The 5 Best Portable Greenhouses For Winter
Keeping outdoor plants alive through winter can be a daunting task, but a portable greenhouse for winter. These useful tools keep your outdoor plants at a more comfortable temperature even in the cold, but can be moved or removed when the weather warms up. The best portable winter greenhouses provide the space and light your specific crop needs, provide some ventilation, and are easy to install and remove depending on the season. It's important to remember that an unheated greenhouse has a limit on how much it can be warmer than the outside temperature -- it may only be a few degrees Fahrenheit. The plant hardiness zone you live in will determine whether these greenhouses will help keep your outdoor plants through the winter, extend your growing season, or harden seeds in the spring.
Buy a portable greenhouse
Niki Jabbour, author of Growing Under Cover and contributor to SavvyGardening.com, has some smart advice for deciding which portable greenhouse is right for you: Think carefully about how you plan to use it.
Will it be temporary frost protection for garden beds? Or are you planning to start planting seedlings in it this spring? You may want to create a microclimate around hot summer vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Or maybe you want to extend the harvest season into fall and winter.
Whatever your gardening goals, Jabbour says it's important to choose the right portable greenhouse to help you achieve them.
Other factors to consider:
Size: Carefully measure the available space and choose the right portable greenhouse. "This is especially important in urban areas where it is difficult to find garden space for large structures," says Jaber.
Location: A sunny location free from gusts of wind is ideal. Never place a greenhouse under a tree or in the shade of an adjacent building.
Durability: "In northern regions like mine, there is a lot of snow in the winter, so having a portable or permanent greenhouse that can withstand the snow load is very important," Jabbour said. Materials like powder-coated aluminum and steel tend to be stronger and more stable than cheap plastics. "There are many options online and in garden supply stores, and inexpensive structures made of polyethylene are not as durable as those made of polycarbonate or glass," she said.
Design: Bottomless models protect already grown plants and provide good drainage. A-shape or arch (walk-in) lets you grow tall plants.
Budget: The old adage "you get what you pay for" also applies to portable greenhouses. If you want a portable greenhouse to last for years, don't go cheap. When you consider the money you save on your grocery bill, you can justify the expense.
Extend the growing season, protect fragile plants from frost, and give seedlings access to our selection of the best portable greenhouses.
What are the best portable greenhouses for winter?
1. Mini Greenhouses for Small Plant and Herb Gardens
This mini greenhouse is a useful tool for some potted plants, seedlings or small herb gardens to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors or out. The frame and clear PVC cover have a pop-up design and require no assembly. The manufacturer didn't specify what the frame is made of, but it's made from a pliable material that's stable when upright and can be folded for storage, according to reviewers. Additionally, the greenhouse comes with four steel ground stakes to hold it in place for added security. It has a roller shutter for ventilation to keep humidity levels at a reasonable level, as well as access for watering and general plant care.
One reviewer wrote: "I have a potted dwarf pomegranate and bougainvillea that I don't want to keep at home, but don't want to lose winter low temperatures in my zone 7 climate. This little greenhouse is big enough and wide enough to Holds two pots, one medium and one small, with room. I tucked the house on the patio between the corner of the house and the south and west facing fireplaces to get warm sunlight when outside. In On a sunny 20-degree day, I saw some condensation inside, like a real greenhouse."
2. Portable Greenhouse for Raised Beds and Outdoor Gardens
If you need a portable greenhouse to cover your outdoor garden beds, this long and short steel frame might be the perfect choice for you. Assembly doesn't require any tools - according to one reviewer, "it also disassembles easily in the spring". The cover is made of PE and mesh and is available in green and white, so it can meet the needs of your plants, whether they crave sun or prefer a little shade. Whichever color you choose, this conservatory features three large zippered roller shutters for ventilation that double as an entry for your plants.
One reviewer wrote: "We love these greenhouses and have bought a few! When winter is over, my plants look better than they did before they started - often covered in flowers! No need to drag all the plants around It’s great to winter indoors.”
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3. This walk-in greenhouse that turns into a tent
This walk-in greenhouse is available in two sizes, each offering a large open area ideal for winter storage and maintenance of large plants. Assembly is fairly easy as it is designed like a pop-up tent and has a one-piece alloy steel accordion frame. Clear PE and grilles should also allow plenty of light. For ventilation, it has two large zippered roller doors, as well as two zippered roller shutters and grilles. It doesn't have shelves, but you can of course add your own to configure custom settings, perfect for storing all your plants conveniently. Last but not least - but not least - this versatile greenhouse is unique in that it also comes with a polyester cover that provides shade in summer so you can use it all year round.
One reviewer wrote: "I've had several winter greenhouses to relocate my outdoor plants here over the years and this is by far the easiest to set up. It's a 'pop-up' sanctuary that makes it up The materials, from the folding subframe to the reinforced cover, seem to do it well.
4. This Portable Greenhouse with Wheels and Shelves
If portability is your top priority, especially if you want to keep your plants indoors, on a porch, or in a paved area, this rolling greenhouse with racks might be the way to go. It is available in three and four shelf versions, including options of clear PVC, green PE and mesh, and clear PE and mesh shades, depending on your plant needs and the amount of sunlight available. Powder-coated steel shelves and shelves are assembled without any tools, all relying on simple fasteners. No matter which size and color you choose, the greenhouse comes with removable wheels and a large zippered roller shutter.
One reviewer wrote: "We've been creating temporary winter protection for our yard plants (in Dallas, TX) for years. Finally, we have a portable, functional 'greenhouse'. With Daily weather changes, easy to contain and display. A little plant light underneath to maintain a comfortable temperature for the plants.”
5. Walk-in Greenhouse with Shelves
If you have greenhouse space with shelves, consider this walk-in greenhouse. It includes two shelving units on each side and is available in smaller and larger sizes. No tools are required to assemble the steel frames or shelves for the greenhouse, they are held together by plastic connectors. The clear cover is made of durable PVC to provide plenty of light. It also features a door that can be rolled up and closed with a zipper.
One reviewer wrote: "I've bought a lot of small buildable greenhouses in the past. This is by far the best price I've used. Good interior space, good temperature retention, easy to assemble and very sturdy.
Greenhouses provide a safe and optimal environment for growing crops, protecting them from pesky pests and frost. For reasons of affordability and convenience, it is desirable that many different types of greenhouses are available on the market.
Conclusion
Portable greenhouse for winter come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including mini portables, walk-in portables or large walk-in greenhouses. These homes can regulate the temperature to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, these houses keep your plants from freezing, allowing them to grow no matter what happens outside the walls of their safe spaces.
So the insulation these amazing constructs provide in winter avoids any impediment to the growth of your precious plants and keeps your garden green and thriving.
