Thank you for responding, I think I was unclear. The "portable" one wouldn't be 8" high total, I was thinking I'd need about 6-8" of soil, the box would have to be taller than that, of course. My concern is that being off the ground, the soil will be too cold from the air underneath. As to what I'd use it for, I was thinking starting seeds mainly and maybe growing things like lettuce, spinach etc, earlier and later. The more I think about it, the more I probably like the "permanent" box next to the trellis better. But, now I'm wondering if it will be too hot for lettuce and other leafy's there, even with the top off, on the concrete. That patio can get pretty hot as it faces east and that spot gets sun until about 5 p.m. This stuff is all trial and error for me given the spaces I have to work with. Your spot for lettuce intrigues me. I never thought under a tree would work for any kind of veggies. I do have a spot next to the patio, in my second picture you can barely see it behind the curve of pavers and potted tomaotes, where currently two dead dogwoods stand that are coming out this spring. The neighbors hickory tree shades that area and I've never had any idea what would grow there, given that in the middle of the growing season it's fairly shady a good portion of the day. Thanks again, I appreciate any advice.

I bought a diy greenhouse kit after much research on the web comparing structures and prices, as I had a certain budget but I wanted something that would add to the beauty and value of my home. Some friends put it together for me, set it up attaching it to my home in one weekend. It looks gorgeous! I opted for a redwood frame and tempered glass mainly for the looks. I am not an expert on greenhouses and this is my first real greenhouse, but I can say that the fact that it is a lean to helps with heating costs in the winter as one side is attached to my home. My home electric bill last winter was lower and unless the temperatures went really low I did not need to turn on the heater in the greenhouse to keep my plants warm. I bought the kit at mcgreenhouses.com, after spending weeks dissecting the web. They were very helpful and gave us all the information we needed to set up the structure properly, as none of us were experts. I am really happy with it, I can grow my veggies year round and I can sit in it soaking up the winter sun reading a good book as it spacious enough!

YOur pickering is beautiful and loaded with tons of flower spikes. I hope you get fruits this year! Also, your jakfruit looks healthy and has nice growth, too! I wished I could say the jakfruit you sent was 4' but it's only half that size. Though, I still find it to be a very handsome seedling! And it's finally starting to spit out a new leaf lol I still can't get over how very tasty your violet de bordeaux looks! AS a matter of fact, I look forward to trying one of these spectacular treats, though, that might be a few years. But maybe I might get lucky and find them at whole foods? In any case, this does very much encourage me to make the trip out to one green world and purchase one. Thanks for recommending this variety ! -Bo

Unfortunately, unless you are willing to spend significant money on a greenhouse and lots of money every month when it's cool/cold to heat it, you are not going to be able to get the results you want. I live in a much more temperate environment (Zone 8), and quickly realized the first year that I would be growing $20 tomatoes if I wanted production during the winter. Now, I keep the greenhouse heated with an electric, radiant heater and maintain the temperature at about 38-40F. It doesn't cost a huge amount for electricity, but it does protect my tender plants that have to be brought in each fall. In the spring, when things start warming up, I start my seeds in trays with domes that sit on thermostatically controlled heat mats. As the seedlings start growing, I remove the domes, and then turn off the heat mats a little later. As for my yard, I rarely buy annuals. There are many colorful perennials, particularly day lilies, that don't require the work of planting each year and the recurring expense.