section of Growing 4 Seasons to greenhouses/friends that grow.  We have shared several of them with you so far, and today I am sharing a greenhouse that has made an impact on me.  This post is a little different than any other greenhouse we have shared.  Once you read it I am sure you will understand.

I took a little trip last weekend to visit my parents.  They live in a small town in Alberta.  Not more than a few blocks from their cute little house is an old greenhouse.  It has been there at least 35 years.

This greenhouse was the labor of love for a lady named June Leece.  She worked her little fingers to the bone to create, run, and maintain this place.  She lived in a little house right next door.  I can imagine how much she must have enjoyed it!  What I would not give for a  double dome greenhouse this size!

One lonely day several years ago, June went to her greenhouse to do her gardening, and had a massive heart attack.  She passed away amongst  the plants in her greenhouse.

Her children, having no interest in the greenhouse business, returned to this place only long enough to close it down, and it sits abandoned since.  It was for sale for a while, but no one wanted to venture into the greenhouse business.

I remember as a teenager, driving past and thinking that this place looked so inviting to me…never knowing that I one day would long to have a place like it.    A couple of years ago, I once again was drawn to this place.  I was distressed at how run down it looked…and almost angry that anyone would let it go so far down hill.   It has been on my mind off and on ever since…and I have been just dying to go inside and look around.

One day last summer I decided to take a little venture across the alley to peek inside.   I bugged my Dad to find out who the current owner is, so that I could have permission to enter.  It appears that someone has been slowly tearing down the back offices and out-buildings…and I just wanted a little look before it was gone forever.

Wainwright Alberta is a small town, and it wasn’t hard for my Dad to track down the owner of this place.  He got permission not only for me to go inside…but to take whatever I wanted from the greenhouse, yard, anything!

I was so excited…that I drove like a maniac to get there…and could hardly wait to get my chance to go inside.  I remembered what I had seen through the windows last summer, and was interested in getting an up close look at the behind the scenes view of a real commercial greenhouse.  I have been in many a greenhouse… but never been one on one like I was this weekend.  I never expected it to affect me quite the way it did either.

The next day came, and I was ready to go!  I got all ready, grabbed Grammie and away we went…my son in tow.  The snow was deep…(and Grammies legs are short) so we went to the front doors only to see that the second of the two domes was starting to fall…

It just looks so darned sad!  I get a lump in my throat just looking at it!

This is the side view of the first of the two domes.   This is the one we went into first.

It is all cleaned out…except for a little garbage…a lot of wool blankets, and some junk.  All that is left of the actual business in this dome was the staging, the heating/water pipes…and the heater.

Lots of gunk and mildew on the roof…

I walked around in here and found myself imagining it all filled with plants…the smells and the blooms…the peaceful sound/feeling…

Do  you see that first post?  ya…well it appears that it is all that is holding up the entire structure anymore.  It really doesn’t seem to be in a very steadfast position now does it?  one false move….and we are in big trouble!!!  We better not bump that post!

I walked around looking at everything…hoping to maybe gain some ideas or insight into how I might make my greenhouse a little better or more efficient…after all…this was once a thriving business…there had to be some good mechanics here to make it worthwhile…right?  Well…there wasn’t much left for me to learn from…so I just snooped around, and let my imagination go.

These were stacked so neatly…I just had to look inside…

They were filled to the brims with plant tags!  Hundreds of different colors and varieties!

Amongst all the dirty, moldy wood….was a shelf…amazingly clean, displaying this brand.  It struck me how much thought someone put into each and every thing in this place at one time.  I wonder if that company is still in existence?

There was a kitchen area in the back…sink, cupboards etc…plastic flowers, and vases on the counter…more plant tags…and a few little Christmas ornaments, and nic-nacs.    I decided to move over to the other side…where I had seen a bunch of other things last summer that I was interested in learning about…But…

…when I got to the second greenhouse…I was greeted with this sight.  I nearly burst into tears.

Remember when we got there and the front part of the wall was leaning in…well it was because the roof has caved in under the weight of the snow this winter.

See those 2×4’s sticking straight out?  they were the support braces …ya…when I was here last, this part was still standing and it had pots and trays, and other garden paraphernalia…it’s all buried now!

Even seeing it now, makes my heart sink!

I wanted to try to go in…but Grammie was having no part of it…and since she IS my mom…I suppose I had to listen…(but only because my son was there…otherwise I would have tried to see more…)

I wonder if it was loud when it fell in…I am standing in the old boiler room…this is the roof that collapsed!

