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I built my own superior design 15' x 22' with twinwall polycarbonate panels for $2100. 2x4 construction with treated 4x4 posts and foundation piers. I built a 26' x 8' house with used windows for glazing for $600. Why pay more?

Why pay more, because a steel frame will outlast wood by several fold. And I'm not putting glass windows over my head. Also the equipment is more important than frame for optimum plant growth. Cheap greenhouses that over heat in summer are useless for most purposes and especially so for things like the fruits I grow that require chilling in winter, high light, low humidity, and cool summer. If the crop grown doesn't require close control of temperature, humidity, or light then a cheap greenhouse could be fine.

This post was edited by fruitnut on Fri, Sep 5, 14 at 11:55

Fruitnut, I know that you are doing some good things, especially with your citrus, which I also like. My greenhouses are not "cheap", but are rather incredibly innovative and productive. I don't mind glass on the roof, because I don't live in the gh and am never in danger. My greenhouses were likely the only ones in the state that don't require shading, because they perform so well in the heat. They don't even require a fan. A friend bought a 35' by 72' kit which collapsed with the first snow fall here, I suspect my houses would support almost any snow weight. I've posted lots of photos of them here.

sand:

Can you show us how you keep your greenhouse cool without shade cloth or fans? Are you opening up the top and sides? What's your light level inside? Also a picture of your current crops would be nice.

Thank you!

Yes, I'll take some new photos and upload them soon. In the glass house the windows on side and on top are open so that about 50% of the glazing is open. That structure is 200 ft.sq. The polycarbonate glazed structure, about 400 ft.sq. has the east facing wall (22' x 6') totally open. Both structures receive full light and with no power or shading are a few degrees hotter than ambient. My shade lovers are outside and have mostly succulants inside. I did grow excellent cucumbers and squash inside this summer but those crops are now finished. Everything faces east and have a beneficial fencerow of tall trees that shades the west.

Still don't know how to post more than one photo per message.

squash and cucumbers in June or July

I cover the raised beds with pallets when I have container production.

Begonias handle the heat well. this part of the house gets no direct sun after about 3 PM

My thunbergia weren't that great this year. I've also got some dock growing up between pallet slats. Wood stove and large beucarnia at right. Great aeonium in foreground.

Little pickles or Othonna crassifolia. I got starts over the internet after not seeing this plant for 30 years.

from about two weeks ago...I making the bed for this winters' vegetables. Notice the model Earth and Moon in scale at top and the decorative glass. Jugs filled with black dyed water are supposed to help against frost. You can see part of roof that's open. This is the used window glass 8' x 26' part.

this is from winter, but can see how the side windows are hinged and open whenever necessary.

Great pics, Sand, thank you for sharing!