49% of America homeowners garden at least once throughout the year. Two of the biggest barriers to gardening are seasonal changes and a lack of space, as more people are living in apartments with no yard at all. Fortunately, installing a small greenhouse helps you to garden all year round and mini greenhouses are perfect for balconies, terraces, and the smallest of yards. You can also get portable greenhouses that are ideal for if you’re using someone else’s land to garden on, such as at an allotment or in a community project.
Getting a second-hand greenhouse
Second-hand greenhouses are great because they avoid waste and can save you lots of money. You could also end up with a perfectly good greenhouse, but in some cases, there may be things that need repairing or replacing to ensure it works optimally. The first thing to check is the condition of all the windows as these are the most important part.
As with your home’s windows, inefficient glass will lead to a loss of heat, which will result in your plants not doing as well as they could or even insects getting in and eating them. Replacing any cracked or broken glass is therefore a must, especially before the winter months arrive. Ideally, you want to inspect a secondhand greenhouse before it’s dismantled, but this isn’t always possible. Be sure to get any measurements before purchasing it too and make sure it will fit into your space. You don’t want to end up with a greenhouse that’s too large for your yard.
Mini greenhouses for the smallest of spaces
Mini greenhouses are perfect for people who have a small yard, no yard at all, or a space like a balcony. You may not be able to grow a lot in a mini greenhouse, but you can grow a wider variety than you would without one due to the protection from the glass, as well as being able to over-winter your plants, grow from seeds, and take cuttings. If you know you’ll have access to some land in spring or summer, this preparation throughout winter can help to get you started. However, you can grow in your mini greenhouse all year round, even without any yard space.
In particular, summer is perfect for growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants. In fall, you can take cuttings from other plants, such as fuchsias and geraniums, ready for the following year. You can also grow salad to give yourself an all-year-round supply of fresh food. Winter is ideal for planting bulbs that can be used for winter decoration. Of course, these can all be grown in any sized greenhouse, but it shows that even in the smallest of spaces you can still plant a wide range of crops.
The perks of portable greenhouses
Portable greenhouses are ideal for if you’re growing on someone else’s land or even if you just like to regularly rearrange your own yard space and don’t want to commit to installing a permanent greenhouse. Portable greenhouses are usually made from plastic to make them lightweight and easy to take apart, transport or store, and put back together again. Without glass, they don’t get as hot as a traditional greenhouse, but they are still useful to have and make it possible to garden in every season. They’re also a much cheaper option and can offer a good amount of growing space.
Installing a small greenhouse opens up many new opportunities to grow different crops and flowers all year round that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. Greenhouses come in all different sizes, shapes, and designs so it’s always possible to find one that suits your needs.