Hi!

Brand new to the forum and brand new to owning a greenhouse. We've inherited a house with a greenhouse built off the back. We love it and can't wait to bring it back to life. It's been years since it's been used, so I think there are things that need to be done before we can really start to grow things.

First, it looks like there are gaps in the rubber stripping between the glass panels. See picture. I suppose I could disassemble each stack of panels and put new stripping between each pane, but that seems like a crazy amount of work. Does anyone have any recommendations as to the best way to seal these gaps without taking the whole thing apart?

Second - need a basic primer on greenhouses and how to outfit them, manage, etc. Is there someplace you all can point me for sort of an "owning a greenhouse 101"?

Thanks!

What an exciting project! It's so much fun to get something back in use.

My greenhouses don't have glass panes so I'm probably not the best person to answer your question but I think if you don't fully replace and reseal the panes the remaining stripping will continue to fall apart and eventually the glass panes will become loose and be at risk for falling out and/or letting weather, insects and rodents into your greenhouse.

But if you're going to go to all that work you should probably first assess whether the existing panels are worth saving. Depending on how old your greenhouse is you might want to replace the panels with new glass or polycarbonate panels. Many of the newer panel products provide superior insulation and performance compared to older products.

As to what you should do to get your greenhouse ready I'd say (beside fixing the panels) first you should clean and repair the inside of the greenhouse. When your greenhouse is in use it will be hotter and wetter than it has been since it went out of use. So you'll want to paint, repair, seal, etc. I assume you have a drain in the floor somewhere. I'd make sure that is working properly. Check that your electricity is working. Is there a heat source? Make sure it works properly. Make sure the vents work. Consider adding additional venting if you think its needed. Are you happy with where your water source its located? Once you fill your greenhouse with plants all those repairs will be much harder, so its best to do them now.

Think about what you want to grow and when. A setup to grow orchids year round is very different than what you would need to grow a few tomatoes in the summer. Do you want to grow in beds or pots? Maybe even hydroponics? You'll probably want some plant racks and you'll certainly want storage for tools and supplies.

Once you know what you want to grow, come back here and share your plans and we'll help you get going.

And if could please tell us where you live, what direction the greenhouse faces and how much shade it gets.

Welcome to NGA, @Wlmar! I think all of Henderman's observations are right on point - maybe especially what direction is the greenhouse facing, and what part of the country (or world?) are you located in? And, do you already have an idea of what you want to grow in it? (Veggies? House plants? maybe some culinary herbs?)

When I first bought a greenhouse (free standing) I didn't really know what I wanted to do with it, I just wanted a greenhouse! That's a little different from acquiring one the way you did, but in the end it still may take some trial and error to figure out what it is that you want to grow. So, I suppose the first order of business would be to get it back into shape, and Henderman has offered some great suggestions. I can't wait to see how this progresses for you!!

It looks all right. Vent looks adequate - I'm guessing it's a smallish space, maybe 12'x6'? and has sliding doors to the house, so it's going to be a serious operation, but rather, a pleasant solarium to augment your diet with fresh herbs & veg.
That big tree give some shade in high summer, or do the branches start too high?
Things to consider before you do any work:
1. What do you want it for? 1.a. Is that practical?
2. What is practical to do with it? 2.a. Do you want that?
3. What's your budget? (It matters!)

From that close-up, the rubber stripping looks like something you can get at Building Center or Lowe's by the foot - and if they sell it, I bet there is one mature person on staff who can advise you on the right adhesive and method - so maybe you can just patch the gaps before winter. (I presume you have winter.)

Weedwhacker's right: it would be helpful in all your communications here to put location/zone in your profile. There are bound to be other people with your same climate who know all the problems and solutions.

Yes! Sorry all - I'm in Maryland, Zone 6b (now added to my profile!). The greenhouse faces South East and is indeed about 12x6 more or less. The greenhouse is built "into" the house with the sides being part of the house and the back of the greenhouse having a sliding door into the house. The left side of the greenhouse has a door that leads to the exterior and the right side has a storage closet.

The plan is nothing extravagant...some tomatoes, other small veggies, herbs, maybe some flowers, etc. Not looking to do a jungle!

I think what I'm looking for is some guidance about sealing it up (as noted in Serpent's post above) and some basic info about owning a greenhouse. There's a louvered vent on the face of the greenhouse as seen in the picture and the top opens for ventilation with a hand crank. I'm interested in information about temperature and humidity control, when to let air in, when to close the vents, etc. I'm completely new to this, and if there is a "Greenhouse 101" that someone can point me to someplace, I'd be grateful.

Thanks!