where is best to site a green house?

[carolineholding]

I've had a quick look at the first page of 'undercover operations' and I can't see that this has been covered recently.

I'm hopefully about to acquire a greenhouse in the next few days, where would be best to put it? Is sheltered a good option? or doesn't it matter? I could park it under some trees?

My partner is adapting a very large green house into a lean to for a large house in the area (he's a builder/metalworker) and he's planning to build me smaller one with the leftover frame. Once this thing goes up its not going to be a movable feast so I have to get it right the first time.

thanks!

[veggiechicken]

Somewhere it gets maximum light and lots of sunshine. Not under trees!

[Bren In Pots]

Try to site it with the door away from prevailing winds.

[carolineholding]

just to add, its really really hot here during the day, (I'm in the south of France)

[PyreneesPlot]

I was just going to say, don't forget it will get really, really hot in the summer!!

I've not bothered, just use plastic cloches and small tunnels as and when - even in the winter I've had to totally uncover crops on sunny days. I fried a load of winter lettuces my first winter, so the sun is strong even in the winter.

There are very few greenhouses or polytunnels around here - are there many your way?

How lovely having something built for you, though.

[carolineholding]

I don't actually want to grow crops in a green house I really just need somewhere to keep frost tender seedlings and over winter stuff like my lemon tree. We're building our own house and I currently don't even have a south facing window I can put a tomato seedling in. (and I really don't think there is going to be one by early spring)

[Bigmallly]

just to add, its really really hot here during the day, (I'm in the south of France)

You can always cool the GH with ventilation, shading etc but you cannot add light if you put it under trees.

[carolineholding]

You can always cool the GH with ventilation, shading etc but you cannot add light if you put it under trees.

That Bigmally is the crux of the matter.

Right, sunny sheltered spot, south facing door, no trees. thanks yet again for all your speedy and helpful responses

[veggiechicken]

I have no idea how cold your winters are but if you want it for overwintering, site it where you get winter sun, somewhere easy to access if the weather is not too good and maybe consider whether you want electricity or water run to it.... and plenty of opening windows!

[Two_Sheds]

They've answered you, but I started so I'll finish !

I could park it under some trees?

Apart from being shaded (undesirable) it would also drop leaves & sap on the glass, birds would roost in it so you'd get their droppings on the glass too, and there's a very real risk of broken branches dropping off and breaking the glass.
Underneath the tree, you may get roots pushing up and even distorting the gh (the treee roots round here are even coming up through tarmac).

its really really hot here

You'll need shading, even here in the UK we need shading in the "summer". It's more effective to have it on the outside, so stopping the glass heating up in the first place, than having that white goo on the inside of the glass.

Also, you'll want to put in auto-vents, so the windows open on their own as the temp rises. You're not seriously going to leave it empty all summer are you?

I ... need somewhere to keep frost tender seedlings and over winter stuff like my lemon tree.

What's a typical outside temp for you in winter? Frost free might mean you need to consider heating.


Also, this might be helpful: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...-uk_31091.html

[ancee]

Do these rules apply to polytunnels too? We're on about getting one next year. Should we put it in full sun if possible?

[Potstubsdustbins]

In the UK I would suggest full sun if possible, and if you can get the long side on a East West axis then so much the better.

Colin

[Lisamcflisa]

as you are somewhere hot you could do like i have with ours, to reduce the heat in the summer i have not put glass in the middle end panel, its just one big bit of perspex so when the heat is too high i can unclip it and allow a through breeze

[Bigmallly]

as you are somewhere hot you could do like i have with ours, to reduce the heat in the summer i have not put glass in the middle end panel, its just one big bit of perspex so when the heat is too high i can unclip it and allow a through breeze

That's exactly what I did last year, I kept the door closed to keep the rodents out but removed the top panels.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Give some thought to the base and the possibility of flooding...