Greenhouse Gardening, Hobby and Home Greenhouses

Using a greenhouse enables gardeners to extend the growing season. A New England gardener in Zone 5 may not be past the last killing frost until the end of May; but with a greenhouse, she or he can start seedlings at the beginning of April.

Gardeners with small spaces use patio greenhouses to maximize space as well as extend the growing season. Patio greenhouses are easy to set up and take down. They are of varying heights and come with anywhere from two to five removable shelves.

Also called portable greenhouses, these are essentially upright cold frames that require potted plants. To build one, snap together the steel or aluminum frame, and lay the wire shelves in place. They come with fitted, platic covers that open and close in the front for easy access to plants.

These upright, lightweight greenhouses should be set up out of the wind and preferably on the South side of house where they can receive the most sunlight.

Some patio greenhouses offer optional shade cloths for use in extremely hot, dry weather. The greenhouse can be ventilated by leaving the open the door flap.

Some greenhouses and cold frames literally "pop up" as their set up. A flexible frame and plastic covering folded and secured with velcro tabs for storage, then when Spring comes and the tabs are released these flowerhouses pop up similar to pup tents.

They come in various sizes and work well on porches and patios. Similar to patio greenhouses, pop up flowerhouses are for use with potted plants.The plastic walls hold in heat and the door can be left open for cooling and ventilation.

Both patio greenhouses and pop up flowerhouses can be used for seed-starting.

A lean-to greenhouse is built next to the outside wall of the home. Larger lean-to greenhouses are essentially half of a greenhouse. They are included here because some lean-tos are small and designed for a porch or patio.

Small and hobby lean-tos are not always permanent structures and are easily taken down, if desired, for the winter months. A hobby lean-to will either have a flat wall on one side, or no wall. Either way, that side must be against the outer wall of the house and preferably on the South side of the house to get the most sunshine.