Disappointed that I could go no further…I decided to walk out back.

There is a vintage chrome table and chairs there in the yard…they are miraculously would have loved to have them…but they are frozen to the ground…so maybe after the spring melt…when I come back to get…

These wonderful old windows…(which are also frozen into the ground…and surrounded by two feet of snow!) I think the chair can stay here…hahaha  Grampie might be nice and pick them up for me some time.  After all they do live right close by!

As we left the greenhouses…I had to turn back several times…I don’t know why I felt so sad about this place.  I didn’t know that lady…and yes I love my greenhouse…but still it just affected me.  Maybe it is the way her dream ended…with her tragic death that tugged on my heart.

So….what WAS supposed to be a silly post filled with junkin’ fun in an old abandoned greenhouse…was more like  a sad goodbye to a dream.  Learning about this lady, also got me to thinking about other things…which is another post all in itself.

Fertilizer Friday is just around the clock a ways…are you ready to link up and flaunt with me on Tootsie Time?  I can’t wait to be inspired by you!

Until next time!!!  Happy Gardening!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com

links to the above parties are found by clicking here

As a northerner living and growing in zone 5b  my greenhouse is a place to grow and nurture my plants from the winter elements.   I must admit that I forget about the southern  growers who rely on greenhouses for some of the same reasons that I do.   I had the honor of connecting with Texas gardener Susan Fox of GaGa’s garden a few months back on Twitter via my dear friend @greensoil. Susan is a an avid horticulturist holding national awards for growing prize winning roses and award winning gardens.  A true master in the art of rose growing and garden design. When you visit her website at Gaga’s Garden you will see her dedication to perpetuating knowledge about all things growing in her gardens and particularly the planting and care of rose gardens.  She is a perfect example of taking gardening to the next level by adding a ‘safe haven’ via her greenhouse in her beautiful garden and landscape.’

I had the honor of connecting with Susan and she was willing to answer a few questions I had for her about her greenhouse in zone 8  where she lives and grows in Plano, Texas.’

My Interview with GaGa’s Garden:

Bren : What did you take in consideration when you decided  to build a greenhouse of your own? Did you have a ‘reason’ you wanted a greenhouse of your own in your garden?

Susan of GaGa’s Garden : Each year we invest hundreds of dollars in plants that will not sustain winter temperatures only to lose them over the winter. Many of them are potted patio plants. Last year I even decided to invest in an exotic large expensive Sago Palm that will tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, however in N. Texas we do dip below that with ice and snow as well.  One of my plants is a beautiful ever blooming jasmine that a friend started from a plant she brought from her native home in a Persian village long ago. These potted plants have accumulated to the point that they will not fit in the garage, so basically me and my plants were evicted J. “OUI” “see post explaining “OUI” Theory at http://www.gagasgarden.com/?p=40 saw no other solution but to build a small greenhouse to protect the plants for the winter rather than store them in the garage. Also watering them in the garage created such a mess that my husband and I were  rather tired of muddy pools accumulating around the car.

Bren: Tell me about your greenhouse – what made you decide on using wood / aluminum frame?

Susan of GaGa’s Garden : We used wood because it is very inexpensive and easy to work with and the structure can be preassembled in the garage.  We only use the greenhouse for plant storage for the winter months. After the walls are preassembled we  staple the Visqueen plastic sheeting  directly to the wood as outside walls . At the end of the season since our storage is limited we have given the entire structure  away to our landscaper to use as a shed. It breaks  down and is carried away  in about 10 minutes. Wood, Visqueen, and Styrofoam board walls are all easy materials to work with to assemble and break down.

Bren : Were the sales associates at Lowes / Home Depot ( where did you purchase from) help you with this adventure?

Susan of Ga Ga’s Garden : “OUI” actually designed it and did not need assistance from the sales associates other than to ring up the sale.

Bren : What do you use to heat your greenhouse?

Susan of GaGa’s Garden :If you recall I outlined in my post at gagasgarden the fact that the first year we built a greenhouse we only used Visqueen plastic sheeting only to protect the plants and we lost some plants. This year we insulated the structure with blue board insolated styrofoam (this is the brand on the product:R-Max r-matte +3 made in Dallas, TX ) and it is working much better to keep the structure warm. We do not have any additional heaters, of course they could be added. The flooring is the stone floor of our flag stone patio.

Bren : Do you grow year-round in this greenhouse?

