Tempted by portable greenhouses

[pegkerr]

I'm tempted to get this portable greenhouse.


Figure it would be useful for all the flats I'm starting, hardening off, etc. Or would I really use it enough to justify the expense? $57 or so with shipping. Any of you gardeners use anything like it? Or should I stick to something smaller, like this? Any idea where to look for something like this locally, Twin Citians, so I don't have to pay icky internet shipping charges?

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

Completely off-subject, but did you finally manage to get through the weekend without any sick kids?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes, amazingly! No sick kids! I break my seven week streak!

I could get used to this!

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

I find the plastic ones can be hard to clean, and fog up a lot on the inside if the pots are kept properly moist.

That said... I've never tried the larger size you link to.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

I'm seriously unconvinced. To me, it looks too expensive and too cheap, if that makes any sense. It's way too much to pay for a flimsy set-up, but the price is suspiciously low for a set-up that's well-engineered and durable.

It's one of those products that I would only buy after talking to a fellow gardener whose opinion and experience I knew who had used the model(s) I was considering.

galacticvoyeur has had considerable success starting seeds, and I believe Terry Garey has, too. Then again, Toad Hall had a front porch that was useful for hardening off seedlings once they were ready to move out of the front hall.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Both examples look to be something one could put together without too much effort with some metal shelving and some shower curtains. Might be a cheap way to give the idea a try before investing in a more expensive product.

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

Whenever the product photo shows an adult crouching down inside, I'm always convinced that the real thing is smaller than I'm imagining.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

You're just learning to do seed starting, and more equipment won't make you better at it. You need experience and that will come for free.

K.

[mmmgood.livejournal.com]

apologies for such a late reply, hopefully you haven't purchased anything yet. Best thing is to ask yourself what it is your are looking for. The product that was shown wouldn't count as a greenhouse, but somewhere to harden off your starts. I'm the LJ users husband and a semi-professional farmer in the twin cities - anyway back to the subject - I have a few products from the same company that I have used in the house to start my seeds, and with the use of strip lights they worked out well. I have a portable cold-frame which I used outside and didn't last because of the squirrels - they'll eat just about anything. A wooden cold-frame can be built cheaply and would enable you to plant lettuce and carrots at this time. For something bigger you could look into a hoop-house made using pvc pipe, rebar & plastic 6mil sheeting, eliot coleman's four season harvest will help.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

No, I hadn't purchased yet. Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, I'm thinking of something to shelter plants I'm hardening off. I'm still hoping for a further sale at Menards and am holding off for now.