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.
If you love gardening you don’t have to stop during the winter months. Grow your own vegetables and flowers all year round. Save money and feel good knowing that you are providing true organic fruits and vegetables for your family.
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.
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.
I bet that when you think of greenhouse what comes to mind are the large glass panel types that you would see in the old movies. Well those kind have been replaced over the years by instead of glass - polycarbonate panels.
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.
