Location of greenhouse in backyard

[kebo]

Hi folks, I'm looking to buy an 8x12 greenhouse and want some advice on where to put it. It's a small yard, just 1/3 acre total (hey I'm in a subdivision now) and I have two spots picked out. One spot gets more sun year round, but especially in the winter mornings it gets direct sunlight. The other spot gets more shade year round, but in the winter it gets indirect sunlight filtered through a bunch of hardwood trees after the leaves have fallen off. How much sunlight does it really need, and does it need to be more direct or indirect? Do the type of plants in the greenhouse matter as to the location? It's for my wife and she'll mostly be growing flowers, but I may be using it ( if she'll let me lol) to start some veggie seedlings in March/ april before transferring them to a raised garden bed. Would appreciate your thoughts and experiences.

 

[tomplum]

Having had a solar greenhouse, I can appreciate your dilemma. I can't really help you on how to dial in the right amount of light for where you are at. Shade cloth is a real helper to moderate the temps as well keeping circulation available. So location to where power is available is always desirable. Maybe even for heat for an unexpected cold snap.
Just keep in mind that your greenhouse can a special place for your morning coffee or an afternoon book. You two enjoy!

 

[jaxs]

I like Tomplum's wisdom, winter is when sunlight is most needed, put house where the max is available and control excess with shade cloth.

 

[Tinhack]

Ditto. Unless you're growing mushrooms.

 

[kebo]

Having had a solar greenhouse, I can appreciate your dilemma. I can't really help you on how to dial in the right amount of light for where you are at. Shade cloth is a real helper to moderate the temps as well keeping circulation available. So location to where power is available is always desirable. Maybe even for heat for an unexpected cold snap.
Just keep in mind that your greenhouse can a special place for your morning coffee or an afternoon book. You two enjoy!

Thanks for the comments! Does the shade cloth go on the inside or outside of the greenhouse? We're in the Midlands area of south Carolina, so the typical winters get down to 28f, but can get in single digits when a nor'Easter works it's way this far south. Summers can be brutal, like 95f typical up to 105f on some rare occasions. I was planning to run power to for overhead lights and maybe a couple outlets for grow lights, if she needs them. Thanks again!

 

[tomplum]

Outside for the shade cloth. I used a canopy roller type set up from a 5th wheel camper. Replaced the vinyl w/ shade cloth. That greenhouse was ~16' high though. You can create places to easily tie it off to give you a couple of options that match the day. Auto vent controllers are available as well for windows plus thermostatic controllers for heat or circulation.
Because our greenhouse was so high, the best thing was laying clear poly roofing sheets across the supports that were 8 or 9 feet up. That gave us the light we wanted but moderated the temps nicely. If you had an easy way and had the height, something to ponder. Ours went through a few changes from aquaponics and back to standard grow beds.