Susan of Ga Ga’s garden : We are not starting any new plants but it would be easy to add shelves and start seedlings and cold weather plants in the greenhouse like onions, broccoli, etc. We are using the structure for winter protection so far.

Bren: If you could give someone thinking about starting their own greenhouse any tips / ideas what would it be?

Susan of Ga Ga’s Garden : We were very careful to adhere to our neighborhood  city codes and ordinances, since gagasgarden is an urban farm setting J. We have a homeowners association and the rules are strict about height and visuals of structures from the street over the fence. You would not be very happy to build your beautiful little structure then have to remove it because your neighborhood or city asked you to take it down. We are very pleased that it can be assembled in the garage and then taken down and stored for the summer if you don’t want to leave it up. We have it standing for the winter on our stone patio out by the back north fence and we don’t sit out there in the winter so its an easy space to give up for the winter.

Thank you  for sharing your Texas greenhouse with us Susan! I love how you share how easy and cost efficient it can be to make your own greenhouse that will provide shelter for your beloved plants.

If you have questions for Susan or about this blog entry please feel free to post a comment on our blog here or go visit Susan at her site.

I am very pleased to have the privilege of calling so many gardeners my friend.  One such friend is Darla of More Family and Flowers.  She is such a treat to read, and view.  Her photos are outstanding and her gardens are both whimsical and beautiful.  Darla is a stay at home Mom with a passion for gardening.

Is she NOT the cutest thing?

As a greenhouse gardener myself I always get excited when my friends tell me they have just gotten their first greenhouse.  When I hear from Darla that she had just gotten one…I was tickled pink.  There is no one I could think of that would love a greenhouse more than she.  It was then that I jumped on the idea of interviewing our Darla for the Friends Who Grow Year Round segment.

The following is how Darla describes her gardening passion:

“I love experimenting with plants and pushing my 8-8b Zone. When I see the bumbles, birds and butterflies I know I’m doing something right..”

What garden zone is your greenhouse located in?

8 -8b

What inspired you to have a greenhouse?

I love to start seeds and root cuttings.  Come January and February the dining room, kitchen and part of the master bedroom would have germination trays with various heights of lighting.  Needless to say it was an eyesore to everyone but me.  Then there was the rearranging of them and hauling them in and out of the house when the weather began to warm up.  Blogging and seeing so many different styles of greenhouses and how one area could house all I needed, I started dreaming of owning one.  Christmas of 2010 my husband made this dream come true.

What did you take in consideration when you decided to build a greenhouse of your own? Did you have a ‘reason’ you wanted a greenhouse of your own in your garden?

I took into consideration where the greenhouse would get the best sun and my access to running water and electricity.  The main reason I wanted a greenhouse was to try my hand at year around gardening.

Tell me about your greenhouse – what made you decide on using an aluminum frame?

I personally had no input on the building materials used for my greenhouse.  It was a gift, Snap and Grow.  It has an aluminum frame and shatter proof plastic windows.

what was the cost involved with this project?

I have seen them for around $800.00 dollars.  Haven’t any idea the price paid for mine.

Were the sales associates at Lowes / Home Depot ( where did you purchase from) help you with this adventure?

My husband said he googled greenhouses and this one came up at Sears. The directions were very easy for him to understand and would have had it put together in one day had it not rained.

What do you use to heat your greenhouse?  do you heat it?

Don’t let the name of the state of Florida fool you, as I am in North Florida.  We do dip into the teens (Fahrenheit) during the months of Dec. – Feb. .  As of late not only have we dipped below freezing, we have stayed there for several days in a row on and off.  I have an electric fan heater.

Do you grow year-round in this greenhouse?

At this time the greenhouse is new to me, and perfect timing, to start my seeds in.  I have not had a full years experience with it yet.  Although I can reasonably say, yes, I will be using it year around, if nothing other than to root some cuttings.

What are your favorite things to grow in the greenhouse?

Ah, I am enjoying overwintering plants that would have succumbed to Jack Frost if left under those sheets and blankets in the gardens.  Some seeds have germinated already and that really makes me smile.

If you could give someone thinking about starting their own greenhouse any tips / ideas what would it be?

Location, location, location!

Thank you so much for doing this. I love having you as part of my greenhouse connections.

My pleasure Glenda…

if you know anyone else with a greenhouse, that might like to be interviewed…let me know!

I am absolutely honored that Darla took the time out to let me interview her!  Thank you Darla my friend…Your gardens always inspire me!

