Types of Greenhouses for Oregon Growers

Gutter Connected Greenhouses
(AKA Ridge and Furrow Greenhouses)

This style connects several greenhouses with a common gutter at the lower edges of the roof. This allows for several compartments to run side by side with no sidewalls (or adjustable sidewalls), allowing for a large, flexible interior land space to be used more efficiently. For covering a large surface area, it can be a cheaper alternative as opposed to investing in several free standing greenhouses. It also allows for a variety of complex irrigation systems depending on your needs. 

Gable Greenhouse Structures

Typically a type of freestanding greenhouse, this greenhouse style has angled, flat roofs connected to vertical sidewalls, allowing for a higher headspace for working inside the greenhouse. Gable greenhouses use welded or bolted trusses for support, which provides them with a stronger internal structure. Gable greenhouse structures can be complex and more of an investment, but can be customized to hold a variety of equipment for more complex irrigation systems or other tools required for plant management.

Polycarbonate Greenhouses

Widely used for growing applications, polycarbonate provides up to 85 percent light transmission and 100 percent light diffusion. Polycarbonate greenhouses have a strong exterior that is impact resistant. Depending on the kind of polycarbonate covering you use, such as corrugated, single wall, double wall, or panels, you may have different results in terms of light transmission, longevity, and insulation. Please consulate with our team on what option will work best for you.

Shade Houses or Screen Houses

This lightweight, versatile option provides shade by suspending typically a black, knitted fabric over container grown plants to shield them from excessive sun. Shade houses protect plants while providing more airflow, and can serve as transition phase between the greenhouse and the direct sun when plants are going up for retail sale. For more mild climates, shade houses can serve as a cost effective option to provide some shade for light and heat sensitive plants. Depending on what you are growing, it may be important to keep the shade cloth higher from the pants to prevent heat transfer. Additionally, there are some aluminum back fabrics that can be used to help direct the heat back to the atmosphere and away from the plants. 

Quonset Greenhouses (AKA Hoop Houses)

One of the most common images associated with greenhouses, the Quonset Greenhouse is the typical hoop house. Effectively, it is a tunnel shape composed of a polyethylene covering over what might be pipes (typically metal of pvc), bent into hoops. Because these are curved into the ground, there is a limited edge for work space along the sidewalls for either storage or plants. Occasionally, they are raised on Quonset columns to create sidewalls, which allows for taller plants and increased working space inside the Quonset Greenhouse.