6 / 6

The floorless, uncomplicated design of the Quictent Greenhouse protects plants and vegetables that are already planted or sit low to the ground. It’s also great for covering garden beds. Easy to move and store, this greenhouse can be used both inside and outside. One large U-shaped and two smaller zippered side windows are lined with layers of mesh to allow air in and keep birds and bugs out. It can even be a backyard chicken coop!

“We have deer that love to eat the plants from my container garden; this worked perfectly to stop them,” Tasha writes in her five-star review. “Staked it down so it doesn’t blow away. Veggies and herbs are growing like crazy. Works great!”

Pros

• Can be used indoors or outdoors
• Elevated bottom for more interior space
• Very affordable
• Durable connector for more stability
• Meshed windows for easy access and more ventilation

Cons

• Needs to be weighted down to prevent it from blowing away

What to Consider When Buying a Portable Greenhouse

Consider the following for your portable backyard greenhouse:

• Size: Carefully measure the available space and select a portable greenhouse to fit it. “This is particularly important in urban areas where garden space for a large structure can be hard to find,” says Jabbour.
• Placement: A sunny spot, sheltered from gusty winds, is ideal. Never place a greenhouse under trees or in the shade of nearby buildings.
• Durability: “In Northern areas like mine, where we get a lot of snow in winter, it’s essential to have a greenhouse—portable or permanent—that can withstand snow load,” Jabbour says. Materials like powder-coated aluminum and steel tend to be stronger and more stable than cheap plastic. “There are a lot of options available online and at garden supply stores and an inexpensive structure made from polyethylene won’t be as durable as one made from polycarbonate or glass,” she adds.
• Design: Floorless models protect plants already growing and offer good drainage. A-framed or arched (walk-ins) let you cultivate tall plants.
• Budget: The old adage, “you get what you pay for..”, is also true for portable greenhouses. If you want a portable greenhouse to last for years, don’t go cheap. You can justify the expense when you consider the money you’ll save on your grocery bill.

Types of Greenhouses

• Pop-Up Greenhouses: These lightweight, easy-to-assemble portable greenhouses typically feature a collapsible frame made of lightweight materials like fiberglass or metal. The frame supports a transparent or translucent cover made of plastic or polyethylene to let light in and trap heat inside. Available in multiple sizes and shapes, pop-up greenhouses provide temporary growing space that can be easily assembled when it’s time to sprout your seedlings, then put into storage once your plants are in the ground.
• Miniature or Mini Greenhouses: The frames of these small structures are often made of PVC or metal tubing, with a plastic or polycarbonate cover to create a greenhouse effect. Mini greenhouses are ideal for starting seedlings or growing a limited number of plants in a restricted space.
• Grow Tents: Grow tents are portable indoor greenhouses meant to create optimal growing conditions for your houseplants. On the inside, they’re covered with reflective material which optimizes light distribution and build-it venting systems provide air circulation. Grow tents can be equipped with indoor grow lights and other accessories that will customize the environment to your plants’ exact needs.
• Dome or Geodesic Greenhouses: Dome-shaped portable greenhouses have a curved design that maximizes sunlight exposure. Made of metal or PVC frames with durable covers of polycarbonate or plastic greenhouse film, these greenhouses offer good air circulation, stability and plenty of space for growing pots and containers.
• Portable Cold Frames: These simple, compact structures have transparent covers that protect plants from cold weather and can help extend the growing season. Portable cold frames are typically made with a wooden frame with a hinged or removable cover, and are light enough to easily move to wherever they’ll catch the light best.

How We Found the Best Portable Greenhouse

As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.

FAQ

Will a portable greenhouse keep plants from freezing?

Depending on where you live, how much sunlight you get and how it’s positioned, it’s possible for a portable greenhouse to keep your plants from freezing. However, there are plenty of variables that can affect the level of protection, such as the greenhouse’s design, construction materials and the severity of frigid weather.

If you live in an especially cold climate, you may want to consider adding additional heat sources to your portable greenhouse to prevent your plants from freezing. Electric heaters and heat mats do a great job of keeping things warm, as long as you have an outlet nearby. For greenhouses without a power supply, thermal blankets or frost protection fabrics can provide additional insulation.

Do small greenhouses work in winter?

Small greenhouses can work in winter, but again, their effectiveness depends on the climate they’re being used in. Look for greenhouses with insulated or double-layered covers, such as those made of polycarbonate or greenhouse film with air pockets, which provide excellent insulation against the elements.

Supplement the sun’s heat with electric heaters, radiant heat systems or heating mats if you live in an especially cold region, or if you’re experiencing frequent winter storms. It’s important to remember that the intensity and duration of sunlight decrease during the winter, so make sure you position your small greenhouse in a place where the sun will be beating down on it from dawn until dusk.

Source:

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p63MoqOyoJGjsbq5wKdlnKedZLmqv9NomZ6rpGK9sL7TmpmlnV2cv6axzaGmrquVqHw%3D