| The first greenhouse I saw was one my mother | | | | person could have. The list could range from a |
| made from an old window. She dug a hole in the | | | | version of my mother's greenhouse (old window |
| ground with her garden spade. It was maybe six | | | | over a hole in the ground) to a full-sized building. It |
| inches deep. She put tomato seedlings in soup | | | | can have water and electricity or be close enough |
| cans into the hole and then laid a great big old | | | | to water and electrical outlets. A lot of the |
| window over the hole. The seedlings were safe | | | | decisions regarding the size depend on the |
| from predators and winds and sudden cold. The | | | | available space you have and the cost involved. I |
| sun warmed the plants through the window and | | | | would rather, for instance, spend a little more to |
| they thrived. | | | | have a stand-alone garden shed. A lean-to shed is |
| In the middle of the summer, when it is pouring | | | | cheaper as it uses the side of your house as part |
| rain, or when I need to work on an experimental | | | | of its structure. But the downsides are too |
| project, I often wish I had a greenhouse. (Okay | | | | demanding. It would only get sun for part of the |
| by experimental project, I mean some notion I | | | | day, it would be hard to ventilate, the |
| dreamed up and want to try out.) I was browsing | | | | temperature would be uneven, and it would also |
| through books and catalogs over the weekend | | | | be in danger of too much precipitation drizzling |
| and thought that a greenhouse would be lovely to | | | | down from the roof of the main building. |
| have. So for the next few months I am going to | | | | The smallest you should even consider whether |
| plan my greenhouse. | | | | you go with a stand-alone building or not is a |
| First the checklist: what do I want my greenhouse | | | | structure that is 6 feet by 12 feet. This gives you |
| to do for me?o Provide enough growing space for | | | | bench space and storage space. Try to position it |
| starting all the plants I wanto Fit unobtrusively into | | | | so that you get all day sun with the morning sun |
| my existing landscape | | | | hitting the east windows in your garden shed. |
| The second checklist could be very long because | | | | For now, just take a look in your garden area and |
| it is a list of the types of greenhouses that a | | | | see if you can find a spot for your greenhouse. |