Backyard Greenhouses for Sale | Pre-Built Greenhouses (2024)

FAQs

Is it cheaper to build a greenhouse or buy one? ›

If you purchase a standard greenhouse kit with no frills, it will likely cost less than it would to build a greenhouse from scratch. However, if you want a customized large greenhouse, it will be more cost effective to build it yourself.

Reduced Light: Green covers may reduce the overall light intensity in the greenhouse, which can affect plant growth, especially during cloudy days or in low-light conditions. Slower Growth: Some plants may grow slightly slower under green plastic due to reduced light levels.

Sunlight passes through the greenhouse glazing (usually glass or plastic), warming the interior as it does. Once inside, the sunlight is absorbed by the plants and soil, raising the temperature within. This natural solar heating is a cornerstone of greenhouse warmth and allows plants to thrive even in winter.

Another disadvantage to greenhouses is that they tend to need more maintenance than outdoor gardens. You'll need to clean the windows and other transparent surfaces, use insect screens to keep pests out, and regularly maintain any heating, ventilation, or watering systems you have in place.

1 Passive solar greenhouses

They use features such as thermal mass, insulation, glazing, orientation, and ventilation to maintain optimal temperatures and humidity levels for the plants. Passive solar greenhouses can reduce heating costs by up to 90%, while also improving crop quality and diversity.

Ideally, greenhouses should be sited where they can receive uninterrupted sun throughout the day. Provide screening or shelter from cold northerly or easterly winds, which can keep temperatures low in spring and slow the growth of seedlings and young plants.

Beneficial insects and mites are good bugs that feed on plant pests in the greenhouse. There are three types of beneficials used in greenhouse production, predators, parasitoids and pathogens. Predators are insects and mites that feed on pests but do not reproduce in them.

Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Zucchini and Lettuce

These easy-to-grow plants have high yields and are particularly well-suited to a spring and summer grow season. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are greenhouse darlings and will thrive in the warmth.

The most common way to use thermal mass is water barrels, because it has such a high heat capacity. By stacking several 55 gallon drums of water in a greenhouse, the grower can incorporate a lot of thermal mass. Barrels should be stacked where they are in direct sunlight, often on a North wall.

The sun's powerful rays can penetrate glass and other manmade materials, which can be harmful to the plants in your greenhouse. Without ventilation, shade or any other cooling methods, the plants will overheat, damaging their leaves and fruits while drying out the soil.

What is the most inexpensive way to build a greenhouse? ›

Selecting the right materials is key to building a low-cost greenhouse. Consider using PVC pipes or rebar for the frame; these materials are durable and budget-friendly. For the covering, opt for UV-resistant plastic sheeting, which is affordable and effective.

Greenhouse Size

Expect to pay from $5 to $35 per square foot, with an average cost of about $20 per square foot. As the size of a greenhouse increases, more materials and labor are required to build it. For a small hobby greenhouse of 50 square feet, the cost would be around $1,000.

One of the primary benefits of a greenhouse is that you can start your gardening earlier in the year and extend it well beyond what you'd be able to do outdoors. Simply having a roof and windows allows for extra time to garden, but a greenhouse does more than just protect your plants.

The covering material of the greenhouse, also known as glazing, is usually the most expensive component of the structure. It is also one of the most important because the glazing is what allows the entry of light and heat into the greenhouse.