How to Build a Greenhouse

You can build a greenhouse in most any growing zone and they can be particularly useful for growing seedling plants in zones where the last spring frost comes late. A greenhouse can be any size or shape and you can customize one to fit your yard or even patio or balcony space. A greenhouse absorbs heat from the sun, traps the heat and also produces moisture from condensation all helping plants to grow.

To build a greenhouse of your own, decide what size greenhouse you want. You may need something very small scale to house a few trays of seedlings or you may want a full-size greenhouse to grow lots of variations of plants for your own landscaping or even to sell. A greenhouse can be wooden, steel, or even aluminum framed and the number one consideration is the conditions the greenhouse will need to weather.

You can purchase kits to build a greenhouse or you can make one from your own plans. They can be built similarly to a shed with solar panels installed in the roof, or they can be built smaller scale with a plastic solar covering. Things to consider when building a greenhouse are how many plants and flowers you anticipate growing, and whether you want to incorporate storage for garden tools and a workspace for potting.

Miniature greenhouses are even available for limited space such as apartment or condominium balconies and terraces. While these miniature versions won’t accommodate a potting station or tool storage, they can house a few herbs, plants, or fresh flower seedlings. No matter what size greenhouse you want to build, they provide new opportunities for gardening enthusiasts making it possible to nurture plants from seedlings and even experiment with new varieties.