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Greenhouses & Garden Structures

Best Greenhouse on a Budget besides HFGH

15 years ago

I have about $550.00 to spend on a greenhouse. Since I have had bad luck with the HFGH, I am thinking of something better. Are there any other greenhouses you could recommened that you have used? I would like to stay around a 6x8, but am open to other sizes. James

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Comments (10)

oakhill (zone 9A, Calif.)
15 years ago
The "best" hobby sized greenhouse depends on what you want to grow and when. For simple season extension, there are much less expensive options than the HFGH. For year around production, and with polycarbonate panels, the HFGH is indeed the least expensive, if not the best quality , as you mention. Just narrow down what you really want to accomplish with a greenhouse and we can give more specific ideas.
kudzu9
15 years ago
Unfortunately, you may have trouble finding a quality kit of decent size for that amount of money, which explains the popularity of the HFGH, despite its quality problems. However, if you are at all handy, you could build something nice from scratch with the funds you have.
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I have built a few greenhouses in my time. I have to honestly say, the HFGH is the flimsiest, cheapest made aluminum-framed greenhouse I have built. That's not to say without some modifications it won't be a really good GH. The point is, you DO get what you pay for. You would have to spend another $1000 to make it as good as some of the other ones I've worked on. The suggestions have been made that it only takes another $100 worth of modifications to make it as good are (in my opinion, sorry) utterly foolish Some examples: 1. The thickness of the metal. 2. The bracing (is it hollow or solid?). 3. Do the pieces fit tight? (no matter how well you build the HFGH, it's just not as tightly put together). 4. quality of the fasteners, hinges, etc. (the HFGH doors are the crappiest I've ever seen). These are just a few that come to mind. I could go on. Now these might seem trivial to lots of people, but they aren't to some. I'm not bashing the HFGH, in fact, I just built one. My point is "You DO GET what you pay for" The HFGH is worth the $500 you pay for it. And others ARE worth the $2000 you pay for them. One last note. I'm in the process of picking out a GH for an elderly lady in town. She needs something sturdy, well built, that she can use with ease. The first time one of the HFGH doors came off in her hand, It'd probably stop her ticker on the spot. Ã¶Â¿Ã¶ ~ Tom
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Your $10,000 budget is the same as my own was, and presumably includes fitting it out? I'm asking, because if you want to use it year round, you will need to allocate at least a third if not more of your budget just for your foundation, utility lines, heater, fans, electrical wiring, outlets, fixtures, benches, etc. It really depends on what you want to do with it. I wanted to use mine primarially to house tropical fish year round in the blistering summers to sub-zero winters of the Midwest, so opted for higher quality and virtually climate controlled, but smaller than I really would have liked. My 12 X 16 Cross County GH cost about $6,000 delivered and I spent another $4,000 fitting it out. However, that included a heavily insulated, footed foundation, floor drains, a sump, finished quarry tile floor, dual combustion direct vent heater, thermostatically controlled exhaust fan/powered intake vents, ceiling fans, hot water heater for a large commercial SS sink, lots of electrical outlets, multiple water faucets, etc. If it had a bathroom, I could just about live in it. But that was to accomodate MY desires/needs for what I wanted to use my GH for. We each have our own. So the best advice I can give would be for you to decide what YOU want to use a GH for, and go from there, because $10,000 would buy a huge commercial clear vinyl covered hoop house you could drive an 18 wheeler through. But it would be striclty seasonal use with no foundation to speak of and at best, a water faucet. But first and foremost, look to your foundation and UG utility lines because you can always add extra accessories to your GH later, but once the structure is up, retrofitting the foundation or UG utilities would be virtually impossible without literally taking it down and starting over. BTW: The above costs were all DIY labor. If we had needed to contract it out, the costs would have been at least triple.
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cowgirl2
15 years ago
Here's a 6'x8' framed on 2' centers. Very inexpensive and flexible.

[IMG]http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff134/blaamand/Greenhouse/GH-18-APR.jpg[/IMG]
birdwidow
15 years ago
kudzu is right. For $550.00, you could buy the hangars, treated 2 x 4's and penetrating oil stain to seal it, then erect a very sturdy GH frame, perhaps along the lines of one of those gambriel garden sheds, then cover it over with heavy plastic until you dig up some additional scratch to replace the plastic with polycarb and in the end, have a very nice little GH that would out-perform and outlast an HFGH by miles.

Maybe not all so little either. If you have space for it, build it at least 8 X 16, to take full advantage of standard lengths of lumber. Make your sidewalls at least 6 ft. high with a 12 ft. peak and you will have the means to beat the worst of all GH issues- the summer heat that can turn a small, low roofed GH into an oven.
cactusfreak
15 years ago
Do you already have a HF?
I sugguest you just reinforce it and buy a better quality panel.
Unless it is badly damaged from wind or something.
JamesY40
Original Author
15 years ago
My greenhouse frame is pretty much intact. I thought about buying better quality panels, but don't know where to buy them. James
kudzu9
15 years ago
jamesy-
If you're looking for panels to replace the HF ones, or are considering building your own GH, there are many sources. Just do a Google search on "twinwall" and you will see...
ponderosaq
15 years ago
I'm not sure of current prices but do check out Turner Greenhouses. Some of their models can be purchased with plastic covering and you can convert to fiberglass laterif you want to. I have a fiberglass model and love it. After having a homebuilt fiberglass covered one for years and being happy with it it was an easy choice for me due to financial issues.They have a webiste. Hopefully shipping wouldn't be so pricey these day to rule Turner out for you.
PQ
arturoh
15 years ago
This is related to another post I just made. If you need cooling for a cheap greenhouse, what would you use? I hear cooling pads on one end and a fan on the other pulling the air through the greenhouse is most desirable. I am having terrible trouble finding a small size cooling pad in my case 3 square feet.
haller
15 years ago
I have a 6'x8' Rion Silverline, which can be purchased for nearly your budget price if you hunt around for the best pricing. For example... even with $50 shipping this comes in just right for your pricing. (link below)

It's a nice little thing... it was a bit of a pain to install until I really really loosened up the bolts... keep them extremely loose and then its a breeze.

It's only been up 6 months but I'm really happy with how sturdy it is. Small but practical.

Here is a link that might be useful: Good price, click here (Amazon $499)

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