DIY Greenhouse Ideas That Will Take Your Garden to the Next Level – Plus, the Best Kits to Buy Online

Interest in gardening has exploded over the past few years. For many people, food supply anxiety led to a desire to grow their own produce. But there are so many other amazing reasons to start gardening, like adding beauty to your home and another form of wellness to your life.

One of the drawbacks of gardening, though, is that many of us gardeners are only able to grow outdoors during the warmer months. But there's a simple solution to this problem: greenhouse gardening. A greenhouse can take your garden to the next level by allowing you to keep growing year-round.

Building a greenhouse from scratch can be a big project, but luckily there are plenty of DIY greenhouse kits that are simple and cost-effective. Before you decide to build, it's important to take time to consider the type of DIY greenhouse you want to build, make a budget, and research potential kits to use. I'll cover everything you need to know before building a greenhouse and share my favorite DIY kits to help you get up and growing fast.

Considerations Before Building

You can put together a simple hobby greenhouse made with a polyethylene-covered framework in an afternoon on a fairly small budget. Some only cost $100 or so, like this pop-up greenhouse from Amazon. There are also elaborate structures, like this stunning Victorian-style greenhouse from Vego Garden, that include all the bells and whistles and can cost thousands of dollars.

Simple structures don’t require permits, but more complex greenhouses very well might. You may even have to have the local power company come out in order to outfit your greenhouse with electricity for heating and lighting. So before you dive into a DIY greenhouse project, think carefully about what you need, what you want – which may be different – and how much you are willing to spend.

Map out the area the best place to put a greenhouse and have all necessary paperwork in order from your local authorities, if needed. Don’t forget to consider how you will heat your greenhouse, get water to it, account for ventilation and humidity, and light your structure.

Consider the different materials available as well. Glass, for instance, is very heavy so the structure to support a glass greenhouse will have to be extremely sturdy and is another cost consideration.

Types of Greenhouses

Generally, the two types of greenhouses are attached and freestanding. An attached greenhouse may be a lean-to, window-mounted, or even-span. Usually, most attached greenhouses are even-span, which means they have a symmetrical roof.

• An attached lean-to greenhouse is constructed against a building so it is close to electricity, heat, and water. The drawback is that it may have limited space, light, ventilation, and temperature control.
• An attached even-span greenhouse, which is very common, is similar to a freestanding structure except it is attached to your house at one end. While it is often more expensive than a lean-to, it offers more room and flexibility.
• An attached window-mounted greenhouse, sometimes called a garden window, is a small unit hung from a window frame where you can grow a few plants. This type of greenhouse is usually bought and installed by a window company.
• Freestanding greenhouses are the most expensive since they do not share the utilities of the main home. They are similar to even-span greenhouses except they’re set apart from the house to take advantage of a more sun-filled area of the landscape. They can be as large or small as you desire.

Best DIY Greenhouse Kits

Easy DIY Greenhouse Ideas

DIY greenhouse ideas come in all shapes and sizes from a mini pop-up greenhouse to a freestanding timber and glass structure complete with heat and automatic ventilation, like this gorgeous greenhouse kit from Amazon.

One of the easiest and cheapest DIY greenhouses you can make is one with a PVC piping frame and clear plastic sheeting. Repurposed windows and leftover pallets also work together to make a quick and affordable greenhouse.

If you’d prefer not to build a structure, consider a cold frame, which is essentially a mini greenhouse that's perfect for small gardens. Repurposed glass windows set atop a wood frame and insulated with straw bales will give you a jump start on and extend your veggie season. You can even turn an old plastic storage tote into a mini greenhouse cold frame.

Tips for Building a DIY Greenhouse

Whether you build an affordable DIY greenhouse with the ideas above or put together a simple kit, your greenhouse will work the same way for growing plants year-round. Here are some basic tips to keep in mind to help you site and build to help you have a successful first year growing in your greenhouse.

• Keep in mind that you will want to build your greenhouse in the part of your landscape with the most sun, but make sure it's level. If you use your greenhouse more for summer plant propagation rather than for early seed starting or extended crops, choose an area with partial shade. If you do not have a partially shaded site, a shade cloth, like this one from Amazon, can reduce the solar load on the greenhouse.
• Also, pay attention to airflow around the structure as well as insulation for your greenhouse. Avoid low areas. Easy access to power and running water is also imperative.
• Determine what size greenhouse will best fit your needs. Is a mini DIY greenhouse all you need for your small garden? Decide on a frame and covering: glass, PVC, vinyl, polyethylene, and acrylic are common choices. Decide how you will heat, cool, and ventilate the structure as well.
• Consider if you can physically build a DIY greenhouse yourself. Will you need additional help? Will that be in the form of hired labor or friends and family?

Frequently Asked Questions