Greenhouse in Florida?

A common question I see in the gardening forums on social media is, “Do I really need a greenhouse?” Usually, the person asking is wanting to get one of the larger commercial sized greenhouses and many want one because they’ve dreamed about having one, not because they actually require one. These individuals seem to be seeking a mix of confirmation that their desire has validity so therefore they can spend the money and be justified in the purchase.

In Florida, three quarters of the year it’s sunny and humid, which means that we feel frequently like we live inside a giant greenhouse. However, we do experience drops in temperature below 32 degrees and can even see lows in the 20’s during the coldest months. So, if plan on having a fall and spring garden, there will be a potential need for a greenhouse but not some industrial size one.

When you go to search for a greenhouse, you either want the style that sits atop a table, a lean-to or a mini vertical design. These are small enough to allow you to germinate your seeds while keeping them at a decent temperature, even during the wintertime. You can more easily zip open these than a larger one. Be sure to find a way to secure the greenhouse because even in winter we can experience high wind gusts. In fact, I’ve purchased these before and if you don’t secure them during storms, you will likely lose your plants and get them strewn all over the place.

No matter what greenhouse you choose, with the intensity of the FL heat, you’re looking at about 3-5 years before you have to replace them. If you are able to see what kind of pipe they use, I’d recommend against anything flimsy. All the ones that have broken down quickly had a coating on them and they just weren’t very sturdy. While you are deciding on your greenhouse, consider if you will need to use heating mats or grow lights inside them and plan accordingly where the plug ins will need to be at.

As always, if you need guidance on what to do on your homestead feel free to contact me on facebook.