Greenhouses are a great addition to your garden no matter how large or small your garden is.

You can use greenhouses to start your plants and vegetables growing early so when the final frost is over your plants are ready to go in the ground. In some parts of the country using a greenhouse can allow you to have 2 (or even more) crops a year.

Greenhouses are not the same today as the ones that you may have seen when you were a kid. You can now get portable greenhouses, greenhouses made with pvc pipes and even collapsible greenhouses.

If you buy a collapsible or a portable greenhouse once you have finished growing your vegetables you can then pack your greenhouse away for the winter.  Some portable greenhouses are small enough to fit on a deck or the corner of a kitchen.

The benefits of having your own greenhouse are:

• Save money on plants by starting seedlings in the winter
• A place to garden when it rains
• Protecting young plants from frost
• A place to overwinter your favorite plants during cold weather climates
• Have some vegetables or flowers grow through the winter like herbs, spinach, lettuce, carnations and nasturtiums.
• No gardening down time during cold weather months
• The ability to use controlled organic pest control methods
• Continue composting during the winter months
• Have fresh cut flowers year round

Whatever your reason for having a greenhouse you need to decide what the function will be and go from there since there are many types of inexpensive greenhouses and greenhouse kits to choose from.

Now that you have decided that a greenhouse would be a welcomed addition to your home backyard the question remains which type of greenhouse will best suit your needs?

Your first question regarding your greenhouse is whether you want a greenhouse that is attached or freestanding.

Attached greenhouses are known as a “lean-to greenhouse” and they are available as portable or constructed. These greenhouses lean against a structure or building for added support.

Freestanding greenhouses are just that. The most common types can range from mini portable greenhouses to large commercial ones. Portable greenhouses are nice in that once you are done with them you simply disassemble and put away. You can also move them to different areas during the seasons to have more sun or shade at certain times.

Cold Frame greenhouses are usually a wooden frame with a transparent-roofed enclosure, built low to the ground used to protect plants from cold weather. Cold frames can be very cheap to buy or make and are usually utilized in early spring for growing seedlings. They vary in sizes.

Portable greenhouses can be considered cheap in price and offer the most options. Most do not even need tools for assembly. They are fast to assemble and lightweight. Once assemble consider weighting the bottom down with weights or sandbags. Most will last for many years.

Another type of cheap greenhouse is the “pop up” greenhouse. This is by far the easiest greenhouse to set up as it is very similar to setting up a “pop up” type camping tent.

Another cheap greenhouse option is knows as a pvc or hoop-house greenhouse. These are easily assembled with a greenhouse kit and pvc piping and plastic. The size of the greenhouse will determine how strong the pvc needs to be. Since these are so lightweight they may not make it through harsh winter climates.

Greenhouses today are usually made of aluminum frames and clear polycarbonate plastic panels. Wooden framing is still used but is usually more expensive. Polycarbonate greenhouses are able to keep the temperature inside more even because of the insulating effect they have. They are also much more durable than glass against the elements like hail. They also weigh less than glass and diffuse the sunlight reducing the need for shade.

Greenhouse with polycarbonate panels

Before you decide to buy you need to decide what function you want your greenhouse to serve. Do you want to set it up at the end of the growing season so you can get a head start on next year’s crop? Do you want to shelter your favorite patio plants during the winter months? Would you like to grow herbs and vegetables during the winter as well?

Of all the greenhouse designs the portable greenhouse is the most popular and offers homeowners the most options. They are versatile in look, shape and size and best of all they come at a cheaper price than other syles of greenhouses. Portable greenhouses are lightweight and very easy to assemble usually with no tools needed. Some of them can be small enough to sit in the corner of a deck or even the corner of a kitchen.

portable greenhouse

Since they are lightweight you can move them to different sun exposure areas or shady areas as needed. You can position a portable greenhouse very close to the house, which means you can use the electricity and water supplies within your home to power your greenhouse.

Portable greenhouses provide perfect controlled environments for growing tropical plants or specialty plants for sale. You can have a controlled non-pest environment. And if you will need them for only a short time they are easy to disassemble and put away each season.

Polycarbonate panels are superior to glass in many ways. First of all they are more lightweight than glass yet much more sturdy. Tests show that they can stand up to hail, rocks and even softballs without breaking.

Polycarbonate panels can be used in either aluminum or wooden frames. Greenhouses of this type can be bought in just a few pieces to assemble or you can buy them as a DIY greenhouse kit.

Superior to glass not only in strength but also in the insulating effect they have. This means that the period in which you are able to grow plants is greatly increased. Polycarbonate panels retain heat better within the greenhouse throughout the year.

Polycarbonate panels have a ribbed surface and is able to diffuse the light that shines through it better. This means even temperature heating and no so called hot spots. Plus they also have a special UV coating that protects the plants growing inside from overheating and sunburn.

Because they are better insulating they will retain the heat inside longer thereby reducing winter heating costs.

Polycarbonate panels come in a wide array of sizes and shapes. Unlike the traditional glass ones assembling these types of greenhouses are quite simple with very few tools. Polycarbonate panels can be found on portable greenhouses as well.

Polycarbonate Greenhouse

Most kits for building a greenhouse are constructed with plastic sheeting or plastic panels also known as polycarbonate panels. The frames can be aluminum, pvc piping or wood. Greenhouse kits come in a variety of sizes and colors, so keep in mind what you want the function of the greenhouse to be. If this is your first greenhouse you may want to start with a small inexpensive one.

The main function, the size of your yard, the location you want to put the greenhouse and of course your climate should all be considered when choosing a greenhouse. Be sure and check your local building codes if you are planning on building a large one - you may need a permit.

Most greenhouses should be facing east and west so as to maximize sun exposure. Protection from northern winds should be a consideration also. Think about where in your yard throughout the year will the most sun exposure be.

Consider that if you build near very close to the house you may be able to use use the electricity and water supplies within your home to power your greenhouse.