Advice about choosing a backyard greenhouse

[Yardfarm]

I'm a gardening newbie, and recently I've been thinking about adding a greenhouse to my backyard. That way I can start seedlings earlier and grow some veggies and flowers I like. I've been reading a lot of posts and looking at lots of popular models, but the more I read, the more confused I get. I figured I'd ask for advice from anyone with experience!

I'm really interested in the Backyard Discovery cedarwood greenhouse. It looks really nice and comes with built-in shelves and vents, which seems convenient for a beginner like me. But I'm a little worried. Will the wood warp or get moldy over time if it's outside all year? I really have no experience with this, so I don't want to mess it up.

I have also seen many people recommending aluminum frame greenhouses with polycarbonate panels, like the ones from Veikous and Garvee. From what I have read, aluminum frames are sturdy and rust-resistant, and the panels let in plenty of light while keeping the heat inside. At the same time, there are some downsides. The panels can become brittle or crack after a few years, and the vents can loosen or break in strong winds.

Has anyone used these brands, or do you have other greenhouse suggestions for beginners? I would love to hear real experiences, such as how long they have lasted, how much maintenance they need, and which type is really worth getting for someone like me. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[DiggersJo]

My last greenhouse was way back, but was aluminium and I had it over 30 years, I left it in fine fettle when I sold the house .

 

[Oliver Buckle]

There was an old cedar and glass greenhouse here when I arrived and I bought a smaller aluminium and polycarbonate one some years ago.
The cedar holds up well to the weather , but is starting to move slightly leaving gaps, probably a better foundation would help. The glass panes are easily broken, I think agricultural glass is a good bit thinner than window glass, and I have had a couple of the larger ones blow out in bad storms, this must have happened before I came as well as there are a few replaced with plastic. As I am getting older and a little less steady I find myself holding on to things as I walk through it, the idea of falling through a glass pane is not a pleasant one.
The ally/poly one was much cheaper than glass equivalents and light enough to only need a minimal foundation, but it also needs attaching to it well, my brother in law described seeing one that wasn't attached bounce all the way across a field of allotments in a high wind.
I once lost a roof panel when I left the door open in a high wind, but it had just flexed and slotted back in, the wall panels flex sometimes when it is very windy, they don't break, but are quite noisy, you wouldn't want it next to the house.
It is warmer than glass and I have a small heater made from an upturned terracotta flower pot with a candle under it that is sufficient to keep it frost free. I was able to drill a hole in the roof and put a copper pipe from the flower pot hole as a chimney, it got very wet inside before I did that, you couldn't drill glass of course.
Raised shelving in the ally house is inaccessible to rodents when germinating peas and beans, their little claws grip on wood and you need to be a bit more devious.
Over all the appearance of the cedar and glass is much more decorative, the ally/poly more cost effective and practical, in my experience,

 

[GFTL]

My 10 year old greenhouse is made of 2x4 untreated pine. The wood looks like new with no signs of rot. That's interesting because the first few years I used it for aquaponics so it was very humid. Covered with 6 mil greenhouse plastic. Holds up good but I replace it about every 5 years due to discoloring. I'm in 6b so I can bring my seedlings out of my basement to the greenhouse to continue growing and hardening off until they go out around mid May. Around June it gets too hot to grow much in there. My months of GH use are March-June and September- December. Building a wood framed greenhouse also allows for easy expansion. Let me know if you decide to go this route and I'll offer more suggestions. But if you have lots of money, aluminum and polycarbonate panels would be my choice.

 

[Martin Mikulcik]

Our main greenhouse was built with concrete block walls going up 4ft on 3 sides and backfilled with earth to give the house substantial ground heat. Then they used home built rebar trusses and standard plastic. I can't say it's beginner friendly, but it's older than me and still like new. Only cost 2000$ way back when

We've used kits before from steel tube i wasn't real impressed with but are probably ok

You better like welding if you go with rebar, my brother just completed a second rebar greenhouse above ground and i want to say he was welding it for couple weeks

 

[GFTL]

Our main greenhouse was built with concrete block walls going up 4ft on 3 sides and backfilled with earth to give the house substantial ground heat. Then they used home built rebar trusses and standard plastic. I can't say it's beginner friendly, but it's older than me and still like new. Only cost 2000$ way back when

We've used kits before from steel tube i wasn't real impressed with but are probably ok

You better like welding if you go with rebar, my brother just completed a second rebar greenhouse above ground and i want to say he was welding it for couple weeks

I also want to mention with wood frames it's easier to attached things like benches, lights, shelving, etc.

 

[Martin Mikulcik]

You better like welding if you go with rebar, my brother just completed a second rebar greenhouse above ground and i want to say he was welding it for couple weeks

Pictured 20ftx72

 

[Tundra20]

with the weather we been having good idea to think about extra bracing we had ice storm many here in the area didnt makit
and also adding a heat source

 

[GFTL]

I gave up on winter growing. Just use my greenhouse to extend seasons and hardening off. Zone 6b To cold in January and February. Too hot in July and August.

 

[Camelotorki]

I’d pick something with good airflow and panels that can handle your local weather. I also made sure mine was easy to vent so seedlings didn’t cook on warm spring days.