Note: The Rion Prestige and Rion Green Giant are the exact same greenhouse except that the Prestige has clear side panels, and the Green Giant has opaque side panels. Other than that difference, they are the same.

The Rion Prestige / Green Giant Greenhouse was nearly our top pick, but came in slightly behind the Rion Hobby Gardener because of one main reason: price. While it is also a fantastic greenhouse, it is a foot and a half taller, is outfitted with more accessories right out of the box and as such carries a bit steeper price tag. Other than that it is very comparable to the Rion Professional with the differences being height (8 feet tall instead of 6' 9"), and the clear side panels which are available in the Rion Prestige configuration. If you want the considerable benefits of the Rion Professional series, but prefer more head-room and/or clear-as-glass side panels, then the Prestige or Green Giant greenhouse is for you.

Because the Rion Prestige / Green Giant is so close in features to the Rion Hobby Gardener, we will repeat some of the benefits that were written for the Hobby Gardener but also apply to the Prestige / Green Giant line:

The first nice feature we discovered for the Rion Prestige / Green Giant Series Greenhouses was the wide variety of size options. You can get anything from 8'x8' up to 8'x24' or more. That means there is a size available that fits just about any requirement, from a starter greenhouse to a near-nursery sized greenhouse. The Rion Prestige / Green Giant expands in size in 4' increments, and you can purchase the 4' extension kits at any time. So if you go with an 8'x8' to start, then decide you really need an 8'x12' greenhouse, you simply purchase an extension kit and add 4' of middle space, expanding from a 8' length to 12' in length.

The next nice feature is that the greenhouse ships in several reasonably-sized packages via common carrier (Fedex or UPS typically). The exact number of packages varies depending on which size you go with. Many greenhouses ship via something called LTL Freight, which basically means a flatbed truck of some sort. When shipped via freight, the package size can be quite large, and the customer is often expected to help with unloading of the packages at the delivery site. Having the Rion Prestige / Green Giant configured to break down and ship in the smaller, easy-to-move boxes, was very nice and much better for our backs!

The frame of the Rion Prestige / Green Giant is constructed of high quality UV Protected PVC Resin, which is extremely strong, rigid, warp-proof, fade-proof, and lightweight. It has been tested for snow and wind loads, and can withstand 1100+ pounds of snow and 80mph winds, which makes it a great choice for virtually any climate, no matter how severe the weather gets. Installation of the greenhouse is a snap - literally. The pieces are constructed to push-fit together, and don't require cutting or drilling like some of the wood-frame and aluminum-frame greenhouses on the market. Instructions are clear and well-thought out, and can be easily followed by all but the least technically minded people.

The Rion Prestige / Green Giant package includes a base kit which provides a secure foundation for the greenhouse. We found the Rion base kit to be a very secure and sure footing for the greenhouse. Another nice feature that sets the Prestige / Green Giant apart from many competitors is the variety of accessories that are included as standard items. These include the base kit, as mentioned, plus roof windows, louver windows, automatic window openers, solar lights, rain gutters, and staging/potting tables. These standard accessories alone could cost hundreds to thousands of dollars if added to other models of greenhouses.

Conclusion:
The Rion Prestige / Green Giant Series is a very close 2nd pick for us due to a number of great features which include it's method of shipment, ease of assembly, variety of sizes, height, clear-panels option, expandability, strength and durability, standard accessories, and more. It also has a reasonable price, especially when compared to models from some of the other manufacturers which can run up to several thousand dollars more for similar sized and outfitted greenhouses.

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