Portable Greenhouse Gardening - A Low Cost Growing Season Extension

By Hildy Kincade

Greenhouses are useful for creating humidity and warmth which some plants may need in areas where those environments are not natural. Commercial greenhouses are used for growing produce in cold weather months and for growing flowers year-round. Unfortunately, they can be costly to build and maintain; and even the smallest greenhouses require at least a small plot of land.

Another option for a home gardener wishing to try year round growing is the portable greenhouse. Easy to erect and take down, the movable greenhouse is easy to store in the shed, garage or basement when not needed. Portable greenhouses are less costly than a traditional greenhouse of a similar size. These greenhouses are invaluable and affordable solutions for temporary greenhouse needs. Portable greenhouses are very versatile depending on the size or shape you choose; you can move them around the garden, or set up your larger portable in a small corner.

The idea of a portable greenhouse has actually been around as long as the idea of a basic greenhouse. Portable greenhouses are less complex than permanent ones. These greenhouses are fairly inexpensive, easy to set up, and provide protection from cooler night temperatures and early morning killing frosts. Whether you want to start your tomatoes early from seeds or simply grow tulips during an especially snowy springtime, portable greenhouses can make it possible. Many gardeners like to set these greenhouses up in late summer and fill them with their container gardening endeavors.

Depending on the size you purchase, you can pop one of these shelters out in seconds to cover your beautiful prize cabbage patch, late blooming tomato plants, or head lettuce. This means that you might have to alter your planting plan early in the spring to accommodate the set up of the greenhouse in the fall. For example, try planting your tomatoes, beans, and lettuce in one area that can be protected by one, larger movable greenhouse to make the most of your space and your garden crop.

An even smaller version of a portable greenhouse could be called a mini greenhouse. These minis are as diverse in style and design as their larger greenhouse counterparts. Mini greenhouses are designed to hold just a few plants and can be put almost anywhere. A cold frame mini greenhouse is a small box made of the same material that a normal greenhouse is composed of. If you want to keep just a couple of single plants growing outside all year, these type of mini greenhouses might be a good choice for you. They can be a great choice for beginners looking to try their hand at greenhouse gardening without a large initial investment.

Choosing a portable greenhouse will take some time; evaluate your garden space and needs to try and match one of the many choices available. Network with other gardeners or check with your reputable garden store nearby, it can be helpful source of information.