These relatively inexpensive hothouses are easy to assemble—and a great way to extend gardening season.
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Growing flowers and your own vegetables is a rewarding and cost-effective hobby. That being said, depending on your climate, it can be a challenge to keep your plants healthy when the weather begins to turn. Having a greenhouse allows you to extend your growing season.
However, if you aren't an avid builder and don't want to attempt a permanent structure, greenhouse kits are an easy-to-assemble option that still proves effective — and take way less time to get up and running. Additionally, many smaller greenhouse kits can be placed indoors or on decks and patios with proper lighting conditions, making gardening far more accessible in urban landscapes or homes with less outdoor space.
Whether you're a novice or a gardening pro, read on for our greenhouse kit recommendations to suit your setup and commitment level.
When considering a greenhouse kit, pay close attention to its size, shape, materials, and total storage space before making your final choice.
The total size and storage capacity of your greenhouse needs to jibe with the number of plants you have and how well the structure fits in your yard or home. Many larger greenhouse kits are spacious, but lack the shelving of more compact options. So, make sure to keep in mind your planting priorities and actual available space.
Greenhouse kits come in different shapes and with varied interior layouts. Some are designed to cover a rack or shelf of potted plants while others are meant to protect gardens and flower beds. Greenhouse kits also come in oblong, wider shapes to fit yards or spaces that require it. If style is important to you, there are eye-pleasing greenhouse kits with domes or gazebos that integrate well with existing aesthetics.
Your greenhouse kit's cover material or paneling plays a major role in how well your plants are protected from UV rays, cold temperatures, and rain. Some are made from mesh-like polyethylene (PE), which is waterproof and blocks UV rays. There are also clear PVC options—great if you want to showcase your plants, though they can have a strong smell and are more susceptible to tearing and oxidation.
Most greenhouse kits with hard paneling use polycarbonate, which protects plants from UV rays and inclement weather while still allowing light inside. Greenhouse kit frames are typically powder-coated or galvanized steel, which holds up well against corrosion or potential damage. Some kits have lightweight but durable aluminum frames.
We read through myriad trusted reviews to see what enthusiastic gardeners had to say and drew from our gardening knowledge to make our selections. We covered all the most popular styles and sizes, highlighting each model's most notable features, including details on frames and covers, plus extras like windows, ground flaps, stakes, and tie-down ropes. We also offer options across a range of price points: the smallest models are typically under $50; midsize are under $150; and large greenhouse kits are generally under $300. Some premium options may range higher than $300.
With two tiers, eight shelves, and two window panels to help regulate humidity, heat, and airflow, this greenhouse kit is a great value for the price. It has a footprint of 21 square feet, which means there’s ample floor space for larger potted plants in addition to rows of gridded shelving on either side. It also offers a good amount of clearance on the top shelf, as the greenhouse is more than 6 feet high.
The greenhouse features a sturdy, powder-coated steel frame with hard plastic connecters to support the waterproof PE cover, plus a roll-up zippered door and mesh windows. There are also ropes and ground stakes included.
At only 2.5 feet deep, this greenhouse kit has a slim silhouette, which makes it ideal for narrow spaces. Yet, at more than 6 feet high and nearly 5 feet wide, it's still spacious, with shelves that can hold up to 50 pounds of potted plants and seed trays.
It has a steel-tube frame and an eco-friendly PE cover with ground flaps to weigh the greenhouse down with bricks—a nice extra feature. The greenhouse kit also comes with ground stakes and ropes for added stability.
Certainly one of the more attractive choices, this is greenhouse kit is constructed with aesthetic presence in mind. The dome-style shape provides adequate sunlight from all sides while the PVC cover protects your plants from harmful UV rays.
The greenhouse kit is built with air vents for temperature regulation and the smooth shape reduces glare and light reflection. It's a good choice if you want to show off plants, though its fiberglass rods aren't as heavy-duty as metal and it doesn't come with stakes to secure it to the ground.
This greenhouse kit has a small footprint, but at more than 27 inches wide and nearly 20 inches deep, there’s plenty of room inside for storing small potted plants and seed trays.
Its frame is constructed of rust-resistant, powder-coated metal tubing, with hard plastic connectors at each end. It features three gridded shelves that hook over the frame and a PVC cover, with a double-zippered door that secures at the top with a strap.
Despite its relatively petite dimensions, several customers say that it has more room and is sturdier than they expected.
While extra space is always nice to have, a small set of raised garden beds don’t require a ton of room to thrive. This simple, inexpensive greenhouse kit fits the bill, and works just as well for a few potted plants.
The greenhouse’s PE cover is completely waterproof and blocks UV rays, featuring three zippered roll-up doors that attach at the top along with ground flaps to secure in the soil. It’s also plenty spacious, at nearly 8 feet long.
The Quictent portable greenhouse serves as an incredibly spacious option built for versatility. With the open interior, plants, shelves, and even large tools or furniture fit easily. The greenhouse kit comes with multiple air vents and Velcro-sided windows for increased airflow and sunlight, while protecting your plants from harmful UV rays.
The greenhouse kit is built with seven rows of crossbars to increase durability and the stability of the larger structure against wind or snow. It's also available in green or white.
One benefit of a lean-to greenhouse kit is that it absorb extra heat if attached to a sunny side of a house. This option has a pop-up frame for easy setup—simply expand it, attach the top, and lock it into place—plus, it adjusts to three heights.
The greenhouse is 9 feet high and 4 feet wide, with a rust-resistant powder-coated steel frame and a waterproof, UV-blocking PE cover. It also features a roll-up zippered side door and a wide roll-up mesh window for controlling airflow, heat, and humidity. However, this model doesn’t come with shelving, which may be a drawback for some.
If you need more shelf space but still want a tall and narrow greenhouse kit, this one is an excellent choice. It features four gridded shelves, each with a 23-pound capacity, so you can load them up with window boxes, small potted plants, and seed trays.
The durable PE mesh cover is waterproof and blocks UV rays, with a wide zippered door that rolls up neatly and ties at the top. Like the greenhouse kit above, it has a steel-tube frame that’s powder-coated to resist rust and joins with hard plastic connectors.
If you plants in large planters , this is the greenhouse kit for you. It features 48 square feet of floor space to accommodate oversized planters, and a steel preassembled pop-up frame for easy setup that adjusts to three different heights.
The roof has a knob in the center to push up and lock into place, and other highlights include two large roll-up zippered mesh windows and a roll-up double-zippered door. The greenhouse also comes with ropes and ground stakes to secure it in high wind, plus a limited 1-year warranty.
The Palram Hybrid greenhouse is a more of a semi-permanent structure that's pricier than other greenhouse kits we cover, but it's also more structurally sound and built to last for several years.
The polycarbonate paneling protects against rain, strong wind, and even accumulated snowfall. The door has a magnetic catch to keep it from blowing open and there are rooftop panels that lift to let in air.
The main downside is that assembly is significantly more labor-intensive assembly process, even without a need for any additional tools or supplies.
This roll-top greenhouse kit is perfect for covering up small raised garden beds. It's easy to adjust ventilation and the cover protects your plants from the harsh weather and UV light.
The greenhouse kit is designed specifically to mount on the side of beds, with a latch to keep it secure. Unfortunately, there's no way to stake it into the ground like some other kits we cover.
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend.
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