little greenhouses?

Does anyone have any experience w/ this type of greenhouse - heard of or used yourself? I would like a way to start spring seeds early & to start my own tomato plants as well as broccoli/cauliflower. Don't have room inside & little room outside (plus collapsable for when not in use) & affordable so could be a solution. My last frost is typically in March so would be using as early as Jan. I know I'd have to do the tricks of warm bricks & water bottles inside to keep warm through the nights. Any thoughts or experience w/ these?

Thanks!

Here's the link: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgt/R-100494630/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I'm thinking along similar lines. I like the one you show, but I've been looking at this one at Target.... I'm having trouble with the link function, so copy and paste the whole thing below into your browser...

http://www.target.com/Misco-Home-Garden-4-Shelf-Greenhouse/dp/B000S6OH1O/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=greenhouse&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-5&qid=1279663135&rh=&searchRank=price&id=Misco%20Home%20Garden%204-Shelf%20Greenhouse&node=1038576

Any advice from people who have used similar greenhouses would be appreciated.

I'm not sure and no I've never tried both , but 2 thoughts come to mind, first how would you regulate temp in such a small area and second the clear plastic one I think should be muted instead of clear. At least that is the advice of a gardener I see at the farmer's market, he said the glass or plastic should always be softened not clear. Maybe there are customer reviews to read?

I've had experience with the shelving unit one with a plastic cover. I had to keep taking the cover on and off and although it wasn't really difficult, it was a chore. I lost some plants on the top shelf on a day when it was too cool to have the cover off, but the sun warmed things up too much.

I would think the one that covers the whole 4x4 bed would work better. Someone on this list had a similar one, I think in the UK. As for a heater, here's a really nifty idea: http://www.heatstick.com/_KanHeet01.htm
The instructions are somewhere on the web. I'm planning on making a couple myself for the small greenhouse I've ordered.

I hate to dismiss someone's idea, but you're not going to get any more heat from a candle by adding a contraption that's supposed to "dissipate" or "radiate" that heat. A candle will produce no more and no less heat either way.

Not to say a candle would not produce enough heat for a tiny little space. When I lived in Nebraska it was a common thing to recommend a candle in a "car emergency kit" for adding some heat to your car when you were stranded in a blizzard. Obviously you need to crack a window while it's lit.

It would probably be safer to run a short string of outdoor lights - think Christmas tree lights - into the greenhouse. Don't use the new LED's, they don't produce much heat and would not accomplish the goal. Be certain the lights aren't touching anything combustible (or meltable) and use an outdoor rated extension cord if necessary. This is frequently recommend for people in borderline WHZ for citrus trees, lay out the lights on the ground and cover the tree with a blanket (over supports) during a frost/freeze.

It seems like a heat mat made for encouraging sprouting plants would also add quite a bit of heat for a tiny greenhouse, not sure how much, you would each probably have to try it and see if it was enough for your situation.

Just a few thoughts. Oh, and you might consider a tiny heater designed to run off a solar panel - there are several made. I have no experience with these, but I have been searching a bit since I've been planning my own greenhouse.

Another option that may be practical for some folks is a soil heating cable. I set up one box with the covered wagon hoops, clear plastic and heating cable this past spring, and I'm so excited about it that I'll be setting up several more for next spring.

I had a meter on the cable, and I figure it costs me 10¢ a day to run.

This is the one I bought, and I love it.
If you search around you may find it for less, as I think I paid around $180-

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/Springhouse-Clear/productinfo/HG-FHSP-C/


Assembly video for a pop up greenhouse similiar to the Springhouse clear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da7SboFbCY0



I would love to build one like this one day
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32159773@N07/4200330868/

1chichi - re: the "someday greenhouse" !

How long have you had the one you love?

The one shown earlier in the thread, with four shelves and plastic, I found suitable for outings during the day on cool days, but that was about it. The plastic cover on mine was also not at all durable - the zipper broke the first season.

1chichi wrote:
I would love to build one like this one day
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32159773@N07/4200330868/

It's beautiful! The lettuce you grew in it would be very expensive!

martha wrote:1chichi - re: the "someday greenhouse" !

How long have you had the one you love?

The one shown earlier in the thread, with four shelves and plastic, I found suitable for outings during the day on cool days, but that was about it. The plastic cover on mine was also not at all durable - the zipper broke the first season.

I got it this spring, because I tried to start seedlings in a sunny window w/ wal-mart plant lights and that failed.
The little greenhouse kept the plants protected from the elements and the sunlight allowed the seedlings to flourish.
I also have a 3 drawer iris cart in there to store gardening supplies.

I like the roominess in that. What was the coldest temp outside when you used it?

I think that would be around 27 degrees.
On really cold nights, I covered the small seedlings w/ those
clear disposable plastic domes that come on store-bought cakes and party platters.