Until next time…  Happy Gardening!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

Social networking has played an important part in my adventure in growing year-round. I do believe I would have had a greenhouse eventually even if I wasn’t so active online in the field of gardening. Getting to know and connect with the gardeners online has truly added to my success in growing year-round.   When I envision the perfect veggie & bloom garden I see a beautiful glass house on that colorful blooming canvas.  This glass house is much like the beautiful photo one of my Facebook garden connection friends shared on her wall post recently.

I’m not sure how or when Debbie and I connected on Facebook but the one thing that comes to mind with our connection is the beautiful photos she shares and the encouraging words she always adds to my garden images.  I love this quote off of Debbie’s  Facebook Page :  ” If you have never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.” A week ago she had shared an image of her beautiful greenhouse that I had no idea was a part of her growing experience.   It was one of the most adorable working greenhouses that I had always imagined when I think of the  ‘perfect’  garden.   I quickly emailed her and asked ….. could I please add you to the ‘Growing4Seasons friends who Grow Year-Round’  network.   Graciously Debbie agreed and kindly answered a few of my questions I was dying to ask a fellow greenhouse owner.

Debbie tells me that her hubby built her greenhouse from a kit 13 yrs ago and they stopped heating it about two years ago because  it got to be too expensive.  It is inspiring to see the condition of this greenhouse and I’m quick to notice it is truly a treasure in her garden.   Debbie shares on her network her love for  gardening, collect vintage garden tools, collect garden seeds, read and cook.  They share their garden with 3 dogs, 2 cats and a flock of chickens and the grand children she has been blessed with.

My Interview with Debbie McMurry of D & D Acres

Bren : What garden zone do you live and grow in?

My greenhouse is located in Zone 6 in SE Kansas.

Bren: What made you decided to grow in your own greenhouse?

I wanted a greenhouse to start seeds of all kinds. Especially tomatoes and peppers for my husbands large vegetable garden.

Bren: What did you take in consideration when you decided to build a greenhouse of your own? Did you have a ‘reason’ you wanted a greenhouse of your own in your garden?

We had to pick a spot free of falling limbs from our many, large, old Oaks and have plenty of sunshine.

BREN : Tell me about your greenhouse – what made you decide on using wood / aluminum frame?

I liked the look of the old fashion glass greenhouses so looked through many catalogs before finding the company we ordered from. We ordered it from Sturdi-Built green houses in Oregon. They had all sizes and styles in pre made kits. It came in precut pieces of glass and red wood and a windowed door. Our greenhouse is 9 x 12. It has windows in the glass roof that opens automatically when it gets to hot. We put a gravel floor in it for humidty along with a wood sidewalk down the middle. Wooden potting tables built on both sides in it.

BREN : What do you use to heat your greenhouse?

We put a small apartment size propane heat stove for heat. Ran electric and water to it also.
BREN : what was the cost involved with this project?

The cost purchasing the greenhouse 13 yrs ago was $3,000 but worth every penny. And has held up great in our Kansas tornado winds.

Bren : Do you grow year-round in this greenhouse?

We have not heated it for about three years now due to the high heat expense but now thinking of starting it again.
I love growing seeds, having blooming geraniums and ferns to enjoy all winter in the greenhouse.

Bren: If you could give someone thinking about starting their own greenhouse any tips / ideas what would it be?

The important factors of a choosing a greenhouse to me is choosing the size for what you want to use it for and think of the kind of heat you would have to heat it.

I want to thank Debbie for sharing this information with us on Growing4Seasons.  Debbie doesn’t have a blog right now but tells me she is working on getting one online soon.  I think you would have LOTS of followers of that garden blog Debbie judging by the lovely images and inspiring garden information you share on your Facebook.   Keep use posted because I look forward to connecting with your blog.

Connect with Debbie at her Zone 6 / Garden Club on Facebook.

Something wonderful has come to my attention with social networking in the New Year.    I’ve noticed my ‘live stream’ has been showing some images of greenhouses and other tools used to grow year-round. You can imagine my excitement to find one of my Facebook garden connection sharing images of her new hoop house online this week. Hard to believe it was only a year ago I was talking to Glenda, my greenhouse partner about how lonely it felt on the network being the only two growing out of season.

