Hello,
My wife has been into gardening and growing plants for a long time. She currently has a few janky beds and a super small $20 "greenhouse". Im looking at building her a larger/nicer greenhouse for her birthday, but I dont know anything about greenhouses and optimal locations.
Im looking at building a 12×7 lean to greenhouse next to our literal green house. Roof and siding will be 100% twinwalled polycarbonate. My questions is: would this spot allow for the greenhouse to work as intended?
Located in Kansas. Picture is looking south so the greenhouse would be angled to the east. We do have a large tree, but shouldn't be in the way too much.
I appreciate any insights! Thanks!
by gravygrandma20
5 Comments
How much shade are those trees creating? I’d check how much direct sun light you get every hour or so, then use your own judgement if that would work. Just use some flatten out cardboard with something to hold them in place and see how many hours of sunlight you could get at this time of year.
Should work, unless shade from trees proved to be too much.
Totally depends on what you’re growing and your overall goals for the greenhouse.
Your plan would not work for me, as I mainly grow cacti, and also use my greenhouse during the cold winters of Zone 6b. I need that evening western sun when it’s cold out.
Use [this shade map](https://shademap.app) to help determine if it will be enough for your needs. Keep in mind, while the structures should be accounted for, the trees may not be. You’ll have to determine the accuracy of those, keeping in mind the difference between your deciduous and evergreens.
I would be VERY excited about this gift, but I would want to be involved in choosing the greenhouse. I’d want to pick the greenhouse, the location, and which direction it faces. This becomes even more important if she’s always wanted to grow orchids, or citrus, or any other specific plant. “What would you want to grow in a hypothetical greenhouse” doesn’t come up often in conversation.
It’s not ideal but it will work. The best position would be around 4 feet to the East of the garage. Some shade in the afternoon during the hottest part of the day is good in summer. In the spring before the leaves come out on the trees you’ll get lots of sun.