I'm concidering turning my deck into a greenhouse for winter. Free up my actual house in winter time... plus, so much cleaner working out in the greenhouse. asking now as it'll take me till the fall to get everything set up

Question is, what all would I need to make this work? I could easily keep the framing up year round. It IS just a rental, I want something portable. I have some extra thick plastic wrap, my parents used it on their basement to keep the air out. Its about 1/5th " thick I can use that, I have a heater that can be placed out there as well. but not sure what to do in order to get good air circulation. unless I keep the dec doors open and use the house air to flow through.

I dont know if this can work, but its a great sounding idea. Also, looking into purchasing a small greenhouse, ready made to place on the deck, rather than turn the entire deck into a room. Few options, just would like any tips and suggestions.

Our temps here rarly get below 17F usually hover around 32-40 F crazy that just ten years ago we'd get down to -20F. we may get the occasion little burst down that low, but the last time I remember was 4 years ago. Just thought I'd put the average winter temps if that make any difference in suggestions

Betty, that would be a ***warm*** idea! You can purchase ventilation fans on the cheap that has a built-in thermostat in them and have it blow opposite directions without reversing the fans. I got one from Home Depot but we use that for our bedrooms when the outside air gets colder than our bedroom during the summer. It can be used on the reverse for recirculating air in your green house. It comes with a pair of fan. If you let one fan blow in one direction and the other one opposite it, I think you will have good circulation. Fans don't consume much power, almost same or less than a 50 watt bulb but depends on model and strength of air flow.

already talked to my dad about building the frame for it, hes willing... but just wants to be sure I'm going to continue renting here for awhile before he takes it on.

I've also looked into redy made greenhouses, just to see if what I can find will fit the area I have. I think that would be a smarter idea... easier to pack up and take with me.

But, with the way this years starting off, may have to use a warm greenhouse year round. we get a great day of weather then drop back to near winter conditions. 80 degrees on day down to 40 the next. frustrating. I want summer!!!!

Betty: Over here, I'm wishing it is winter already. Too much heat that I can't work for long in the garden. But then we need the hot summers to have good tasting fruits. Redi-made greenhouses are more portable. If the fasteners are scew types, they are a lot easier to assemble and dissamble for a very slow working person like me. Regards, Joe.

I'm just in southern bc... usually by now we have sun, or at least more decent temps. Usually by now I have my garden (veggies) started... and I cant even get out to do that yet. I hate when we get a late start to spring and summer. It throws so much off. Heck last year by the time frosts started my parents have several hundred green tomatos. sun just never had a chance to get everything ripe.

Send some california heat north!!! I'll send you our cool temps! (54 degrees right now, windy and bone chilling)

Betty: I wish that could happen. But if you or others wanted the tip on how to quickly ripen your garden tomatoes well ahead of the coming frost, just say so and will post an article about it in the non-citrus section.

Another thing to think about is what it will cost to heat your greenhouse to the proper temp and keep it that way. Here is a calculator that can help you figure that out.

http://www.firstrays.com/heater_calculator.htm

This will probably be the most expensive part of the whole project.

I am going to use wood to heat mine as I have a free supply. If I had to buy it it could get rather expensive.

the calulatoor wont work.

If I atach it to the house, I know it would add to the heating bill, but I keep the rest of the house so cold. In fact, last year, I didn't have heat at all.

I rent, heat is included, so... if I dont heat the rest of the house, I can ustify heating more of a space.

I do have a whole bedroom, its what I'm using now, I just would like to free that up. So, really looking into my options

BURRRRRRR...
I have my heat set it 68°F. Even then I am bundled up in sweats and a jacket, sometimes even a blanket. I am on one of the highest costing electric companies in the whole state so I keep the temp down. 68° is best for my plants but even they get Christmas lights around their pots to keep their tootsies warm.

I think its because I had to pay my heat last winter so.... I just kept it ice cold this year. I know though, this winter I will SO be putting plastic up on the windows. MY GOD... brand new windows... but still the air just blows through them. its crazy. I was ice cold a lot in the winter, but... it didn't bother me all that much. amazingly, I was never sick. when I keep it all hot.. I get sick more often.

I know that a few days my house was colder than outside., fun eh?

I WILL be having a space heater to keep me company this year

because I'm so used to having to pay it myself. not to mention mylandlord wants me to put the heat in my name, cut my rent down... so preparing. plus I'm weird. I rather be cold than hot. can always put more on... cant take more off always.