The Greenhouse

OK, so my wife wanted a greenhouse. I have to admit, I really didn't want one in the beginning, but I have really come to enjoy the thing, though the road to where we are today has been a test of patience.

The greenhouse is a Rion, and is the Prestige model, 8'6" by 12' with 8' of interior height. I DO NOT recommend this greenhouse or any Rion for that matter. They are of plastic construction, which we knew, and even though they come with a 7 year warranty, at least in my opinion thusfar, of questionable durability.

We received the greenhouse in December of 2007. It took me a day to prepare and level the site we had selected. It took about another two and one-half days to fully construct the greenhouse...the first time.

It seems that my wife told me, or that I read, that the Rion greenhouses were supposed to withstand winds of 75 mph. Well, a windy thunderstorm a couple of months after construction must have had 76 mph winds. The greenhouse puffed up like a big balloon and we found pieces scattered for nearly a quarter mile downwind. After examining the remains we determined that the foundation that was provided with the kit was the most likely reason for the failure.

The foundation that they gave us consisted of black interlocking plastic pieces about three feet in length by maybe 6" or 8" tall and 2" deep and open on one side creating a "C" shape. The pieces are buried into the ground to nearly the top with the idea being the weight of the dirt piled into the "C" portion and piled against the plastic members will create a stable foundation. One Texas thunderstorm proved that that foundation design was meant for more peaceful climes than the one where we reside.

So, we took down what was left standing and ditched the black plastic fiasco of a foundation. Instead we switched to what we should have done in the first place - concrete footers. I dug post holes at each corner and in the mddle of each side and also added one under the front doors. I dug the trenches anywhere from 8" to about one foot deep and about 8"-10" in width. We also elected to construct a smallish porch area. I added rebar to the whole thing and we called out a concrete truck and filled 'er up. We got greenboard 2x4's and bolted them to the concrete to serve as our new foundation. If this sucker fails now, it will not be due to the foundation.

The reconstruction went very quickly and we had it back up in less than a day. Now the biggest issue is the front doors. Again, this issue has to do with wind. If the wind blows hard from either the north or the south, which it always does where we live, the doors can and will blow open from the cheesily designed door stops that came with the kit. After an attempt at bolstering the design with some wood pieces screwed into the threshold, it was quickly determind that the easiest remedy is a 5 gallon bucket filled with rocks and placed in front of the door at the end of the day...

So, my bottom line is, I love the greenhouse for what it offers...that being a place to grow a few winter veggies that I wouldn't be able to otherwise, overwinter plants and to get an earlier start on spring gardening through seeding and growing plants in the dead of winter. It is really nice to go out on a cold, sunny winter day and step into the greenhouse's 80 degree warmth. But, if I had it to do over again, I would shell out a few dollars more and get one with a metal frame and at least partially of glass construction. I think for the long term that would pay off.