When Diana’s hoop house images came across the Facebook feed last week I was quick to click on the fabulous images. To see what people are using across the country to grow their own veggies & blooms fascinates me. It is amazing to see all the different designs people who obviously love to grow are creating to make their dreams of growing anytime happen.   Diana is a wonderful contact on my Facebook garden network who always shares inspiring garden thoughts from her blog at Voice In the Garden

Not only does Diana share amazing images of nature on her blog she shares her love for growing year-round.Wonderful to read about the  heirloom seeds, and chemical-free vegetables the y grow and harvest.   I’ve learned so much about greenhouses, even though I own my own on this blog entry located at Voice In The Garden : Hoop House, High Tunnel, Polytunnel .

I asked Diana a few of the questions that she was so kind to answer for me.  I hope these thoughts and ideas will inspire you like they have me.

Bren : What garden zone is your greenhouse located in?

We are in zone 8.

Bren : What did you take in consideration when you decided to build a greenhouse of your own? Did you have a ‘reason’ you wanted a greenhouse of your own in your garden?

Much of this is in the blog, re: the limited location and space we had available. We have wanted a greenhouse for many years, but they are extremely expensive. When we read about the hoop houses (high tunnels) several years ago, we felt this would be a good alternative. Then when we met a gentleman who could supply some of the components and we decided it was in an affordable range, it seemed the appropriate time to do it.

Our main reason for wanting the greenhouse was to extend the growing season and house most of the vegetables I start from seed.

Bren: Tell me about your greenhouse – what made you decide on using wood / aluminum frame?

We wanted durability and a structure sound enough to withstand the winds we sometimes get in the winter.

Bren: What was the cost involved with this project?

We located a supplier in Washington, a 5 hour drive from our home, and from him we purchased (as stated in the article) the steel anchoring stubs, the 17 gauge bent steel bows, some of the bolts for attaching the metal, and the greenhouse-grade polyethylene for a 12’ x 20’ high tunnel/hoop house/greenhouse. That cost was $485.

Except for some of the major connectors, everything else was purchased at our local lumber and hardware. Expect prices to vary. We comparative shop lumber prices at three different outlets, additional screws, bolts, hinges, door latches and metal bracing. We found some lumber on sale; some was used that we already had on hand. It all greatly depends upon which part of the country one lives as to the cost. We estimate another $150-200 for the cost of additional materials.

Bren : What do you use to heat your greenhouse?

Since we have just completed the project, there has been no decision at this time as to whether we will use any heat. Our current daytime temperatures have been ranging in the low to mid 50’s and nighttime temperature above freezing. We’ll have to gauge that as we go.

Bren : Do you grow year-round in this greenhouse?

Our hope is to grow year-round or pretty close to it.

Bren : What are your favorite things to grow in the greenhouse?

Vegetables, vegetables and more vegetables, organic and heirloom, and I am looking forward to getting a Meyer’s lemon tree.

Bren : If you could give someone thinking about starting their own greenhouse any tips / ideas what would it be?

My number one advice would be to do a lot research first, and then make a PLAN: what is your budget; how do you plan on using the greenhouse, your individual requirements;

select the correct location; work from your drawing, and stick to the plan.

I want to thank Diana of Voice in the Garden who is growing year-round for sharing her experience with us.   Glenda and I are honored to add Diana and her beautiful greenhouse to our list of ‘Friends who Grow Year-Round’.

One of the exciting things about garden networking is meeting the amazing people who make that community grow.  During one of the #gardenchat events on Twitter I had the privileged of ‘tweeting’ Sammy of Samsterland : Going Green with the Samster Website.   It isn’t that often I meet garden enthusiast online who own their own greenhouse.  Excited to make the ‘greenhouse’ connection with Sammy I quickly got a hold of him and asked if he would check out Glenda and my site here at Growing4Seasons. I’m honored today to add Sammy to our ‘Friends Who Grow Year-Round’ link here today.   Sammy, who lives on a small farm (30 acres) which his grandfather purchased in late 1930′s ,  says one of my new years resolutions is to keep his  site updated throughout the growing season this year.  I hope we can all stop over to his site and encourage him to keep on sharing!

About ‘The Samsters’ Greenhouse

From Building the Greenhouse : The Samsterland 1/3/3011 by Sam Langley

Sam Langley of GoingGreenWithSamster.com

I looked at a number of designs out on the internet as well as some books I had on sheds and outbuildings and finally selected one I liked from a book I had purchased at Lowe’s.  Although I liked their design I changed it up to suit my tastes as well as my pocketbook.  They used real redwood for the frame and lots of cedar shingles for the trim, both of which are really expensive where I live.

