Why a greenhouse?

The biggest change from Southern California to the Midwest, gardening-wise, is undoubtedly the weather. I'm used to gardening twelve months out of the year, and without a protected environment that's not going to happen in Indiana.

Hence the greenhouse.

There are lots of options out there. You can build your own for very little money, using recycled timber and windows. There are greenhouse kits galore. You can choose the materials that make sense to you: wooden frames, steel, polycarbonate, glass. But for us the choice was clear. We needed a company where installation was a part of the cost.

Fond as we are of all things British, there seemed only one option: Hartley Botanic. They manufacture their structures in England and ship them to the U.S., where the local office in Massachussetts coordinates with trained construction technicians to put it together.

Despite assurances that they can install their products in all kinds of weather, I'm sure they weren't looking forward to last February's snowstorm, which challenged the poor lads who came out to build the 'Vista' model, a lean-to arrangement that took advantage of a preexisting concrete patio and electrical outlets. Even better: the Vista allowed us to enter the greenhouse directly from the basement. A free-standing model would have required a new foundation, electrical wiring, plumbing, and the regular donning of snow gear in the winter. This was so much better!

How did it work? We've had it up and running since February 2021. With the addition of a heater (and Hartley's clever self-adjusting windows) the winter temperature never went below 42 degrees. We were able to start flower and vegetable seeds well ahead of the spring schedule (last frost here is generally expected on May 1st, after which all bets are on for a warm spring).

And it's a cheery thing. If you get a yen to put your hands in potting mix, just trot down to the greenhouse. It's all there and ready for you any hour of the day. Pots, seeds, watering cans are part of the accoutrements. You can even start softwood cuttings months earlier than your outdoor schedule would allow.

We were pleased with Hartley's attention to detail. When one of the components was unpacked -- the drainage gutter meant to wick away rain was damaged -- Hartley ordered a new one and sent out a second crew to install it when it arrived.

Rated to withstand severe storms, the Vista proved itself worthy. A June tempest brought rain, heavy wind, and lightning to town. A favorite garden center, Mays Greenhouse, was nearly washed away in the storm. Our Vista greenhouse handled it with aplomb.

Depending on your passion for gardening, a greenhouse can be a very useful addition to the landscape...one of the essential tools to managing your gardening year.