This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: portable greenhouses

Claude:

How cold?  They might be used as 'season extenders' in our area but not much more.  We have a factor of snow and ice loading...and these structures simply can't handle it.  We do use and construct simple over wintering structures that are Quonset in design and covered with milky poly.  They are intended to maintain and stabilize indoor winter temperatures for perennials, some trees and shrubs in the colder months.  But even for these there can be 'loading problems' if the correct tubing isn't used for the structure based on expected snow, ice and wind loading.
    When I worked in Virginia we had several glass houses that were imported from England.  They were market here as easy to assemble and simple to operate home greenhouses.  Loading characteristics were not taken into account when they were purchased by the owner and of course we had a big snow storm.  At first the weight on the roof (the snow was heavy and wet...not the kind that slides off the roof easily) and the pressure caused the greenhouse to bulge.  As the snow depth on the sides built up and the snow on the roof melted the loading pressures shifted.  The greenhouses were not destroyed but they were bent out of shape leaving gaps in the lapping which resulted in extraordinary heat loss and the houses had to be rebuilt.

P.S.   I teach two different greenhouse courses at the NY Botanical Gardens

Andrew Messinger
The Hampton Gardener
The Hampton Gardener is a Registered Trade Mark
(Published every Thursday in the Southampton Press)

Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index