What made you get a Planta Greenhouse?
I decided to purchase and build the Planta Greenhouse after completing an internet search. I needed something large and high, and while we have some snow, nothing close to what the building was rated for, so overall strength was not an issue.
What competitors did you consider before purchasing from Planta Greenhouses?
Growspan, Janco, Harbor Freight
Why did you choose to buy from Planta Greenhouses?
I needed a higher inside height and considered overall strength, although we don't get that much snow, but we do get high winds.
What do you grow inside your greenhouse?
Bananas, sweet peppers, tomatoes, some flowers, and a small tree for the neighbor. I added side walls to increase height for banana plants.
How did your Planta Greenhouse improve your gardening experience?
It provided a great place to grow plants in an environment I could control in the winter. Insulation in the sides and floor permit tropical plants to survive -15F temperatures with appropriate heating.
What was your experience like buying from Planta Greenhouses?
It was easy to purchase, however, I did not completely read the website and later discovered I qualified for a military discount. I had a missing part and called customer service and they sent the part in a few days.
What's your favourite thing about the Planta Greenhouse?
Very convenient. I had it built off the lower back deck so I can access it from the lower level of the house.
What would you say to a person considering purchasing a Planta Greenhouse?
It is a nice structure if you are into gardening and would like to continue during the winter. Be prepared to scratch your head during the assembly and make sure you have help.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Due to the slope in the backyard, a platform/deck was constructed to provide a level area close to the house. Side walls were constructed to increase the height by two feet. When finished, insulation was installed. The basic floor was covered with one inch insulation and then a layer of 1⁄2 exterior plywood for the interior floor. Because of the added height, standard screen doors were used in place of the kit provided doors.
The basic frame construction was completed in the heated garage after the platform was completed, luckily it was a mild December during construction outside. The construction using the provided documentation was not fun. Use of the online videos helped but was still slow going. There was one piece of polycarbonate that had minor damage that didn’t impact anything, so it was used. One small metal piece was missing and was replaced in a few days. Great customer support.
The first winter was interesting as heating the greenhouse was an issue. I had two propane heaters, a 28K BTU and 18K BTU. These maintained the temperature at 65-70 degrees when the outside temperature was -15F. The major issue was condensation inside the greenhouse running down the polycarbonate to the aluminum flashing that was installed between the wood and the metal frame. The cold aluminum then froze the water along the frame.
During the summer, I grew peppers, tomatoes, and a few banana plants in the greenhouse. (I take most of the banana plants outside during the summer.) The sweet peppers continued into January before I pulled them out.
The second winter went much better as I added a dehumidifier to control the condensation. Still used the two propane heaters. This spring, the 110v temporary power was replaced by the permanent 220v line and a 7500W electric heater was installed. I have three RING cameras in the greenhouse so I can monitor conditions. I also have an internet-connected temperature sensor with alarms for both too low or too high conditions.
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