So, the following pics document the building of my greenhouse.  It’s 12′x16′ building on a perimeter wall foundation and pea gravel floor.  The walls and roof are covered with polycarbonate panels and the door is an old storm door I got from my mom’s house after she remodeled.  Hope you like it. Enjoy.

I asked Sam a few questions about his Greenhouse Adventures

Bren : “How long have you been gardening?”

Sammy : “My Mom and Dad both grew up on a farm and some of my fondest childhood memories are of visiting my grandparents and spending time outdoors in my grandfather’s garden.  I however, grew up in the city and spent most of my adult life living in the city with no garden.  Around seven years ago both my Father and Grandmother passed away and I decided that I wanted to keep the family farm.  So, I moved out to the country and about three years ago I caught the gardening bug.  Each year I have been scaling out my garden and one day I hope to have a working farm that will allow me to quit my day job.”

Bren : “What are your favorite things to grow in your greenhouse?”

Sammy : “I’ve had my greenhouse about three months now and my favorite plants to grow are the ones I can eat.  The lettuce I have growing is the best lettuce I have ever grown.  There is no dirt or dust on the leaves and there are no bugs eating it for me.  I can practically eat the lettuce right from the plant without washing.  I also have some nice flowering plants growing in my greenhouse.  My Bougenvilla and Cyclamen Periscum have been blooming non-stop for the past few months.  One of the coolest looking plants I have is the Purple Passion.  It really looks great when you hold it up to the light.”

Bren : “Do you grow year round?”

Sammy :” This will be my first year to grow year round and the only way I have managed to do that is by having a greenhouse.”

Bren: “What zone do you live in?”

Sammy :”  I live just outside of Canton, Texas.  It looks like it’s 7b or 8a.”

Bren: “Where did you find the supplies needed to build your own greenhouse?”

Sammy : “I purchased the concrete, re-bar and wood at Canton Lumber, my favorite local lumber store.  I bought the polycarbonate panels, cedar slats and Baer waterproofing redwood stain at Home Depot.  I used metal to wood screws to attach the polycarbonate panels to the frame and I bought those and the pea gravel at Canton Hardware, my favorite local hardware store.”

Bren :”Would you mind listing the expense to make a greenhouse like the one you grow in.”

Sammy:”The greenhouse cost right around $2000 to build.  I have a bit more than that into it now, after spending money on plants, my Aquaponics setup and other odds and ends.  I went on a spending spree buying plants on clearance in late October and November.  A lot of the tropical’s I bought were in bad shape but I was paying anywhere from 75 cents to $3.00 per plant so I didn’t really mind.  I figured I could get them into decent shape in no time.”

Bren: “What do you use for heating?   Fan?  Circulation?”

Sammy:”After purchasing a bunch of tropical plants for my greenhouse in early November, I began to get worried when the weather started turning colder.  So, I purchased a portable electric heater from Lowes that has a timer and a thermostat.  Starting out, I would turn the heater on at 80°F at 8PM, set the timer for 12 hours and walk away. A few cold mornings later I realized that the heater wasn’t doing the job.  The heat from the heater was going straight up and leaking out of the top and sides of the greenhouse through the ridges and furrows in the corrugated polycarbonate panels.  My solution for this was to plug all of the furrows with small 3”x3” pieces of bubble wrap wadded up so they would completely fill each furrow.  I also purchased an oscillating stand fan and pointed it directly at the heater.  Now my greenhouse never drops below 46°F even on the coldest nights.”

Bren : “Do you have any tips you would like to share with those who are thinking about building their own greenhouse?”

Sammy : “If you’re planning on building your own greenhouse the best tip I can offer is to plan ahead.  When I start a new building project I have a tendency to jump right in and start building.  Planning ahead is really important especially with regards to location.  With the sun being lower on the southern horizon this time of year, that nice large Elm tree to the South of my greenhouse keeps me from getting full sun the entire day.  It turned out ok for me because right now the tree has no leaves.  I get an ample about of sunlight but I could always use more, especially on those tomato plants.  Also, don’t forget that “measure twice, cut once” expression, it’s a real money saver!!”

You can follow Samsterland over at his Twitter account where he shares his greenhouse and garden.

Thank you Sammy for sharing your greenhouse with us.  I look forward to following you on the gardening networks and hope you will keep us posted on your growing experiences.  

IF you are someone or know someone who grows year-round Glenda and I would loved to hear from you!